HEK

So in a couple of weeks I'm going to Chicago and driving the TL, now I know it will be a joy to ride all those hours on an open road, so once there I will visit some relatives but since I've never been there does anyone here have any suggestions as to what to do/ places to visit while there or on the way...
Will try to post some pics on my return....

Pocus

Are you coming into the city limits or a suburb. People say this all the time, so I need to clarify. Sorry.

Also you can check this website out to start you off with some stuff.
It will show you some things going on in and around Chicago.

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com

BigTone

have fun and watchout for cops.... heh

speed limit on open highways = ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

McNuts

at age 47 i guess you can visit the nursing homes. kidding. well the cubs are not making the playoffs, the bears are ona a bye or will be on the road, and who watches hockey? The sox should make the playoffs, you could try to catch a game, if your redsox dont make it. clubs and bars are average in chicago. if you are taking kids, mueseums are a great way to spen the morning. for raunchy bar areas, go to division and rush. for clubs go to weed street district, or viagra triangle (near the mag mile.) some of the best shopping (meaning overpriced and way too metrosexual) will be found at the mag mile. for food :fogo de chao (brazilian steak house), Lawry's ( Prime Rib). Lou malnatis (chicago pizza), Mirai (best sushi get the tuna-tuna salmon), susie's on montrose (late night philly cheese steak and cheese fry joint). they opened up millenium park last year, lots of hype, but if nothing is going on, its just hype with a huge metal jelly bean.

midas69

The great thing about Chicago is that it's not a one trick pony. Whatever you WANT to do, you can do here. You want food, we have great restaurants. And you want a particular type of food, we have more than one great one of those too. You want culture, we have great museums. You want live music, we have tons of places with live bands, many of them very good, as well as always having at least one big name act in town. You want strip clubs, we have that. You want hookers, we have that.

The point is, you want high brow, low brow or no brow, we have whatever you are looking for. So tell us what you want and we'll point you in the right direction.

HEK

Thanks guys, my wife's cousin lives within the "city limits" and she has been meaning to visit us since my wife moved up from FL and settled with me in MA more than 5 years ago, so with having my last vacation week this year I decided to visit her instead, as you know ppl work and I can't expect her to be with us all the time therefore this thread and being that I'm taking my TL , well where else would you ask, now as far as hotels I'm leaning to a major chain vs a local motel.
I'll save this thead and take it along with me with your suggestions, I already have a few Tour Books from the cities we are driving thru just in case we decide to make pit stops ...

MR1

I no longer live in Chicago and haven't for almost 30 years. We do visit every year at least once however. Our last trip was in May and we acted as tour directors for friends from California. I will leave the clubs and resurants to others but there are a few things not to be missed if you are interested.

#1 Drive along Lake Michigan on Lake Shore Drive. The lake is a natural wonder if you have not seen it before and the drive is great. It is a picturisque (?) drive and the speen limit is slow. Make sure to include a stop at the Museum of Science and Industry at 57Th on the South Side. They had an section on the Human body that was unbelviable.

#2 Proceeding north, you will pass Mccormick Place, a huge exposition center at about 29th St. Just past there will be the strange looking remodeled Soldier's Field, home of the Bears. At this point, the Natural History Museum shares parking with Soldiers Field. A great view of the downtown skyline can be had from the south steps of the History building. At this point you are at the south end of Grant Park and the downtown area.(Grant Park is kinda like Boston Common)

#3 The Art Institute is located at Congress Parkway and Michigan Ave. if you are interested. Millenium Park is just south of there, also on the Michigan Ave. side. You can then continue north on Lake Shore Drive as far as you wish Wrigley Field is at about 4800 north if I'm not mistaken.

#4 If you enjoy walking, downtown and North Michigan have beautiful old and new buildings and stores.

If you can't tell, I think Chicago is a great city to visit. I do find the hotels to be rather expensive and parking to be crazy expensive in the downtown area. Be aware that if you stay in the downtown area, parking is likely not included with the hotel room and may add $20-$40.00 per day.

I'm sure that some of the locals on this board will give you micro information if you desire it. Have a great trip. BTW, when last I visited, the Penn, Ohio and Indiana Turnpikes ranged from beautiful to boring but what a nice drive.

HEK

So our suitcases are almost done, and I'm back here for one last thing...areas to avoid?...meaning areas which you would not conisder leaving your car off one minute?...
Tomorrow rain is expoected in N.E. so most of my drive will be under the rain, anyways thanks guys and hope to make a local Chicago meet already in progress, who knows, may make new friends and meet old ones...thanks..

mlionel

Areas to avoid? Hmmm.. 1. Chicago! (Just kidding)

Generally, South side is considered to be not so desirable. Anyways, Chicago is the same as every city, so use your judgment, look around. If you plan to visit Museum of Science & industry, stick to museum parking. There are some really nice areas around there along with some nasty ones. You just need to know where to go.

mtw156

Have fun on that drive. I'm still awaiting my first lengthy voyage in the TL.

MR1

Have a good trip and be safe. Let us here from you on your return.

HEK

OK kids I'm back, over 2,5k miles on the TL and can say that it was one of my better driving trips (pics to follow as promised, just got in) ....anyways on the way over to the Windy City (last Sat) it rained most of the way to Buffalo NY therefore the VSA was on and doing between 70 and 80 mph I averaged 26/ 27 mpg, not bad considering my wifey decided to bring an extra suitcase (just in case) of her additional "gear" (shoes/ dresses...etc etc) , with that and my lead foot I can say that the TL rode as smooth as "medicated cotton", and she didn't for once mind me driving over the speed limit , as I said smooth was the key word.
Guys, PA and Ohio where not to say the least boring but I was doing 80 mph and it seemed much less that when I actually had to drop to the speed limit due to construction, I felt as if I was driving 20 or about that but it was more like 50....
No tickets thanks to my radar ( K band used on NY, PA, Ohio, Indiana), gas was cheap...r in Ohio and NY compared to the other States...Chicago amigos was so easy to learn (streets that is) I stayed with my sis in law the 1st night Sacramento BLVD and the rest of the week at the Wyndham in Oakbrook.
Drove a few times into the city for visits to the HardRock Cafe, Chinatown and the peer, Sears Tower (too clowdy for a view from the top)..etc .etc..
So with the short review i'm off to bed and catch a few zzzz's, ...moral of the story the TL is a great performance vehicle, it can stay on the road with pouring rain, it can pass a few cars w/out any problems and my sis in law ( whom she happened to be a Dr.) and drives a Volvo says that she could not believe it wasn't a RL... ..but all she knew is that Acura doesn't make them stick...
Guys/ gals just in case you didn't know ..................


we have an AWESOME machine, don't let anyone tell you different ..