Getting ready for a trip. . .questions about Chicago.

[Sam 4106]

Hi Tom,
The Dells now has fewer attractions since the dam that held back Lake Delton was washed out in the recent floods we have had in the area. Tourism is being greatly affected as a result. Resorts have received lots of cancelations, Tommy Barttlet water ski show area has little water, the Ducks won't be using the lake, no jet ski use or fishing on the lake, and many other things that depended on the lake are negatively affected.

Hi Christyhicks,
We live at La Crescent, MN and would have enjoyed a visit with you but we are co-hosting a Midwest Busnuts rally June 20-22 and a Pioneers rally June 27-29 at Rochester, MN so we will be gone for 10 days.
Good luck with your trip, Sam 4106

[plyonsMC9]

Hi Christy, 
We live outside of Chicago. 

What about something like staying at the Empress RV Resort in Joliet, then drive a short distance,  taking the train ( Metra ) to downtown Chicago so as to avoid driving to and around the city?    The trains are quite nice.   You and husband can do quite well with a couple of quick taxi rides from one area to another.  We've found most things w/in walking distance of where the train lets you out downtown.  We could provide some assistance in that endeavor. 

http://www.argosy.com/chicago/casinoandhotel.asp  We've not stayed at this location, so it would need to be researched a bit.

We'd love to have you stay here, but our lone hookup is in use now as we pretty much live out of our bus kitchen, etc as we go through a major home renovation project.  e.g, our house is out of commission!!

Anyways, Let me know if that is a help, and if we can offer any kind of assistance.

Kind Regards, Phil

PS - I've also sent you my cell # in case you need a direct line.

[Sojourner]

As Phil suggested...park it outside of town and take push/pull train into town and take an elevated train to wherever you want to go. I have done that many times whenever in Chicago. On Sunday, you can sight-seeing ride almost all over from the loop for a price.

About driving and parking in Chicago.....a big mistake....unless on Sunday but parking is expensive. Then it maybe too far to walk and time consuming.

I suggest a 2 hours tour bus such as Gray Line of the north side. Or any of #01 to 07 tours. Not cheap but you see & learn a lot more for your money.
http://www.grayline.com/Grayline/destinations/us/chicago.go?mode=activities&cd=&cat=Show%20All%20Tours&index=1&itemcount=20

About eating....all kinds everywhere. Depend how much you want spend...from fast food to an old restored warehouse Restaurant that specialize on sea food.
Shaw's Crab House (I would go to 21 Hubbard St)
http://www.shawscrabhouse.com/chicago/index.shtml

Or many restaurants along the State St., Wabash Ave. and Rush St. in the area of the famous old water tower & Chicago Ave. & State St. Corner.

Take horse & buggy ride near the old water tower at night or day.

Chicago has many museums. My favorite is Museum of Science and Industry. It takes at least a day to see most of it.
http://www.msichicago.org/
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/

If like transportation as well farming, walk through a working "heart" and many, many more. BTW they have the World War II captured German U-505  submarine. Explore all the most fascinating aspects of how humankind has flown, soared, chugged and sped throughout the years. Climb aboard the engine of the Empire State Express 999, the first machine to break the 100 mph barrier; walk through a real United 727, hanging from the Museum's balcony; take in the Spirit of America, the car that drove more than 530 miles per hour in 1965; or simply gaze in awe of the historic aircraft that fly above you ...

That just one of many museums.

Getting around the windy city:
http://maps.google.com/help/maps/transit/chicago/

Train Schedule:
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/rail/rail.html

So plan your trip well and have fun renting a bike to rides along the shore.
Three day at minimum to get the touch of the thing to see & enjoy eating.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[Christyhicks]

Are you going to be up here earlier?

No, unfortunately,  , we need to wait until the last minute to go on up, as I'm trying to do three work's worth of planning, schedules, estimates, layouts, etc. before we leave.  I went into the office late this afternoon and did the estimate and layouts for two big houses we will likely have to start while I'm out of town, so that I could concentrate without the phone interrupting me.  I've got the hvac guys booked solid for the next three weeks and plumbers almost as tight. We'll leave Tuesday morn and take two or three days to drive up to MN, and we plan on hitting Chicago somewhere around the 2nd of July.  We have to hang there until July 8, which is the first Cubs home game we'll be able to attend, then gradually we'll work out way down to St. Louise, Nashville, Memphis and back home around the 14-15th or so.  Maybe we'll connect next time.

We live at La Crescent, MN and would have enjoyed a visit with you but we are co-hosting. . .

Man, that's just a hop and a skip too yet.  We used to rollerskate at a rink in LaCrescent, every Saturday night, back in the middle 70's.  Sometimes, 1/2 the neighborhood piled into my parents van and rode down there with us!

Anyways, Let me know if that is a help, and if we can offer any kind of assistance.

Thanks for thinking of us, and we did check out the Empress, which will be out next choice if the Michigan City Campground doesn't have room for us.  A helpful member of GMC Busnuts, Chris Fine, told us about it. . . so we're keeping our fingers crossed they'll have room for us!  Thanks for your offer of help. . . I'll keep your number handy, as I'm still a bit nervous about the whole "public transit" thing, ha ha.

So plan your trip well . . . Three day at minimum to get the touch of the thing to see & enjoy eating. 

Thanks for all of the helpful advice and links.  Looks like we'll probably spend about a week in Chicago, so we should be able to explore several neat places.  We know we want to do the Wrigley field ballgame thing, the Science  & Industry Museum, and a couple of blues clubs, so the rest of the time there is sort of up in the air right now. . thinking maybe we'll just ride the train and take a tour or something the first day. . . maybe do the Sears Tower thing. 

Have fun Christy!

Us?   Have fun? . . . Do we know how to do anything else???  ha ha


Overall, our bus buddys have been really helpful in trying to help us figure out where to stay and what to do in a new city, and ALL of your help and thoughts have been REALLY appreciated!!!!

We picked up some dramamine for our "Dallas, the Maine Coon Kitty", JUST IN CASE he has any motion sickness left in his system. . . we've got a full tank of Diesel, the lawn is mowed, laundry is done, and we've got less than 48 hrs to go before we hit the road!  I am SO EXCITED!  Thanks again to everyone!    Christy Hicks

[Busted Knuckle]

Christy & Larry enjoy the trip! And remember we are located 1 hr south of Paducah, KY at the end of the Purchase PKWY and the same distance from Nashville as Memphis on the TN/KY line if you want to stop in yer more than welcome! And by all means if yer anywhere near here and need help CALL US!   BK 

[Christyhicks]

if you want to stop in yer more than welcome!

We sure appreciate the offer. . .I'll look you up on the map and see how far out of the way you are, and what roads go through there.  Hopefully we won't need your help, goodness knows we've had some interesting things happen on our various trips, but I appreciate the offer of assistance. . it's ALWAYS great to have busnuts on standby!   Christy Hicks