Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6
out there and enjoy the country's “third
coast.” See “Enjoying the 'Third Coast':
Chicago's Beaches,” in chapter 8.
•
Getting the B lues:
E ven kids can get
the blues, thanks to alcohol- and smoke-
free nights at B lue Chicago (p . 270),
one of the city's many fabled blues ven-
ues. The blues is the first original music
of America and the basis for r ock ' n'
roll. It's an authentic piece of Chicago 's
heart and soul that y ou absolutely
should not miss. I f y ou want to learn
more befor e y our arriv al in Chicago,
read
Blues for Dummies,
written b y the
father-and-son team of Lonnie B rooks
and Wayne Baker Brooks, two of Chi-
cago's beloved blues musicians.
•
Rooting for the H ome Team:
Win or
lose (and sorry to say, historically speak-
ing, it's usually lose—but as always, this
may be our year!), an afternoon at Wrig-
ley Field is a thrill for kids and adults
alike. Even if the C ubbies aren't hitting
them out of the park, hot dogs, peanuts
in the shell, and a r ousing rendition of
“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” are sure
to please. This most charming of major-
league ballparks is a slice of Americana
that y ou should not miss. O ne after-
noon spent in the embrace of the
Friendly Confines will have you hooked
on the sheer magic of Wrigley Field. See
p. 278.
2
THE BEST HOTEL BETS
1
Renovation, expansion, and new construc-
tion hav e been the name of the game in
the Chicago lodging world for sev eral
years. F rom hip boutique hotels to huge
facilities for conv ention-goers, plus a nice
crop of family-friendly hotels, y ou'll find
something to suit y our needs. The down-
side: R oom rates keep rising, making
ideal for families looking for a little
more space than the typical hotel r oom
provides. The in-r oom N intendo,
indoor pool, and location near a couple
of popular kid-friendly v enues—ESPN
Zone and the Hard Rock Cafe—should
keep Junior happy, too. (The Lakeshore
hotel also has a wonderful location near
Navy P ier and in a complex that
budget lodgings har der to find. O n the
luxury-hotel fr ont, Trump I nternational
Hotel and Tower has opened to impressive
reviews (and impr essive prices), while the
former House of Blues Hotel underwent a
major r enovation to become bohemian
Hotel S ax. F amily-friendly options
abound, with mainstays like the family-
owned Talbott Hotel offering large suites,
some with multiple bathr ooms. The hotel
is ideally located near M
includes a huge cinema and P.J. Clarke's
restaurant.) See p. 97.
•
Newer Family-Friendly Hotel:
I always
say that any hotel that 's built recently is
a good bet. N ew constr uction means
fresh linens, fr esh decor, updated heat-
ing and cooling systems—y ou get my
drift. Although it's a couple of y ears old
now, you'll still get all these benefits at
the city 's most r ecent family-friendly
addition,
Four P oints b y S heraton—
Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
(630 N. R ush St. (
&
312/981-6600
),
plus a great location just 1 block west of
Michigan A venue in the hear t of the
Magnificent M ile. There's also a pool,
where you and the kids can unwind after
a busy day of touring. S ee p. 95.
ichigan A venue
shopping (p. 93).
•
Most F amily-Friendly:
W ith cribs,
laundry ser vice, fr ee br eakfast, and
every room a suite, the
Embassy Suites
Hotel Chicago—D owntown,
600 N.
State St. (
&
800/362-2779
), or its sis-
ter hotel,
Embassy Suites Hotel Chi-
cago—Downtown/Lakeshore,
511 N.
Columbus Dr. (
&
312/836-5900
), are
