Chicago-Walking around?

loadedgun

I'll be up for Friday night, staying at the Congress. I've never been to Chicago before, and I'm planning on doing a lot of the tourist-type stuff. I plan on walking from Sears Tower to Navy Pier. The distance I am not worried about..just the accessibility getting there. Is this a reasonable assumption that I can walk there? I'm assuming I can cross the River on foot on one of those many bridges? (thank you, google earth).

I've already heard about where to eat and where not to from the locals....just want to say you have all been a big help in planning my 'vacation'.

Thanks in advance for any information you might be able to give. See you at the Pre-Party~

turningscrews

Yeah it's all walkable. The congress, a sh$t-hole. You get a GREAT location, sh$tty, sh$tty, sh$tty hotel.

Danimal

Maybe you'll see Abe Froman (The Sausage King Of Chicago).

loadedgun

turningscrews wrote:

Yeah it's all walkable. The congress, a sh$t-hole. You get a GREAT location, sh$tty, sh$tty, sh$tty hotel.

That makes me feel a lot better....

The Stugots

Even for touristy places, Sears Tower and Navy Pier are both pretty lame.

If you're looking for a great view of the city from a skyscraper, go to the John Hancock instead. Easy walk down Michigan Avenue from the Congress. It's situated at a much better vantage point to see the city.

There are a couple boat tours that leave from Navy Pier, but otherwise all I see are crowds there for the sake of crowding. I'd walk around Millenium Park instead and grab a boat tour that leaves near the Michigan Ave bridge.

All of these are an easy walk from the Congress.

Becky407

Last time I was in Chicago (which was the first time) was for Lollapalooza last year so my sister and I had no time for sightseeing. I'm so excited because I planned extra time just for that. I got this deck of card like things with a map of a neighborhood on one side and info about it on the other. They're really neat and have a lot of fun information. My friend and I went through and picked out all the places we wanna visit. The cards even have info on what bus routes go there and what color train lines (I probably said that wrong..)

They're called City Walks. They have them for a lot of major cities. Cute things to have. They'd probably be good for moving to a new area as well.

Ridin The Wave

Danimal wrote:

Maybe you'll see Abe Froman (The Sausage King Of Chicago).

"Cameron, you're not dying. You just can't think of anything good to do."

IwasBit10

The Stugots wrote:

Even for touristy places, Sears Tower and Navy Pier are both pretty lame.

If you're looking for a great view of the city from a skyscraper, go to the John Hancock instead. Easy walk down Michigan Avenue from the Congress. It's situated at a much better vantage point to see the city.

There are a couple boat tours that leave from Navy Pier, but otherwise all I see are crowds there for the sake of crowding. I'd walk around Millenium Park instead and grab a boat tour that leaves near the Michigan Ave bridge.

All of these are an easy walk from the Congress.

I was just about to write the same thing.

I don't want to deter you from your plans, but unless you want a specific restaurant or a boat tour, Navy Pier isn't anything too special. And I guess there are boat tours elsewhere. Sears Tower is cool if you've never been before. But instead of Navy Pier, walk around Millennium Park or hit up the Art Institute. Or stroll down Michigan Ave. (Magnificent Mile) area. Enjoy your stay and let's have a great show Friday! Can't wait!

loadedgun

IwasBittin wrote:

I was just about to write the same thing.

I don't want to deter you from your plans, but unless you want a specific restaurant or a boat tour, Navy Pier isn't anything too special. And I guess there are boat tours elsewhere. Sears Tower is cool if you've never been before. But instead of Navy Pier, walk around Millennium Park or hit up the Art Institute. Or stroll down Michigan Ave. (Magnificent Mile) area. Enjoy your stay and let's have a great show Friday! Can't wait!

Sounds like Navy Pier is exactly what I dont want it to be...

I've never been to Sears Towere before, and definetely plan on going to Millenium park. What is so great about the Magnificent Mile? Is it shopping or what? I'm open to anything as long as it's entertaining and interesting....

chuck nevitt

loadedgun wrote:

I'll be up for Friday night, staying at the Congress. I've never been to Chicago before, and I'm planning on doing a lot of the tourist-type stuff. I plan on walking from Sears Tower to Navy Pier. The distance I am not worried about..just the accessibility getting there. Is this a reasonable assumption that I can walk there? I'm assuming I can cross the River on foot on one of those many bridges? (thank you, google earth).

