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Chicago area road trip


Gershwin

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Going to a wedding in Chicago this summer and we've decided to hire a car and burn about for two weeks prior to the main event.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to go etc? Quite fancy the 1,000 mile drive to Mount Rushmore although I reckon that may be a bit ridiculous.

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Warning - book weekend (Friday to Sunday)accommodation in advance if you can as the Americans love going away for the weekend. A few years ago we drove from NY to Chicago at a weekend and ended-up in a convoy of cars going from one hotel/mote to the next. Eventually got one which was pretty run-down but at least it was clean.

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Take a drive down to St.Louis, nice place to spend a couple of days. Right on the Mississippi.

 

Nice we place north of Chicago called Lake Geneva (supposedly thats where a lot of 'dead' gangsters were taken for their bodies to be dispossed).

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Well when you are in Chicago definatley take in a cubs game. Good laugh. Also instead of hiring a car you could use autodriveaway. You take someone elses car to some other place and get it for free. Quite often petrol is included too. Just need a small deposit. It would be a little crazy but you could let the car direct you rather than deciding for yourself.........

 

http://www.autodriveaway.com/

 

This is their current list from Chicago:

 

 

*********************************************************

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS................JANUARY 15................ (773)-568-5700

E-MAIL: [email protected]

E-MAIL: [email protected]

WEBPAGE http://www.autodriveaway.com

 

DESTINATION VEHICLE SCHEDULE/STATUS

COMMENTS

 

SCOTTSDALE, AZ........07 HYUNDAI SONATA............AVAIL NOW

PHOENIX, AZ..................08 FORD ESCAPE................AVAILNOW..........$50 GAS ALLOWANCE

JACKSON, WY...............00 INFINITY G...........................AVAIL NOW.........$75 GAS ALLOWANCE

NAPLES, FL...................04 CHEVY MALIBU.................AVAIL NOW..........$50 GAS ALLOWANCE

 

Live a little and be crazy ;)

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Well when you are in Chicago definatley take in a cubs game. Good laugh. Also instead of hiring a car you could use autodriveaway. You take someone elses car to some other place and get it for free. Quite often petrol is included too. Just need a small deposit. It would be a little crazy but you could let the car direct you rather than deciding for yourself.........

 

http://www.autodriveaway.com/

 

This is their current list from Chicago:

 

 

*********************************************************

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS................JANUARY 15................ (773)-568-5700

E-MAIL: [email protected]

E-MAIL: [email protected]

WEBPAGE http://www.autodriveaway.com

 

DESTINATION VEHICLE SCHEDULE/STATUS

COMMENTS

 

SCOTTSDALE, AZ........07 HYUNDAI SONATA............AVAIL NOW

PHOENIX, AZ..................08 FORD ESCAPE................AVAILNOW..........$50 GAS ALLOWANCE

JACKSON, WY...............00 INFINITY G...........................AVAIL NOW.........$75 GAS ALLOWANCE

NAPLES, FL...................04 CHEVY MALIBU.................AVAIL NOW..........$50 GAS ALLOWANCE

 

Live a little and be crazy ;)

 

Sounds a laugh. But feck the baseball. I'd rather watch paint dry. Been to watch a game before and it was pure tedium.

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AND if you are renting a car, make sure you get insurance sorted before you go or they won't give you a car without charging the proverbial arm and a leg for their own insurance.

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Suspect Device

you'll have to take a trip up the (Herbie) Hancock tower and get your photo taken washing the windaes at 'Big John':camera:

 

but for a laugh go to a dinner called Ed Debevics for an anti 'have a nice day sir' meal ;)

 

also look out for the Iluminaty building for all you conspiracy theorists out there.....or maybe it isnt there :P

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I was in Chicago in 2002 staying with a friend who worked for BP.

 

We flew to Denver from Chicago with a budget American airline for about ?100 return. Then I hired a car and drove up to Wyoming, visiting the Indian reservations, Cowboy towns and two nights in Yellowstone Park.

 

Then back to Chicago.

 

We went there in July and it was absolutely sweltering. In the high 90's farenheight and very stick.

 

I understand it is about 0 degrees farenheight ( minus 18 celcius to you kids) just now.

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Kalamazoo Jambo

There are loads of things to do in and around Chicago, without having to drive too far (or at all). Here are a few (if I think of any more I'll get back to you!)...

