<p>I was just thinking.......
many of you will be traveling to see colleges that you and your child have intertest in, or has been accepted into.</p>
<p>I know when we did the college trip I would have liked some info as to best places to stay, eat, find a shopping area, etc. prior to getting to our destination. It would also be good to know places to avoid.</p>
<p>Since I started this I will put in my two cents worth about the area around CMU.</p>
<p>Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are just minutes from CMU and have great places to eat and shop. If you need a mall we found that the Monroeville Mall had just about everything we needed.</p>
<p>We have stayed at the Shadyside Inn which are like mini apartments (a little bit of a walk to campus but doable. You can walk to shopping and restaurants), The Holiday Inn near campus (they have a shuttle that will take you to campus. It is right next to a hospital), and the Radisson adjacent to the Monroeville Mall, (we had a rental car).</p>
<p>If you like the touristy kind of stuff head out to Station Square, (great restaurants) or the Waterfront, (large movie theater complex).</p>
<p>Where do you grab a bite to eat, Wct? I used to live in that area, but the we rarely ate out. I know the Union Grill was where a lot of Pitt and CMU parents took their kids for dinner. I do miss Uncle Sam's subs and the Sichuan on Murray. We went to Eleven in the Strip for dinner (a luxery) when S auditioned. My favorite restaraunt was Majorca on the Southside. Friend's son says Lulu's is a favorite among CMU students.</p>
<p>Michigan League</p>
<p>I can't stop raving about our stay at Michigan League. How convenient to be in the same building as the initial meetings and across the street from the dance audition and that evening's performance of Jazzin'. The breakfast was included, was convenient, and was good. The shuttle system to the north campus is very easy. Also, taking the airport shuttle to/from the airport was less expensive than a rental car and protected the lives of all Michigan drivers who would not have wanted this Texan on the snowy roads.</p>
<p>My D and I made a ritual of eating one meal in a campus hangout. We tried Noodle House across from campus. You get a feel for the students and the campus life. If you're lucky, your waiter is a student who is a happy to explain what they like and don't like about the school, the town, the education. Then, while we wait for the food, we each write up our notes and then compare them. We record our impressions of the campus life, student comments, architecture, academic offerings, friendliness of the staff and professors, shopping district, tour information, and anything important to her campus life. It helps us remember it months later (and it also helps me get to the core of my D's reactions without cross-examining her.)</p>
<p>Not exactly an MT school-- (fabulous graduate drama program) since I live right outside New Haven I can provide anyone with info if you plan to visit. You may also find more info on the CC website if you search under that particular schools' name. Remember, except all the collleges and universities listed here have many OTHER majors! I once posted info on the Yale site.</p>
<p>Jamimom-</p>
<p>At Station Square we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. There were many well known franchise restaurants there.
Downtown we had to try Primanti Bros. because we saw a show about it on TV.
<a href="http://www.primantibros.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.primantibros.com/</a></p>
<p>I liked eating in Shadyside because I loved the atmosphere there. Here are some of the places we liked:
Max & Erma's (American food, sandwiches, salads, etc.)
There was a very small Italian place with a small patio outside on a side street that had recently opened when we were there in '03. It was fantastic but I can't remember the name. I hope it is still there.
We also ate at a Mexican restaurant that was very good called Cozumel. It was on Walnut.
For breakfast it has got to be Pamela's-great pancakes!
Prantl's Bakery had great fruits and goodies that you could buy and take back to your hotel.</p>
<p>Great idea. </p>
<p>Ithaca: Holiday Inn is the closest hotel/motel to Ithaca College and it has a swimming pool and fitness room. It's not 4 star but it's perfectly clean and adequate, and you're right downtown so access to restaurants (and the commons pedestrian mall with all the shops, bookstores, etc) is handy and just a 2 min walk away. It's also opposite the public library, and it has wireless internet. For restaurants, Moosewood Restaurant, of course, but there's also Diamond's Indian restaurant 100 yards from the hotel. [I found that some Bed and Breakfast places have a minimum 2 night stay.] </p>
<p>For NYC, we stayed at two places (different visits). Both were great. The Beacon Hotel has a mini-kitchen in the rooms, and was still not too expensive. The Courtyard Mariott East (52nd st and 3rd) doesn't have a kitchen but if you ask they give you a mini-refrigerator and there is a coffee pot, of course. I got a good internet price here. Both were super clean and in super safe areas and had good access to the bus system. For both hotels I got good rates using one of the travel discount internet sites.</p>
<p>In Boston, we stayed at the Boston Park Plaza and loved it. It was a little pricey (but not for Boston) and the beds were the most comfy we have had anywhere, plus it's just around the corner from Emerson. I can't remember the restaurant where we ate in Little Italy, but follow your nose...the smells coming from that area were to die for and the food was wonderful.
