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Chicago ladies, please come in...
My BFF and I are taking her 15yo daughter and a friend to the Vampire Diaries convention in Chicago on 4/14-4/15 weekend. Needless to say, they are beyond excited to meet Ian Somerhalder.
The convention is at the Westin O?Hare in Rosemont. We plan to drive up to Chicago and get there early Sat 4/14 to spend the day there (she?s never been)- Navy Pier, Mag Mile, etc. and then go to the convention on Sunday 4/15 @ Westin. The price to stay at the Westin is $159+tax and $25 parking.
1. Should we stay at the Westin and then drive to Mag Mile/Navy Pier? How much would it be to take the L or cab it from the hotel to Mag Mile and Navy Pier?
2. Or, should we just stay at a hotel in the Mag Mile area and drive to the convention Sunday morning?
Whenever we?ve stayed in Chicago, we always stay at the Hyatt on Wacker and it?s been great b/c it?s so close to Mag Mile, but I can?t remember if we cabbed it to Navy Pier?.
eta: Any other places worth visiting for someone who has never been?
Re: Chicago ladies, please come in...
You can always stay at the hotel in Rosemont and then just take the Blue Line downtown. Parking downtown is going to run you about $50/day.
Would the mom and daughter be willing to share a bed?
A two queen bed room is $161 with taxes at Hyatt Regency via their website. I can't figure out how much parking is though.
If I were you, I'd just stay downtown so you get more time to explore the city and then drive to the convention on Sunday. What time does the convention start? I'd plan about 40minutes travel time to get there, but you may not need that depending on traffic.
Parking at Navy Pier starts at $20 for a decent amount of time; and most other garages start at $16.
ETA: if it's nice out, you could definitely walk to Navy Pier from Hyatt; it's a little over a mile and safe the whole way.
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Thanks so much for your help.
I was thinking staying downtown would be better since the Mag Mile would be right there. I couldn't remember if Navy Pier was close enough to walk, and it sounds like it is!
Thanks for the driving time b/w the Mag Mile and Convention Center too.
eta: The convention starts @ 10:30am Sunday morning. I am assuming we should get there earlier in case there is a line?
Are there any other places we could take someone new other than Mag Mile and Navy Pier?
If it starts at 10:30am, I would prob try to leave your hotel at 9:30? That way if there's traffic you'll still get there before it officially starts and if there isn't traffic you could be in the front of the line? (although I don't know much about the convention!)
If you stay at the Hyatt, you're close to State St; if you're never had Magnolia Bakery, I'd pop over there and grab some cupcakes. You could also walk over to Millenium Park. Park Grille could be a nice spot for lunch; especially if it's nice enough to eat outside.
Otherwise, you could go up Hancock or Sears for views of the city if it's not cloudy. I live here and I still love getting a view of the city from atop. Depending how much time you have, the Architecture Tours that leave from Navy Pier are also good and interesting. Or, you could even take the water taxi from Michigan Ave to Navy Pier for fun.
http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/watertaximap.html
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I would stay in the Mag Mile area so you're able to easily go back to the hotel to drop off bags, change clothes, etc. I'm assuming you'll be at the convention all day on Sunday so won't need to return to the room.
As far as things to do, these are things I've done with friends/family who come to visit:
- SkyDeck (Sears/Willis Tower) -- Go early in the morning to avoid long lines
- Hancock Tower -- Go at sunset. Beautiful. Make sure to go to the ladies room!
- Millennium Park -- The Bean, gardens, Buckingham Fountain, the lake front
- Chicago Architecture Foundation Walking or Boat Tour -- If you're not architecture enthusiasts, I'd recommend the boat tour. Everyone loves it.
- Museums -- The Art Institute is close to Millennium Park, and the Field Museum of Natural History is cool.
- Comedy Show -- ComedySportz does a very family-friendly show (no raunchy jokes, cursing, etc)