Trip to the Shedd - interested?
- Thread starter capncapo
- Start date
craftytony
OT Godfather
I would say hoffman estates/schaumburg is closer to the good LFS's. And there is a metra station in schaumburg to take you into the city. Hoffman/schaumburg is 35-40 minutes from Rod's reef. 5-15 minutes from aquarium adventure, beyond the reef. 25 minutes from exotic aquatics, ocean's floor. 30 minutes from sho tank and sea schor.
craftytony
OT Godfather
RowingMunkeyCU
Member
hey all, just thought id give some advice since i was just down there a couple of weeks ago (weekend drive from rochester, ny... looooong).
anyway, there's a really cheap hotel ($55/night including taxes after AAA discount), it's a Super 8, about a half hour outside of downtown Chicago, in East Hazel Crest on Halsted St. It was very basic, but clean.
Also, if you plan on going to the Shedd on a Sunday, be aware of football games at Soldiers Field. There's a schedule on the Shedd website for days that there are games going on, because you won't be able to park at the aquarium. We ended up parking in a garage (monroe parking garage - $12) and taking one of the game shuttles to the aquarium.
Traffic into the city isn't all that bad, nowhere near as bad as NYC or Boston, although expect delays if there is a game.
Here's a few teaser pictures...
Driving into Chicago (near the aqarium/soldier field)
Walking to the aquarium from the shuttle, dropped off right next to soldier field
Outside the Shedd
One of the reef exhibits... no flash photography + me playing with camera settings to get a good picture = blurry picture :-(
you can check out the rest of our pictures here (shedd aquarium and narbc show):
http://community.webshots.com/user/misslissapics
anyway, there's a really cheap hotel ($55/night including taxes after AAA discount), it's a Super 8, about a half hour outside of downtown Chicago, in East Hazel Crest on Halsted St. It was very basic, but clean.
Also, if you plan on going to the Shedd on a Sunday, be aware of football games at Soldiers Field. There's a schedule on the Shedd website for days that there are games going on, because you won't be able to park at the aquarium. We ended up parking in a garage (monroe parking garage - $12) and taking one of the game shuttles to the aquarium.
Traffic into the city isn't all that bad, nowhere near as bad as NYC or Boston, although expect delays if there is a game.
Here's a few teaser pictures...
Driving into Chicago (near the aqarium/soldier field)
Walking to the aquarium from the shuttle, dropped off right next to soldier field
Outside the Shedd
One of the reef exhibits... no flash photography + me playing with camera settings to get a good picture = blurry picture :-(
you can check out the rest of our pictures here (shedd aquarium and narbc show):
http://community.webshots.com/user/misslissapics
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Driving into and around Chicago is not a problem. Getting to Shedd's is easy and worth it. I have made the trip many times both from St Louis and while living in the Chicago suburbs.
If you go to the aquarium Sunday morning, you can drive downtown and then leave for St Louis directly after the aquarium. It is 5 hours from Soldiers Field to St Louis.
If you go to the aquarium Sunday morning, you can drive downtown and then leave for St Louis directly after the aquarium. It is 5 hours from Soldiers Field to St Louis.
StupidsReef
Premium Member
Unless my wife is driving......It would be more like 3 hour's or less and a fun filed day of "Caught on Cop's Live Car Chase".
capncapo
New member
I think it's time we started looking for a place to stay. Sounds like Hoffman Estates is located in an area where we could have the best access to many of the recommended stores.
Now comes the fun part of deciding on which type of motel would be acceptable to the majority of those who plan on making the trip.
So what does everyone think .... budget type, middle of the road or the Ritz?
Don't know about anyone else but a budget works for me since all I plan on doing is sleeping there.
Now comes the fun part of deciding on which type of motel would be acceptable to the majority of those who plan on making the trip.
So what does everyone think .... budget type, middle of the road or the Ritz?
Don't know about anyone else but a budget works for me since all I plan on doing is sleeping there.
trottman
New member
where is hoffman estates?
chicago is so cool though.... i know that i have stayed at a best western in the city that was around $60 dolla a night. the city is sweet. shedd is cool. the food is better than all
i also know of a tokyo hotel that is pay by the hour... for those bargin hunters out there
chicago is so cool though.... i know that i have stayed at a best western in the city that was around $60 dolla a night. the city is sweet. shedd is cool. the food is better than all
i also know of a tokyo hotel that is pay by the hour... for those bargin hunters out there
Markk96
Premium Member
I used to live up there, if and when I go I will either be staying with my inlaws or I will stay at a couple of the hotels off of route 83 and I55, which happens to be named Kingery Hwy 
There is a holiday inn right there that I usually stay at, and is about 15 minutes from downtown.
There is a holiday inn right there that I usually stay at, and is about 15 minutes from downtown.
There is a nice grouping of hotels in Rosemont for what its worth. Close to a el station. I usually stay there when I go to Chicago simply because its easy to get to and I never have to park downtown. Let me know what you guys decide on so I can plan accordingly. Sounds like i need to get the taxes in and back so I have some fun money.
Trott on the Tokyo hotel I have a question. I understand the rooms rent per an hour but how are the "accommodations"?
Trott on the Tokyo hotel I have a question. I understand the rooms rent per an hour but how are the "accommodations"?
