Need help for MiniMoon in Chicago!

SoonToBeMrsAvery

Hi everyone!  I'm actually a Kansas City bride, but due to just starting a new job I won't have any vacation time by the time our wedding rolls around so we're going to wait a few months to take our honeymoon.  Instead, we're trying to find someplace closer to take a 3 or 4 day minimoon.  Right now we're thinking either Chicago or St. Louis.So I figured I'd go straight to the source!  What are your recommendations for great hotels/B&Bs, restaurants, and things to do in Chicago in October?  We're adventurous eaters but since this is not really our honeymoon we're going to want to keep the budget as low as possible (Im thinking $1000 for the whole trip, or less).

chosen175

There are TONS of things to do in Chicago all year round! The one restaurant I always recommend is Bacchanalia in the Little Italy - best Italian food I've ever had! For authentic Chicago food, I recommend Portillo's or Gene & Jude's for hot dogs, Al's or Mr. Beef for Italian Beef, and Gino's East or Lou Malnatti's for pizza. Wildfire is our favorite upscale steakhouse. I have to admit, we live about half a block outside the city limits and RARELY go downtown. Everything we need is here and to be honest, the drivers downtown scare the daylights out of me. lol Maybe some of the other ladies here can help with more restaurant recommendations. I can say, though, that drinks and dessert at The Signature Room in the John Hancock tower is a really romantic way to end an evening. As for hotels, I also recommend considering staying outside of downtown if you're on a tight budget and taking the train into the city. Parking downtown can easily run you $30-$40 for the day and the train is about $3. Let us know what you like to do for fun and we can give you more recommendations.

erkarpf

There are tons of fun things and places to go in Oct. There are great restaurants, things to do, places to eat etc. There are a lot of great hotel deals/restaurant deals if you take a little time to look. I'd try to stay around Michigan Ave or in the theater district. Hotel Allegro, monaco, burnham are all awesome, but so are some of the larger hotels that may have better discounts. You can do pizza, steaks etc. I'd do an architecture boat cruise, drinks at the hancock (not dinner-too expensive). You can do this on the cheap for sure!! October is great here. Lincoln park zoo is great too.

lizbride0609

our wedding was at the allerton and it was fantastic. check it out. one of my favorite restaurants is L20 also.

nickandchristinaswedding

Great Idea! There are some great things to check out in the city even though it is getting colder...Millenium Park, Art Museum, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Platitarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, Bears/Blackhawks Games, and sometimes they have free/half price days. Some other good hotels: The Sheraton, The W Hotel, Holiday Inn (Merchandise Mart) For food, I'd recommend Portillos, the Billy Goat, Uno/Duo, Gino's East, Millenium Park Grille, Carnivale, Berghoff, Salsari (Sear's Tower).