<p>I am planning a college visit to Chicago and am looking for hotel suggestions. I will not have a car so I'd like to be within walking distance or convenient to public transportation. Also, would like to spend some time taking in Chicago sights. Would love suggestions on things to do/see and especially places to eat. Thanks.</p>
<p>Hotel pickings in Hyde Park are slim, and will remain so after this year’s debacle over developing one.</p>
<p>Anything in the Loop area is going to be (a) convenient to the public transportation that would take you to the University of Chicago (and Northwestern and DePaul, if you care about that sort of thing), (b) convenient to lots of sights, and (c) convenient to the airport public transportation. I would just go on one of the travel sites and look for the best deal in that area; we have usually been pretty successful with that. Being on or close to State or Michigan, and being close to Millenium Park, are plusses. Don’t go too far north of the Chicago River, since it will require another switch of public transit.</p>
<p>If you want to check locations, look at the maps on the CTA website. The key public transportation routes to the University from the Loop are: (1) Red Line to Garfield, and 55 bus east, (2) Green Line to a different Garfield and 55 bus east, or to the end of the line and walk north, (3) Metra to 57th St. and 55 bus or walk west, or (4) 6 bus to 55th St. and 55 bus or walk west. </p>
<p>The Green Line (which looks most convenient on the map) is probably the least popular of those routes. It runs a little less frequently than the Red Line, people think the Green Line Garfield stop is scarier than the Red Line one (the Red Line Garfield stop is one of the ugliest, least welcoming places on Earth, but it’s busy and safe), and no one recommends walking the half mile or so between the Green Line Garfield stop and the campus (the equivalent walk west from the Metra or 6 bus stop is no problem at all). The Green Line will probably get a lot more student traffic when there are 800 kids living in South Campus, only a couple of blocks from its last stop on 62nd St.</p>
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I was wondering about that. It will be interesting to see if the University will extend its campus police coverage and perhaps emergency phones along those two blocks. </p>
<p>There are some bed and breakfasts in Hyde Park, etc., but I agree with JHS, one would have an overall better experience staying in the Loop (downtown). Chicago is great in the summer, though it can be a bit warm. I believe one can use Priceline and specify the loop.</p>
<p>Places to eat?</p>
<p>Cedars on 53rd and Woodlawn. Medici on 57th. Or check out some of Obama’s favorites on 53rd.</p>
<p>If you stay downtown or loop, IMHO (others may disagree) the best dining is north of North Avenue, so a bit of a trip. closer in, it tends to be targeted toward the expense account convention crowd or, in the loop, the lunchtime crowd. </p>
<p>Chicago is a great foodie city, but the best pockets (like Devon Avenue for Indian) are a bit of a hike from downtown, although often CTA accessible. </p>
<p>BTW, if you stay near the loop, don’t forget the Bean. Day or night, it is worth it. And at night, Buckingham fountain is worth the short walk from the Bean.</p>
<p>There’s the Ramada Inn Lakeshore - VERY basic but reasonably close, not too expensive and frequently patronized by folks visiting the U of C. While it’s a long walk, it is within walking distance.</p>
<p>I would recommend looking into the guest rooms available at the International House which is right on campus. If you’re looking for a hotel type experience, you won’t find it there. It’s more like living on a college dorm hallway with shared bath and snack bar downstairs (some of the larger rooms have a private bath), but you absolutely cannot beat the price nor the convenience. Check them out through the quicklinks section on the U of C website.</p>
<p>Try Orange 75 W. Harrison for Breakfast/Brunch, or if you want to be overwhelmed with food in an old Chicago favorite try Lou Mitchell’s 565 West Jackson. Newmassdad is correct, most food in the loop and near north is on the expensive side. However, there is a fun near north Persian restaurant with moderate prices that we like, Reza’s 432 West Ontario (great lamb shank with couscous and braised vegetables for about $15). </p>
<p>While on campus do not miss the Oriental Institute on University and 58th St. And close by in the Seminary Coop Bookstore.</p>
<p>within a mile or two of the loop there are some great neighborhoods for dining. West of the loop, around UIC (e.g. West Taylor) there are some interesting neighborhood places, most pretty good. The Pilsen neighborhood also has some finds especially true mexican. </p>
<p>Another interesting option is chinatown, especially the modern shopping plaza north of S. Archer Ave and west of Wentworth. The restaurants there are the real thing, and it is near a CTA stop.</p>
<p>I had a great meal at Mundial Cocina Mestiza in Pilsen. Very close to a Pink Line stop.</p>
<p>What are some things to do/see that you guys recommend doing while in Chicago?</p>
<p>Something I’ve never done, but that everyone else in my family has loved, is the architectural boat tour – looking at the city’s magnificent buildings from the Chicago River.</p>
<p>As newmassdad says, if you’re in the Loop area at all, don’t neglect to go by Millenium Park to see the Bean, the nearby fountain, and, close by, the huge Frank Gehry concert shell. All of it is great public art – engaging, fun, social. You could spend five minutes there, or an hour looking at how other people react to it. And one time when we were there, the great Mexican singer Lila Downs (who actually lives in Chicago) was singing for free in the pavillion. That was a treat!</p>
<p>The Art Institute is one of the great art museums of the world. If you like art museums, and you haven’t been there recently, it should be high on your list if you have the time. Down by the University, there’s the Oriental Institute, the SMART Museum, and the massive Museum of Science and Industry, too. I’ve only been to the first (which is small, dense, and fascinating if you are into the ancient Near East). My kids like the SMART. None of us has ever been to the Science museum, but my Chicago relatives take their kids there every couple of months.</p>
<p>Shopping – the window variety, or with live ammunition – is fun if your party enjoys that sort of thing. There’s the luxury version on the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave. north of the river), the almost-as-expensive hipster boutique version in neighborhoods like Wicker Park or Belmont, and the interesting-ethnic-neighborhood version in Pilsen, Chinatown, and many other places I haven’t been.</p>
<p>And of course tons of under- and over-the-radar cultural stuff – plays, dance, music, art. I think it’s done for the year now, but the Chicago Weekly (a student-produced supplement to, I believe the Reader) does a great job of calendaring these sorts of things on the South Side.</p>
<p>done the boat twice. Well worth the price. You can’t believe how different the perspective is from the river!</p>
<p>Art Institute is great. Field museum is a treasure. Museum of Science and Industry is a faded icon not worth the time. </p>
<p>For something different in nice weather, the Lincoln Park zoo is very nice, as are the surroundings. You could do a nice afternoon there, and cross over to Ranalli’s Pizza for a great dinner at Belden and Clark, right near the Lincoln Park conservatory.</p>
<p>And the Art Institute is free on Thursday night and Friday night. Lincoln Park Zoo is also free.</p>
<p>Wow thanks for all the great advice! I just booked everything today. I got a GREAT price at the Holiday Inn (Magnificent Mile) - $109 a night. I understand it’s close to public transportation. I can’t wait to check out “this bean” everyone keeps talking about and take the architectural boat ride. Got tickets to a Cubs game as well - woo - woo! Thanks again!</p>
<p>This may be a little off topic, but do any of you know if it would be possible to get an interview scheduled during a summer visit?</p>
<p>taypi31 - yes look at the website and you can schedule it right on line. You might need to be flexible with your dates as we found some interview slots were already full. Good luck!</p>
<p>Alright, sounds awesome! Thanks a ton!</p>