The Travel Thread

[Grunthy]

I second Lou.

[shoeshine boy]

make sure to get an Italian Beef while you're there as well. I recommend you get it "dipped" and get it from Portillo's. it may be a chain but it's damn good!

[blackjack68]

Wife and I are looking to take a weekend trip to Chicago at some point this summer. Any tips? Hotel suggestions? The best place to get the weird pizza they eat?

Downtown Dogs on Rush for the weirdest, but tastiest, hot dog you've ever eaten.

[llipgh2]

Wife and I are looking to take a weekend trip to Chicago at some point this summer. Any tips? Hotel suggestions? The best place to get the weird pizza they eat?

Hotel Monaco is great. Stayed there a few times. It's centrally located. On N. Wabash. Close to the L, Michigan Ave, the Navy Pier.

Definitely take in a Cubs game. The experience is awesome. And take in Wrigleyville.

[Dickie Dunn]

Thank you for the suggestions so far. We're planning on flying instead of driving. If we stay in a centrally located hotel is public transportation reliable enough or should we rent a car?

[Letang Is The Truth]

dont rent a car. waste of time/money

[blackjack68]

Take the GO shuttle into town from the airport and then many things are walkable from the Magnificent Mile area.

I've stayed at the Hard Rock and at the Congress Plaza hotels and will be staying at the Inn of Chicago in June.

Navy Pier is very touristy, but worth a walk through, especially if you like stained glass.

Pippin's Tavern (next to Downtown Dogs on Rush) is my favorite "local" watering hole.

[Shyster]

Headed to Japan this summer. I'll be spending roughly three days each in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. The days in Nagoya will overlap with the Nagoya sumo tournament, and I'm planning on getting tickets for at least two days. My brother's wife and in-laws are Japanese, and they're making the trip and invited me along. So I'll be with multiple people who speak fluent Japanese. This trip's not going to be cheap, but I think I would regret passing up this opportunity.

[tifosi77]

Wife and I are looking to take a weekend trip to Chicago at some point this summer. Any tips? Hotel suggestions? The best place to get the weird pizza they eat?

Not pizza, but there are a few restaurants that I consider must stops:

The Purple Pig
The Girl & The Goat
Frontera Grill

[tifosi77]

So I'll be with multiple people who speak fluent Japanese. This trip's not going to be cheap, but I think I would regret passing up this opportunity.

You are going to have a blast. Make sure you get okonomiyaki and takoyaki in Osaka (their style is better than Tokyo, imo). I didn't do much sightseeing in Tokyo, but I did take a day to walk around Akasaka (where my hotel was), Meiji Jingu, and Harajuku. Company office was in Tokyo Midtown (essentially Roppongi), so I got around that bit somewhat. Tons of fun. Just eat everything.

[Gabe]

make sure to get an Italian Beef while you're there as well. I recommend you get it "dipped" and get it from Portillo's. it may be a chain but it's damn good!

I'll second the recommendation for Portillo's. They are really, really good. I was in Chicago last fall and had it for a meeting. Was really incredible.

[shoeshine boy]

Wife and I are looking to take a weekend trip to Chicago at some point this summer. Any tips? Hotel suggestions? The best place to get the weird pizza they eat?

Not pizza, but there are a few restaurants that I consider must stops:

The Purple Pig
The Girl & The Goat
Frontera Grill

can't speak for Purple Pig or Frontera Grill but if you're hoping to get into Girl and the Goat on a weekend got to their website http://girlandthegoat.com/ 90 days to the day that you're going in order to make reservations or you'll miss out. it's almost as bad as trying to get into the French Laundry.
we go to Chicago every August for a hockey tourney and the only reservation I've ever seen available was Monday at 5:30.