Well its a bit sooner than i thought, but I will get to go oon ANOTHER vacation...First week of January, Toronto to Chicago, Chicago to Dallas and then home...

This is just what i need...a good ol' American Road Trip... :cowboy:

I will be renting a nice SUV to make the trek ( Same price as a plane ticket :P )

I have been going over MapQuest Trying to work out the best route..but all I can think of is the sound of the tires on the interstate highways..man its bee 2 years since I did one of these!!! :afro:

My wife and I will take our first vactation togeather since our honeymoon, and we are really looking forward to it. If anyone can give me some heads up on what I can do in eiter of these cities, PLEASE let me know, as I have never been to Chicago or Dallas in my life...oonly know what I have seen in the movies... -_-

If there is anyone in either of these cities that would like to enjoy a pint, please let me know!!!! :cheers:

The only advice I can give you is: Make sure you have a lot of good CD's with you! I went on a 10 days road trip with only 5 CD's...Let me tell you that I couldn't bear them by the end of the trip! hahah! -_-

CD, I go to Chicago a few times a year usually. I have to have my fill of 'Real' Chicago Style Pizza. Wow, it's been awhile since I have done anything to exciting in chicago though, I usually just go to eat and walk around. I will let you know, traffic is usually hell there. Especially in the evening. So if you are gonna be bumming in the city, I would suggest walking by all means. It's pretty easy to get to most places.
If you are looking for touristy sights... try this: Chicago Sights It has a decent overall view of things to see and do.

If you are in the mood for Chicago deep dish, there is Pizzeria Ora 545 N. LaSalle Dr (312) 464-1872. This is where I usually go. It is in the River North Best Western Hotel that is downtown. The closest cross street I can remember is Whacker.
Umm... there are several other restaurants /cuisines around. From delis to steak.
For Bars Click Here. Sorry, I don't have any recommendations there. But I doubt the city that dyes the river green for St. Patty's day is gonna be too hard up for a good bar.

Sorry, Dallas I have never been too, but my father keeps recommending Austin to me, he says it has great night life.

Hope it helps... if ya need anything else just ask.

If ya want.. I just might be up to clink glasses. I've been meaning to head out there sometime.

Sijuki, sweet links bro, THANKS!!!...i will let you know when I have things finalized and maybe it will work out we can enjoy a pint... :cheers:

Sounds outstanding brotha! :afro:

u cant spell. are u drunk like meeeeee! :chef: :chef: :chef: (Look i'm a chef!) :P

Come on Dio, I have been here for 6 months, and you are just figuring out now that I can't spell...YIKES! :lol: :lol: :lol:

But thank you for pointing it out...I fixed it :D

CD, the only other advice I can give is be sure to not buy gas in Chicago. It is expensive. Since you say you are coming from toronto, I assume you are cutting through Detroit, and taking Interstate 94 from Detroit to Chicago. (Keep it slow when you get near Jackson, Michigan. The fuzz love to pull people over there. Also the state border) I am sure you aren't too bad of a speed demon but of all places those are the two worst. Anyways, back to the gas. If you think about it, and need it, you can stop in Chesterton, Indiana they have a gas station there that is much cheaper then chicago. I've seen Chicago gas hit $2.50/gal or $.66/litre. I don't know if its still that high, but they have excessive gasoline taxes so its always more. Chicago's mass transit is pretty good. I've never had problems with it. :D

Hey there...
Have to add my two cents about Chicago, since I live there! ( Well, sorta...live in Dublin right now...) Anyway, the traffic is not that bad. You will be fine driving through the city. What is bad, however, is the parking, but I still don't think that should rule out a car in the city. Just make sure you take the El at least once...else you will have missed a crucial part of Chicago life. Most importantly, if you are a fan of beer (and I think you are), make your way to Goose Island Brewery on 1800 N. Clybourn Ave. in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. It's simply the best microbrewery in the entire midwest (challenges welcome), and a real local institution. There's one a block from Wrigley Field as well, but it lacks the local flavor that the original has. I actually found a microbrewery in Dublin that carries two of their beers! You might also want to take a jaunt up to Oak Park ( about 45 min away, if that) to see Frank Lloyd Wright's old home and studio, and Hemmingway's birthplace, if you're into that. Worth the trip for sure. Have fun!