I've already heard about where to eat and where not to from the locals....just want to say you have all been a big help in planning my 'vacation'.

Thanks in advance for any information you might be able to give. See you at the Pre-Party~

If you are staying at The Congress, you'll want to do a lot of "toursist-type stuff" and spend as much time outside of your hotel.

petrocs

Ridin The Wave wrote:

"Cameron, you're not dying. You just can't think of anything good to do."

When Cameron was in Egypts land.......







Let my Cameron.....goooooooo


Pardon my french but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass in 2 weeks you'd have a diamond

slightofjeff

The Stugots wrote:

Even for touristy places, Sears Tower and Navy Pier are both pretty lame.

If you're looking for a great view of the city from a skyscraper, go to the John Hancock instead. Easy walk down Michigan Avenue from the Congress. It's situated at a much better vantage point to see the city.

We did this on our trip to Chicago last summer. Another piece of advice: When you get to the Hancock, tell them you want to go to the bar at the top. It's free to go up there. Don't pay to visit the observation deck.

You can sit up there at the bar, order a drink, and enjoy probably the best view of the city/lake.

IwasBit10

loadedgun wrote:

Sounds like Navy Pier is exactly what I dont want it to be...

I've never been to Sears Towere before, and definetely plan on going to Millenium park. What is so great about the Magnificent Mile? Is it shopping or what? I'm open to anything as long as it's entertaining and interesting....

Mag. Mile is mostly shopping (best in the city though). But it has some of Chicago's most famous buildings like the Water Tower, Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower to name a few. Very historic part of the city and amazing architecture if you're into that. You're also close to Oak St. Beach once you reach the northern point. Great for people watching and hanging out in the sun under the Hancock.

Are you into art? I was at the Art Institute this past week for the first time in like 5 years and I loved it. I highly recommend it.

Gmoney

Hancock is much better than Sears, not as well known or tall, but much better view and location. For shopping and a good sense of the hustle bustle of the city hit up Michigan av. or State Street, both close to your hotel. Other areas that have shops, food, and local bars that I would suggest that really give you the flavor of the chi would be Lincoln Park, walk up and down clark street and Halsted, also Wrigleyville, further north up clark. Here you can see the field and a lot of cool bars ect... Lastly, Wicker Park is a great area. All of these areas are a short train/bus ride or cab ride away. Tourist seem to flock to the river north area, especially around Rush Street. If you really want the "club" scene then Rush street is pretty good for that, mostly tourist though...

pjsyco

turningscrews wrote:

Yeah it's all walkable. The congress, a sh$t-hole. You get a GREAT location, sh$tty, sh$tty, sh$tty hotel.

I second that. I stayed there last August for Lollapalooza and the place was a fricking dump. Great location but it smelled like my Grandma's room, you know mothballs and Ben Gay. I also remember the A/C not working that well and sweating balls trying to sleep. Hey, maybe that's what smelled...my boys.

nooram

slightofjeff wrote:

When you get to the Hancock, tell them you want to go to the bar at the top. It's free to go up there. Don't pay to visit the observation deck.

You can sit up there at the bar, order a drink, and enjoy probably the best view of the city/lake.

This was Giada's exact advice from her weekend in Chicago. I am currently without the food network and need a Giada fix.

Lercara Friddi

http://www.gangstertour.com/ try these 2 did them both http://www.chicagoline.com/

Lercara Friddi

http://www.wendellaboats.com/

turningscrews

Congress is great for location but most of it is at least 50 years old, some of the rooms not even totally remodeled. We were there for the Marathon last year, we had a room that didn't even have painted trim. Feels like a 1920's horror film.

Danimal

petrocs wrote:

When Cameron was in Egypts land.......







Let my Cameron.....goooooooo


Pardon my french but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass in 2 weeks you'd have a diamond

My Mom is going to Decataur. Unfortunately she's not staying.

Kilgore_Trout

IwasBittin wrote:

Are you into art? I was at the Art Institute this past week for the first time in like 5 years and I loved it. I highly recommend it.

whats the featured exhibit right now at the art institute? i havent been there since the fall but i try to go as often as possible when i have the time