Great America area help

Can anyone suggest a good and hopefully not to expensive hotel near Great America. I know some areas of Chicago can be not so good, how is Gurnee?

Also, when coming from the East, Detroit actually, what is te best way to go? 94 all the way through or taking the 90/skyway and how expensive is it?

Any help is greatly appreciated. thanks

The closest one is the Country Inn and Suites. Its across the street from the park entrance. It's a bit on the pricey side, but it's a REALLY nice place, and you can't beat the location. There is a Comfort Inn, an independent hotel, and a Holiday Inn. There is also a Baymont Inn. You can walk to the park from all of these hotels except the Holiday Inn, which is on the other side of 94 from the park. I don't know if they offer a shuttle or not. The best bet is the Baymont, it's cheap and a nice place. But all the hotels are the same price pretty much, other than the Country Inn.

Go ahead and take the Skyway. It's worth the $3 or whatever they charge. 94 takes awhile if you are in there at the wrong time of day.

The park is 20 some miles from Chicago. Gurnee is a typical suburban village. In Gurnee they ask "Whats crime?"

*** This post was edited by spacemountain551 on 5/13/2002. ***

In Libertyville there are a few cheap hotels. Before my uncle was a hotel GM himself, we'd always drive the 15-20 minutes there and stay really cheap at a nice (new part) and crapy (old part) Holiday Inn there. I don't think it's a Holiday Inn anymore, but there are plenty of cheap hotels around there. Try hotels.com, that should give you a good idea.

If you're willing to pay a bit more for a really nice room about 20 minutes away in Waukegan, goto Candlewood Suites. It's a buisness hotel, so there is no game room, pool, or whatnot, but do you really use that when you're going to a park?

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When did American Eagle get more airtime than Viper?

But at that same "wrong time of day" the Skyway gets backed up too. It's funny, I lived most of my life right off the Skyway and only actually took it twice (and once was an accident). But what you *might* want to do is take 294. It's out of the way (meaning further west) but you avoid going through downtown Chicago.

Personally though, I *would* go straight I-94 all the way and use the time in the city traffic to do sightseeing (as a passenger of course ;). You'll go right past Comiskey Park (and the projects :)) and you'll be able to see the famous Chicago Skyline (though you wont actually see the lake cause you'll be on the wrong side).

As for places to stay, if you're going to be in the area for a while, I suggest staying near downtown. It'll be hella pricey (if you consider $100/night pricey), but if this is a vacation then you should splurge a *little*. But it's your call.

Oh and on an unrelated note, let's not act like suburbs are these bastions of "polite society". The same ish that happens in the 'colorful' inner-city happens in the 'snow white' suburbs!
lata,
jeremy
--40% of teens who do drugs live in the inner-cities

We just stayed at the Fairfield Inn across I-94, west of the park. We spent $75 a night. The room had a king bed with a sleeper sofa. And continental breakfast was included. It was a very nice, clean room. And the hotel has an indoor pool; albeit small.

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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

Here is a link for access to 6 Gurnee hotels near Great America. You will have to type in Gurnee and do a search once you get on the site.

http://www3.hotellocators.com/res/search_p.htm

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""To be the man, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!, You got to beat the man""!!!

*** This post was edited by Chitown on 5/13/2002. ***

I HATE the skyway because it really smells when you are in Gary, especially when you have to open your window to drop the tolls. I always prefer to take 294 around and get back on the Turnpike in Indiana.

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Quoth the Jaguar...."Check"

Skyway, Skyway, Skyway!

Taking I94 will add about 30 minutes, and taking I294 will add another hour (possibly more). Plus, 294 is tolls all the way (and not worth the money.)

What time/day-of-the-week are you planning on driving through Chicago? The best time of day (midweek) is between 9:30 and 11 in the morning .. then again after 8pm at night. The WORST times are betwene 4 and 7pm and between 6 and 9am. Friday afternoon/evenings are bad, from 2pm until 8pm sometimes!

Cam.

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Cameron Silver

i thought the skyway was like 5 or 6 bucks

Oh man. I totally forgot about this hotel. Its called the Adventure Inn and its located just east of Great America in Gurnee. Check out their website. Its a themed hotel complex. Pretty cool. Although I havent stayed their in some 8 years, I doubt it has changed much. The complex is made up of the Adventure Inn, Hollywood Inn, and the Jailhouse Inn(with an Al Capone theme). They even have fake palm trees in front for a tropical effect. :)

http://www.adventureinninc.com/

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""To be the man, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!, You got to beat the man""!!!

I would rather take I-94 through the Loop (I am also a fan of skyscrapers and love the view of the Chicago skyline as you approach it).

I-294 is not only tolls every so many miles but you also have to deal with the traffic heading in and out of O'Hare International as well.

X Factor
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SFWoA: An Unofficial Guide
http://sfohio.tripod.com

I may sound crazy but I have found that lake shore drive gets you to the north end of chicago then any of the expressways.

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The Beast and Night, They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly

Thanks a lot for the help guys! I think I'm going to take the skyway. I will be going sometime on Friday, not sure what time though. I'm not in a big hurry, I was even thinking of stopping at the Sears Tower, I always wanted to make a trip to the top. Thanks again for the help.

You can re-enact the scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles by staying at the El Rancho Motel....not far from the park. Just don't crash through the building! LOL.
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Brad Sherman
Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

well im lucky im only like 20 mins from the park so i jus stay at home. But yea there are hotels all around that place. Not sure on the prices though

Oh btw i'll be there on saturday and prob on sunday too. I'll be wearing a shivering timbers shirt.

How long would you say it takes to get from Gurnee to Gary via 94 and the Skyway? Give me best case and worst case times, if you would. I might do SFGAM during day 1 of the 'Playa 100.

-'Playa

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Coming 6/6/02--the CoastaPlaya 100!
Check Meeting Calendar for details...

good day -- 2 and a half hours - 3

bad day -- 4 - 4 and a half

Another question..... the brochure says the park opens at 10 on Saturday, what time do the gates open?

thanks

Hey, Don't go into Waukegan and don't stay at the roach err... Bel-lane motel. That place is a rat hole. We stayed there for fright fest last year and the room was trash. The shower didn't work and it had roaches!!!! No heat either. I wouldnt reccommend the place to my worst enemy. It sucked!

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Beer, my soon to be wife, coasters, and the FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Is this a great country or what!!
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stoogemanmoe