When we visit NYC, we usually stay at the Edison in Times Square. It is quite old, art deco, but nice, reasonably priced, and right in the middle of the action. If you drive into the city, they will park your car for you for the duration of your stay.</p>
<p>OU and OCU-Can anyone recommend a great place to stay and things not to miss in OKC during our campus visit? Thanks!</p>
<p>We stayed at the Hampton Inn in OKC...not the one closest to the airport, butthe other one near OCU. This was our first trip to Oklahoma, (we're from NC), and we didn't have time to see much outside the campus so I am far from being an OKC expert, but I recommend the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum (it is very thought provoking and tastefully done). Also, if you are looking for good places to eat/night life, check out Bricktown. I am sure when the weather warms up, Bricktown is a great place to hang out. Also, make sure you see a performance at OCU...that is what really sold us on their program. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Lexasmom</p>
<p>Poppins,
We usually stay at the Courtyard Marriott on NW Expressway in OKCity...they offer a $69/night rate to visitors to OCU. I second the recommendation to try Bricktown. D and I ate at Abuelos (mexican chain) that was fun.</p>
<p>I'll put a word in for the Inns on Negley, which is near CMU. It's a little more expensive than, say, the Holiday Inn, but it has free parking and a nice breakfast is included, so it works out about the same.</p>
<p>I agree about the Michigan League.</p>
<p>At Syracuse, we stayed at the Syracuse Hilton (?) It's affiliated with the school, and right next to campus, which is nice.</p>
<p>We stayed at the Genesee Grande in Syracuse. Very lovely, very reasonable, includes a continental breakfast. The best rates were available directly from their website. In addition, it is walking distance to the performing arts center.
<a href="http://www.geneseegrande.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.geneseegrande.com/</a></p>
<p>Hi,
Idk if this is the best place to post this, but I haven;t seen any mention of this deal I spotted for amtrak (on the website above). If you are 16-17, and visiting colleges with a parent &/or sibs, the adult goes for free! The student fare appears discounted also.</p>
<p>somewhere after these auditions and hotels were already under way I joined one of the hotel clubs, in my case choice hotels, which has moderately priced hotels such as comfort inn, etc. It led to a free night for me somewhere. I recommend looking into joining a hotel clubs -- works like frequent flyer miles -- and staying with the brand if possible. I am also a member of Holiday Inn, but I failed to use the points to get credit.</p>
<p>Poppins, Residence Inn in Norman for OU is a wonderful suite hotel and they give an OU discount.</p>
<p>for boston conservatory OR emerson -- definitely eat at Vinny T's...it's on Boylston Street really close to Hines Convention Center...it's delicious :)</p>
<p>I stayed at the Sheraton in Syracuse-it was a block from campus...not even. </p>
<p>anyone have suggestions for boston conservatory and michigan?</p>
<p>In Ann Arbor, we have stayed at the Bell Tower (Central campus location...very convenient..lovely, european-style hotel...but pricier)...and the Hampton Inn on Green Street (closer to North Campus...free breakfast, clean, the beds are GREAT...much more affordable and be sure to tell them you are visiting the University and you should get a discount).</p>
<p>ToTheStage - don't stay at the Comfort Inn in Ann Arbor. Well there are two in the area I think...I believe we stayed at the one that's closer to the school of music and it was noisy, no workout room, just not very nice. We were there Superbowl weekend though, so I'm sure you'll have a much easier time finding a nice room! lol</p>