Travel tips for Chicago

[johsa]

I will travel to Chicago on Sunday on business and needs some advice what to do with my spare time. I will stay in Schaumburg.

I will arrive at noon at O'Hare but my other colleges will only arrive in the evening. My first idea was go directly to downtown Chicago from the airport and then either back to the airport (to meet the other arriving colleges) or to Schaumburg. Since there is no possibility to leave the luggage at the airport the best way must be to go directly to the hotel.

So how should I spend the day (I have never been to the Chicago area)? Stay in Schaumburg or go downtown? I do not plan to rent a car since I will have access to a car later in the week. How easy is it to get from Schaumburg and back to downtown Chicago?

Helpful for any tips!

 

[Amer]

My wife and I went to Chicago last year for our anniversary. We went to Schaumburg first to go to the Ikea since we don't have one near and then drove down to the city. We stayed right off Michigan. We left Schaumburg at around 1 or so and the drive down I-90? was horrendous. Took us hours. Traffic is bumper to bumper on it once you near Chicago. This was also the case several years before on the weekend when we went to my cousin's college graduation. It was at one of the arenas north of town and coming back down I-90? is just horrible.

You should either find someplace to stash your bags and stay downtown to see the sights and travel later with your co-workers to Schaumburg or just go straight to Schaumburg and not come back, IMO. I hope others may have more to say on the matter.

As for Schaumberg, I wouldn't say there was anything to see besides the huge Ikea. Seemed to mostly be a business park with hotels and chain restaurants.

Edit: Just realized you're not going to have a car. Not sure how easy it would be to get to Chicago from Schaumberg then. I know there's a train that runs along I-90 there into the city but I'm not sure how far it goes out and where you could catch it.

 

[Crixus]

Johsa, if you will not be able to check your luggage at the airport, I am afraid your best bet would be to get your gear out to your hotel in Schaumburg. While there will be various modes of transportation from the airport to downtown Chicago, you won't enjoy yourself much lugging around a bunch of suitcases/bags.

Once you get your gear settled at your hotel, you can see if there is time to still try and go into downtown. The hotel folks can give you the realistic situation of getting into downtown. If you go downtown, you can easily catch transportation back to O'Hare (to meet the others) but I don't know how easily you can get from downtown directly to Schaumburg. There are various public transportation rail trains the go out to various suburbs, but I don't remember if Schaumburg is one of them. It is about as far west of the airport as downtown is east of the airport.

Whatever you decide, remember that planes are often late in America. And in a huge megalopolis like Chicago, one broken down automobile or car wreck can back up traffic for miles.

I couldn't bring you much good news, I'm afraid, but I do hope you have an enjoyable stay and get to get into downtown at some point during your trip.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I would say take your stuff to the hotel. Schaumburg natives might feel differently, but to me it is a perfect representation of everything that is boring about suburban life. It's like sitting in a comfortable beige room eating a bowl of vanilla soft ice cream and listening to the Carpenters' greatest hits. Get into town and look around. Maybe rent a car for the day? Otherwise it's hard for a non-local to find their way around in a timely manner. Without a car and lots of time to get around, you're looking at the Macaroni Grill in Schaumburg. Driving in Chicago isn't bad at all. The Art Institute and the Field Museum are both exceptional. I am not a fan of the Michigan Ave/Rush St. areas, but they do attract a lot of tourists.

You can find many nice little restaurants--try Chowhound for recommendations about what's good these days. There's everything from spectacular and innovative globally known places to great little ethnic spots. As much as I love Chicago, I don't care much for Chicago pizza. However, if you are up for that, Giordano's makes a good pie and Pequod's on Clybourn used to be good, but I haven't been there in a long time. Medici's in Hyde Park is my favorite neighborhood restaurant (and 57th Street Books next door is a fine independent bookseller, to say nothing of it's sister store The Seminary Coop around the corner. For my money, the best bookstore in the world), and Ann Sather's on Belmont is is also nice. Chinatown is OK, but it is a bit inaccessible if you aren't driving. The Korean restaurants on Lawrence are also very good. I always liked Cafe Iberico for tapas too. Many nice steakhouses if you are interested--my personal favorite is Coach Ditka's place. Food's OK, but you might get to shmooze with Da Coach himself.

