We came down to the Chicago area yesterday and spent the night in a La Quinta in Schaumburg. Schaumburg is about 35 miles from downtown Chicago and a bit north of O’Hare. Today we drove in to go to the Sears Tower and the Museum of Science and Industry.
They were both interesting but the museum was by far the best value. The Sears Tower costs $12.50 per person and if you park in the close-by structure it’s $10 the first hour and $8 the next. Of course they have it timed so you can’t see it in under an hour so you end up paying $18 for parking and $25 for two people to go up and walk around the skydeck for 10 minutes then back down.
I don’t mind the cost as long as I don’t have to do it more than once. I went up in the Empire State building but didn’t do the WTC before it came down. I understand there are now 2 or 3 buildings that are taller.
The MS&T was really nice. We didn’t spend near as much time as it would require to do it right but what we saw was great. They have a German U-Boat that was captured during WWII. Quite interesting. There was a lot of other stuff and much we didn’t see.
I don’t know if we’ll ever be back but if so we won’t spend money on the tower.
I seem to remember visiting that museum. Is that the one where they have a locomotive inside, or am I thinking of someplace else?
Were you able to stay warm?
Comment by Richard — Monday March 3, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
They had a fairly “new” locomotive inside on the lower floor where you get tickets. They also now have a 727 hanging from the ceiling in one of the rooms. It’s a very large place.
We stayed pretty warm inside. It was windy outside of course and around 45. The girl at the Sears Tower said it was the first day she had been able to walk to work without a hat.
Comment by Don — Monday March 3, 2008 @ 7:55 pm
I think Mark and I went there. Do they have Sue the T-Rex?
Are you home yet?
Comment by Heather — Monday March 3, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
I didn’t see any T-Rex answering to the name of Sue but looking at their website tells me we missed the whole dinosaur exhibit. I suspect she’s probably there.
Comment by Don — Tuesday March 4, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
You should have brought a ball to the top of the Sears Tower. You’d be surprised on how much it sways.
Comment by Eric — Tuesday March 4, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
Very cool!
Comment by Heather — Tuesday April 8, 2008 @ 8:44 pm