Chicago Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Visiting Chicago this summer. Recommendations?
My family (parents, sis/BIL & nieces-ages 6 & 2) are planning a little trip to Chicago this summer.
Since none of us have been there, I was hoping to get some recommendations on hotels, restaurants & family-friendly things to do? We'll be there 3-4 days.
Thanks!
Re: Visiting Chicago this summer. Recommendations?
Are you flying or driving here? Do you want to stay by the airport or downtown/Michigan Ave area?
Priceline is the best site for hotels. Anything on Michigan Ave or by O'Hare is nice. If you haven't hear of the hotel, don't stay there and read reviews on the hotel. American Girl is north on Michigan Ave and there is a ton to do around there. Millennium/Grant Park is south on Michigan Ave, there's a ton to do there. Then you have all the museums on the south side. If the weather is bad, you can buy daily passes for there.
www.citypass.com/chicago
Not sure what your budget is but if you can swing it stay at the Peninsula. It is AMAZING!!! Otherwise pick a neighborhood and use Priceline for the best prices. Pretty much all the hotels with 3 or 4 stars are really nice here.
The Shedd and The Museum of Science & Industry are cool, or at least I thought so when I was a kid! Some museums are cheaper if you pre-purchase your tickets online so double check that. Navy Pier is a must if you've never been to Chicago. There is the big Ferris Wheel and you can also take some boat tours from there.
There are so many good restaurants I could never list them all. Chicago definitely has some great food. The Cheesecake Factory is usually a favorite for those with kids but they have those in a lot of states so you may be looking for something different. What type of food are you looking for? As far as shopping, while there is a lot of great shopping, its pretty expensive in the city. Chicago's tax rate is ridiculous so I never really shop there, I live in a suburb outside of the city. Its a lot of fun to walk Michigan Ave and State Street though.
Depending on what month in the summer you are coming, plan to bring a jacket or sweater for the evening. The wind can get chilly even in the summer unless we are having a heat wave!
With kids, I definitely recommend to take the to the Children's Museum at Navy Pier. If you have a museum membership for a local museum, I'd check if they have a reciprocal relationship with the museum here. It's awesome! I nannied a 2 and 4 year old (now 5 and 7) and we'd go all the time. They still love it.
Navy Pier also has free firework shows in the summer that are pretty decent, although rather crowded.
Lincoln Park Zoo is free and great with kids.
Like pp'd suggested, if you plan on visiting Shedd, and at least one other museum, it may be worth your money to get the City Pass.
Blog Sale
<a href="http://s582.photobucket.com/albums/ss262/hzswanson/?action=view
Go to the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock building- for lunch. The place is usually super expensive in the evenings and fancy but they have a lunch buffet Mon-Sat that is kid-accessible and inexpensive. It's seriously the best view of the city and instead of paying to go to the top floor observation deck, it's more cost effective to get a meal out of it.