Hey Jenm!!!

Ohhh....Hemmingway's birthplace....Beer! Now you're talking! ;) :cheers:

Well, Well, Well...Thanks for the great tips folks, I will print them off and keep them on me when I go...

Sijuki, Great Links dude!!! I will study them before I go!!!

And JenM, Great to hear from ya again, and I hope Ireland is treating you well...I still wish we had of had that pint in Belfast!!! I will make it up to ya when you return stateside!!! Thanks for the tips as well...I will try out that brewery for sure!!! :cheers:

I agree that using Chicago's mass transit, or El, is great. Real easy to navigate. Park the car at the hotel and take it to see the sights. And if you want to have a Travelpunk Party at that Goose Island Brewery or wherever, let us know the date! There is a chance I could fly out real quick for the day from Columbus...

worldwidemike

Well it looks like because o the sale of my house and the closing dates, my road trip will have to be delayed a month or 2, ....no worries, still gonna happen!!! JUst gotta save some more $$$ as this is not a "budget" trip...

Yeah, be sure to let us all know the new dates. We can have a good ol party! and crash CD's trip! woohoo :cheers:

I used to work just outside of chicago and travel back to Detroit every weekend. If you are taking 94 watch the speed through most of Indianna, they get tricky there, however while in Indianna, I would suggest stopping for gas before you enter Illinois. Do not stop in Gary, (especially grant street). And you should be fine. One other place sijuki frogot to mention was Mile Marker 190 in Michigan (Van Buren township) both of us have gotten tickets here.

Haven't done the exact route, but we've crisscrossed Texas way more times than a human being should have to (we'll one that's not from "The Great Stae of", anyway.)

Don't know the route you plan to take, but if you can detour through - I think it's Auburn, MN - right on the southern border, on the interstate, you will be in "The Birthplace of SPAM", and I don't mean the on-line variety! There's a museum. That may be worth a detour. (Someone help me with the name, I'm on vacation and can't confirm the name of the town right now)

If you're going through Oklahoma, and are into Frank Lloyd Wright, check out Bartlesville - an oil town with several of his buildings, including one with a triangular elevator. There's an added bonus of a natural prairie reserve complete with wild horses - I think the only "range" left in the area, and a buffalo preserve. A little taste of the wild west for you. You can stop by Enid OK if you're really into the Cherokee Trail, otherwise, press on.

It is possible to drive all the way across the Texas panhandle without actually stopping in Texas (you're looking for such diversions by the 6th or 7th time round!), but you of course will be heading south, so you can't avoid stopping. As you'll have out of state plates, (are you renting from Canada? Could be an especial target!) watch your speed! As a "super yankee", you won't get a break.

Austin is probably the best part of Texas (and I've never been, which probably explains my attitude!), my husband lived in TX for a year, and raves the music scene there. San Antonio's interesting, Dallas is really, really big. There is an awesome barbeque place near DFW airport - I think it's called "Silver Springs". Ask any local, they'll know. It's the best I've tasted west of Mississippi.
Ah, it's almost enough to make me nostalgic for the US. Almost.

CD - I live 100 miles south of DFW. It's a HUGE metroplex. Fort Worth is more of a laid-back suburbia. Dallas a high-roller big city. You will never see so many luxury cars on the freeway in your life! Lots of cool little diners and joints everywhere. West End is a good daytime restaurant district. Check out Lower Greenville for a co-ed/yuppie-type nightlife crowd. Deep Ellum attracts a younger crowd - pretty much a copy of 6th St in Austin.

Any Dallas locals here?

January is cold in Chicago but there is ice skating in downtown and it's really fun.. if you're on a budget, they have free trolleys that go around to all the different attractions in the city, they run from 10am to 6pm. The bars around Wrigley are a fun time, ps! :cheers: