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Chicago on the 4th of july

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sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Jun 22, 2011 3:39 AM
Were thinking of going down from the 1-4th of July. What does Chicago offer for the holiday. Any good places to stay. Are the hotels close to Ohare near the redline. Besides a cubs game, field musuem, navy pier, and aquarium what other attractions are good to go to.
Jun 21, 2011 11:39pm
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gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Jun 22, 2011 4:31 AM
Plenty to do. I might avoid the fireworks, though you can see them pretty much anywhere up and down the lakeshore (though some views are obstructed by highrises close to the shore). There should be at least a couple of festivals - not sure when Jazz in the Park is. Obviously the Cubs if they are in town.

I wouldn't stay near O'Hare. And it's the blue line into town from O'Hare - you would take that to the loop (@ 40 minutes) and then transfer at Clark/Lake to the Red line. Check online for some hotel deals, although for the 4th expect to pay $200 and up for most any place in the city, and it's probably slim pickings at this point.

You can go to the Bar on top of the Hancock for a good view of the city. Michigan Ave is a nice place to spend an afternoon, if you're wallet can survive your significant other. I'm a big fan of B.L.U.E.S. (cozy little Blues bar, across the street from a well known one Kingston Mines, which is a bit more of a tourist trap).

And I'm sure you can get one of those cheesey tours that points out all the gangsterplaces (where St. Valentines day massacre was has been a bar for years). The old train station (forget where) you might recognize a few scenes from the Untouchables. They just filmed the new Batman last summer at the end of Michigan Ave (where it crosses into Wacker), if that's your thing.
Jun 22, 2011 12:31am
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raiderbuck

Senior Member

1,623 posts
Jun 22, 2011 5:33 AM
Watch out for the flash mobs (the attacks, not the dancers) lol. I think the Taste of Chicago is next weekend as well. So definitely expect a ton of traffic/crowds downtown. If you must stay downtown, park your car and get a CTA three day pass ($14). You can ride the trains and buses all over the city, and Chi-town isn't that hard to navigate. Not sure if you're going to a Cubs game, but Wrigley is along the Addison stop on the Red Line. Plenty of bars in that area. Gold Coast has some nice eateries as well.
Jun 22, 2011 1:33am
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bwcomet89

Senior Member

633 posts
Jun 22, 2011 9:18 AM
I also plan on going to Chicago July 1st-4th, so I'll see you there! Ok probably not, but I am suddenly intrigued in what people come up with on here. I do plan on going to a Cubs game, and they're playing the White Sox July 1st-3rd if you were interested. When I make my hotel plans I'll let you know what I end up with and you can shoot for something similar. Or vise versa?

Taste of Chicago will be held June 24th-July 3rd.
Jun 22, 2011 5:18am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jun 22, 2011 11:02 AM
Last year we watched the fireworks from the 57th floor of the Willis Towes (Sears)
We spent all day downtown that day for the Taste of Chicago and shopping on Michigan Ave.makes for a long day...
Jun 22, 2011 7:02am
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sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Jun 22, 2011 9:13 PM
i will be going to a cubs game and taste of chicago for sure and shopping on mich ave is why my girl wants to go i would guess and hopefully make a stop at the aquarium let me know what you find hotel wise
Jun 22, 2011 5:13pm
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bwcomet89

Senior Member

633 posts
Jun 24, 2011 10:00 PM
I went with a Red Roof Inn in Lansing just south of Chicago, it ended up being $58.49 a night. Not too bad, I would have went closer but my friends have a tight budget I had to abide by. It's nice at this hotel, but no pool or breakfast. I figure I'll be in Chicago all day so who cares about accommodations. My AAA agent did mention a hotel near Ohare by the airport for $90 a night, but I did find out that if you are in downtown you have to pay for parking. Not sure if you knew that. Pretty much it looked like in Chicago was 2x than outside Chicago. But if money isn't an issue for you, feel free to talk to a AAA agent for your range.
Jun 24, 2011 6:00pm
jpake1's avatar

jpake1

Senior Member

2,389 posts
Jun 25, 2011 12:20 AM
After two years of going to the Taste of Chicago, I won't go back. Love the food. Hate the crowd. Hate the gangsters that cause gun scares and a stampede. I wouldn't take your kids. Way too easy to get separated by the JAMPACKED crowd. Awesome time when you catch a not so big crowd tho.
Jun 24, 2011 8:20pm
Rider_In_Ttown's avatar

Rider_In_Ttown

Senior Member

246 posts
Jun 25, 2011 3:07 AM
gut;809465 wrote:You can go to the Bar on top of the Hancock for a good view of the city. Michigan Ave is a nice place to spend an afternoon, if you're wallet can survive your significant other. I'm a big fan of B.L.U.E.S. (cozy little Blues bar, across the street from a well known one Kingston Mines, which is a bit more of a tourist trap).
Was at that bar today for lunch while my daughter was accross the street at a birthday party at The American Doll Co. Can't wait to see the credit card bill after today.
Jun 24, 2011 11:07pm
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sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Jun 25, 2011 8:57 PM
Any more ideas anyone
Jun 25, 2011 4:57pm
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bwcomet89

Senior Member

633 posts
Jun 25, 2011 10:13 PM
Rebooked to the Howard Johnson right by Ohare for $44 a night. Thank you Kayak. We're a little closer to 6 flags just north of Chicago so we may go there too. There is also a Trump Casino in Lansing just south of Chicago if you like to gamble. I will update on what i find when I see them.
Jun 25, 2011 6:13pm
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sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Jun 26, 2011 8:12 PM
bw we booked the marriot by ohare for 65 a night thanks to priceline.
Jun 26, 2011 4:12pm
BigAppleBuckeye's avatar

BigAppleBuckeye

Senior Member

2,935 posts
Jun 26, 2011 11:04 PM
Heading a bachelor party in late July, any suggestions where to go would be appreciated. I know we are going to a Cubs game, eating at Hugo's Frog Bar and Lou Malnati's, and I think we are bar hopping in the Gold Coast one night, then another night we are hitting Scores (I think) and some cheesy bar like Mothers.
Jun 26, 2011 7:04pm
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raiderbuck

Senior Member

1,623 posts
Jun 28, 2011 5:55 PM
Take the blue line from O'Hare to get downtown. It's about a 40 minute ride
Jun 28, 2011 1:55pm
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Fred Garvin

Senior Member

285 posts
Jun 28, 2011 6:25 PM
I will be there Friday thru Sunday. Got a good deal thru priceline and name your own price. Got the Hyatt Regency on Wacker Drive for 80 a night.
Jun 28, 2011 2:25pm
Laley23's avatar

Laley23

GOAT

29,506 posts
Jun 28, 2011 10:08 PM
Dang, staying near O'Hare is gonna be a trek in and out of town.
Jun 28, 2011 6:08pm
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sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Jun 29, 2011 3:36 AM
were doing the citipass as well were going thursday thru monday
Jun 28, 2011 11:36pm
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Jun 30, 2011 4:30 PM
I'll be there July 8-10 for a bachelorette party. I've never been so I am definitely looking forward to it. We're still trying to put together a plan but have a good amount of ideas.
Jun 30, 2011 12:30pm