Vacation Ideas???

Parent Cafe
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You can have a great visit to Chicago in a short period of time and mostly within walking distance of your hotel. The two activities I would most encourage splurging on are the Chicago Architecture Center Boat Tour https://www.architecture.org/tours/detail/chicago-architecture-foundation-center-river-cruise-aboard-chicagos-first-lady/ (this is really better than the cheaper options) , and the Art Institute. Here are some of the highlights of the latter to give you an idea: https://www.artic.edu/highlights/3/what-to-see-in-an-hour http://www.thechicagotraveler.com/top-10-things-to-see-at-the-art-institute-of-chicago/

From your hotel, you can walk over to Navy Pier and all the way to the end for great city views. Yes it’s touristy, but you’re tourists! https://navypier.org/ If the Crystal Gardens are open, pop in and see the spitting fountains. Or you can walk all the way up Michigan Avenue to the Hancock Tower; another splurge would be to go up to the Signature Lounge for a drink. You can also wander Water Tower Place. I like going up to the lobby of the attached Ritz Carlton because it’s cool. Or you can walk the Riverwalk as noted earlier. Or you can head down across the river to Millennium Park https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/post/10-things-you-shouldnt-miss-at-chicagos-millennium-park-campus/ and Maggie Daley Park https://maggiedaleypark.com/, and on into Grant Park and the Art Institute, then down to Buckingham Fountain. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain Or you go into the Loop and enjoy the famous public sculptures - oops, you don’t like sculptures! https://www.choosechicago.com/things-to-do/museums-and-arts/public-art/public-art-in-the-loop/

So you can certainly fill 2 1/2 days without even needing to go elsewhere.

Don’t let allergies stop you from trying restaurants; most place would be happy to work with you to meet your needs.

My favorite Chicago pizza is Lou Malnati’s but everyone has their own favorite! Also just an FYI for when you leave, Midway Airport has a number of iconic Chicago eateries in the terminal.

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Thank you @Marilyn for the list of places. I wasn’t initially planning to go to the Art Institute but now I’m reconsidering. I’m still planning the day-to-day list of what to do but I believe I’ll have it ready to soon to share for thoughts and suggestions.

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Bring your student ID if you are visiting the Art Institute, as you will get a discount off the adult rate.

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I never thought about that. Thanks @momofsenior1 . I might do some shopping as well on Magnificent Mile if there is time so I’ll be sure to check for student discounts as well.

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This has gotten confusing , at least for me . If it was a family trip but one of the family doesn’t want to go to Chicago, what next? Who is paying? Why does it have to be when you are back in school? Can you go this summer? Is there some urgency here as you have alluded to health? I’m not sure you’ll be able to get the best advice here with the info. you’ve provided.

If you decide on Chicago, maximize your time there with flights . It’s a great city to explore. Denver might be another option if you haven’t been there, and should have non-stop flights You do not need to answer any of my questions. I’m just wondering aloud on some of this and I’m sure I am missing something here. .Good luck with the planning.

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@sevmom I’m trying to find a time when it isn’t too hot and humid but it also isn’t extremely cold. That makes summer not a good choice. Unfortunately, that good temperature would fall into the school year. As for family, we would still go. When we went to another city in the spring, one of the family members wasn’t interested in going but we still went there.

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If you are going to Chicago, get tickets to see Second City! Many, many SNL comedians got their start there.

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Thanks for the advice @jym626 but we will only be able to explore the city in 2.5 days. A comedy show would be nice but we could just do that at our home city as well. We’ll want to explore famous tourist destinations and landmarks with our limited time. The comedy show might be better for another time. I appreciate the suggestion though.

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@MoonKnight - going to a show at Second City is special. Sure, many cities have stand up comedy, but Second City is an Icon.

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@moonkight My personal opinion–it would be a crime not to at least spend a little bit of time at the Art Institute of Chicago. It’s a world class museum. It’s considered to have the best collection of Impressionist and Post Impressionist painting and sculpture outside of France.

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Well, MoonKnight is no longer with us!

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Somehow I’m not surprised.

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I was having too much fun planning the Chicago visit!

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What makes you say that, @sevmom? Their threads are still open and they were posting about an hour ago.

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Your posts are confusing. You posted the above in the “regrets when parents pass” thread a couple days ago. Today you’re planning a cross country trip with them that involves lots of walking. I don’t get it.

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look at the date/time of @sevmom’s post, @austinmshauri. Seems cc now allows reincarnation :wink:

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@austinmshauri Sorry, I should have mentioned I was referring to my grandparents there.

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BUT, that and the Parents Caring for Parents thread are very much intended for adults who’ve been sandwiched between their own lives, children, careers, and (often) difficult situations with their parents. Posters who’ve been through the mill and are now either suffering the responsibilities (PCP) or looking back with regret (often related to dementia issues.) It’s not a random thread topic.

As for your vacation, you need to take the reins and decide. You’re aware of other options to fly out of greater Los Angeles, not just LAX, right? You ask about Friday traffic and we asked where you are, no answer. There’s a difference in patterns. You were concerned about 62 degree weather, but someone in LA should be very familiar with that. And so on.

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Regardless, discussion of posts on other threads is off-topic for this thread.

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@skieurope You have previously posted a very helpful reminder to non-parents posting in the parents forums that they should be mindful of how/what they post given the large majority of posters in those forums. It was VERY helpful!