  • Visit the Hancock Tower and/or the Sears Tower (Hancock would be my first choice)
  • Visit the Shedd Aquarium (one of the world's best)
  • Visit the Museum of Science and Industry (don't miss the U-boat - it's spectacular!)
  • Go for the Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues (every Sunday - you'd need to book in advance)
  • Take an architectural boat tour down the Chicago River
  • Walk around Millenium Park
  • Go shopping on Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile)
  • If you get homesick, there's even a piece of Edinburgh Castle in downtown Chicago (check out the Tribune Tower).

 

Mount Rushmore is great, but that's quite some drive. Unfortunately, most of the drive would be through really boring countryside. Cornfield after cornfield after cornfield... To make it more interesting and eventful, you could always drive on the left hand side of the road. If you do make that trip, then you need to check out the Black Hills and the Badlands while you're there.

 

You could also think about taking a trip into Michigan (that's where the cool people hang out :P). Lake Michigan is amazing - it's really more of an inland sea than a lake. If you head up to, say, South Haven or Saugatuck (two or three hours drive away from Chicago), there are great Lakeshore communities with fantastic sandy beaches.

 

Anyway, if I get more ideas, I'll let you know.

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Went on 2 Chicago road trips in 2000

 

Chicago to Memphis and Chicago to San Diego (route 66 or something)

 

Both amazing

 

The Satets is such a fantastic country for aroad trip

 

you are officially ajammy git

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Chi Town is a quality place, on of my favourites.

 

Get yourself down to Millenium Park and check out the spitting faces and the Bean.

 

Go on a boat on the river, and ponder how they managed to reverse it.

 

As someone says, Lake Geneva is a quality spot reasonably near by.

 

I'm not a great fan of driving about the Midwest as it is all a bit dull, to be honest - unless you like looking at corn.

 

Far more entertaining is a spin through South Side, making sure you stop at every light - always memorable.

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If you are into Architecture than you can do an architectural boat tour: (bring a light jacket, it gets windy!)

 

http://www.chicagoline.com/

 

Millennium Park is wonderful to see: (fountains, the bean, concerts in the park, free dance lessons in the pavillions and the funny faces)

 

http://www.millenniumpark.org/

 

Here is a link to tours in Chicago:

 

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/tours.htm

 

(btw, we make fun of the people on the Segways :P )

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Sorry clicked too fast, here is the rest of my e-mail:

 

I would suggest that you make reservations for everything and anything you can. Purchase tickets a couple of days head of time whether it's to go to the museum or a restaurant. Waiting in line to go into a museum is horrendous in the heat and believe me, the lines get lengthy in a matter of minutes. You can purchase tickets online the day before you visit or a couple months ahead and you get ushered in right away.

 

If you are into Architecture than you can do an architectural boat tour: (bring a light jacket, it gets windy!)

 

http://www.chicagoline.com/

 

Here is a link to tours in Chicago:

 

(*BTW we make fun of the people on the Segway) :)

 

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/tours.htm

 

Best places to eat: (authentic Chicago-style eating with history) - make RESERVATIONS!

 

Giordanos Pizza (Chicago style deep dish pizza)

http://www.giordanos.com/

 

Wildfire Steakhouse

http://www.wildfirerestaurant.com/

 

Gibsons Steakhouse

http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/

 

Chicago Chop House (oldest Chop House in Chicago)

http://chicagochophouse.com/hasflash.htm

 

Wishbone (southern style Louisiana cooking -- great Brunch - can't make reservations but come early on Sunday!)

http://www.wishbonechicago.com/index.php?section=1

 

Rosebud Italian Food (plates are bigger than your head)

http://www.rosebudrestaurants.com/rest3.php

 

Reza (mediterrean)

http://www.rezasrestaurant.com/

 

Top things to do while visiting Chicago:

 

Art Institute

http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.html

 

The Field Museum

http://www.fieldmuseum.org/

 

Shedd Aquarium

http://www.shedd.org

 

Museum of Science and Industry

http://www.msichicago.org/

 

Sears Tower

http://www.theskydeck.com

 

Millennium Park is wonderful to see: (fountains, the bean, concerts in the park, free dance lessons in the pavillions and the funny faces)

http://www.millenniumpark.org/

 

Navy Pier

http://www.navypier.com

 

Hope this helps. PM me if you have any questions or need advice in seeing my beautiful city. :P

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