If you are looking for shaving gear, try Merz Apothecary. Some very nice restaurants in that area, including a good Thai place right under the "L."

 

[Crixus]

Coach Ditka's place. Food's OK, but you might get to shmooze with Da Coach himself.

Which is a "must do" for all Norwegian travelers.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Which is a "must do" for all Norwegian travelers.

Could be a life changing experience.

 

[Obsessed]

It's like sitting in a comfortable beige room eating a bowl of vanilla soft ice cream and listening to the Carpenters' greatest hits.

[puts down spoon, turns off music, starts looking at paint samples]

 

[The Nid Hog]

[puts down spoon, turns off music, starts looking at paint samples]

[Goes on line: Planning your move to Schaumburg!]

Click!

 

[Amer]

If you like deep dish, Giradano's is great, but be prepared to wait a couple hours for a table. If you go to the one near North Michigan be warned that everything around there will close at 6 or 7 and you'll have nothing else to do while waiting than stand around.

 

[johsa]

It seems like the easiest method is to go directly to the hotel. Depending on the time and the level of jet lag I guess the easiest method is to take a short taxi to Arlington Park Metra train station to get to downtown.

 

[The Nid Hog]

It seems like the easiest method is to go directly to the hotel. Depending on the time and the level of jet lag I guess the easiest method is to take a short taxi to Arlington Park Metra train station to get to downtown.

http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/7?tag=main_body;board_banner

Here's a link to the Chowhound boards for Chicago--it should help you find somewhere good to eat.

 

[auk1124]

All I can remember about O'Hare are the god-awful roads out of it. Something like 8 or 10 lanes wide going into toll booths, narrowing immediately down by two or three lanes on the other side, forcing drivers to drag-race out of the toll booths to get into a lane for the next toll booth. With no clear lane markers for guidance.

The highway system up there was designed by a raving lunatic.

 

[The Nid Hog]

All I can remember about O'Hare are the god-awful roads out of it. Something like 8 or 10 lanes wide going into toll booths, narrowing immediately down by two or three lanes on the other side, forcing drivers to drag-race out of the toll booths to get into a lane for the next toll booth. With no clear lane markers for guidance.

The highway system up there was designed by a raving lunatic.

It's more like the original designers imagined one lane of horse drawn buggies moving in either direction and just kept widening and paving as traffic increased. When things get too thick, add a cloverleaf to divert people to Wisconsin.

 

[Oublik]

I actually live in the Chicago area and your in luck! There is an AOS store in Chicago and in Schaumburg, Here are the addresses if intrested:

Chicago
• Shops at Northbridge
520 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-527-1604

Schaumburg
• Woodfield Mall
5 Woodfield Mall
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847-413-1713


If your hungry and like Thai food Rosded is the best in Chicago:

2308 W Leland Ave
Chicago, IL 60625-2021
(773) 334-9055

 

[Shave Cave Dweller]

It's more like the original designers imagined one lane of horse drawn buggies moving in either direction and just kept widening and paving as traffic increased. When things get too thick, add a cloverleaf to divert people to Wisconsin.

Be sure and stop for some cheese and beer

 

[johsa]

I actually live in the Chicago area and your in luck! There is an AOS store in Chicago and in Schaumburg, Here are the addresses if intrested:

Schaumburg
• Woodfield Mall
5 Woodfield Mall
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847-413-1713

Thanks. The hotel (Hyatt) looks like it is right next to the Woodfield mall. I will check it out. I have some plans to stockpile a couple of their soaps.

 

[M80]

If I was in Schaumburg I would go to The Ram Restaurant & Brewery.
http://www.theram.com/

 

[johsa]

If I was in Schaumburg I would go to The Ram Restaurant & Brewery.
http://www.theram.com/

Looks nice and close to the hotel so there is a good chance that I will check it out.

 

[kwk285]

I am also traveling to Chicago as well for business. I won't have much free time. I am staying at the Renaissance Downtown. Are there any good shops really close?

 

[Miles]

Just a small note: Parking downtown is silly expensive. Like $60-$80 for the day flat rate in some areas. Not trying to scare you, just something to keep in mind so you don't freak out just in case you were considering a rental car.

Smart money's on public transit, subway, taxi and all that. Good luck!