The Travel Professor
Join me on a journey across the broad spectrum of interesting travel topics. We’ll discuss destinations domestic and abroad, some familiar and some off the beaten path. We take a look at suppliers like cruise lines, air carriers and tour operators and find their bargains and special offerings.
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Thursday, July 2, 2009
Air travel: When to check or carry on your bags
I received an email asking when to either check or carry your luggage on a flight. I’d like to pass along some information that a flight attendant shared with me.
Her advice is to pack the bag you intend to carry on the flight wear the shoes you intend on traveling in then take your packed bag and try to put it flat on the top of your refrigerator. If you can’t perform this action then pay to have your bag checked.
Or fly Southwest Airlines as they are one of the few major that do not charge for your first two pieces of luggage.
Visitors to Chicago have plenty of lodging options ranging from hostels to ultra deluxe hotels. Prices vary greatly according to location, days of the weeks, special events so planning ahead may be the best route to go to get the best rates.
Or take a chance and gamble with last minute savings offered by on-line discounters’ hotwire.com. The downtown loop and shopping/entertainment area is fairly compact so just about major hotel offered by hotwire should put you right in the heart of it.
If I am not going the discounter route of making reservations some of my personal favorites in the downtown/loop district are moderate properties like the Best WesternRiver North, Hotel Cass or a boutique condo the Seneca.
For drivers the Best West River North offers free parking otherwise I would look at staying out in the suburbs and riding the “L” into town. Downtown parking is very pricey and at times extremely limited. You shoulkd also be able to find a much lower rate than in the city center.
Of course there are plenty of additional choices depending on your preferences and budget. For a complete listing contact your travel agent or visit the Chicago Tourismoffice.
Chicagoans are famous for taking two food classics very seriously: pizza and hot dogs. Sample these two favorites during your visit so you can officially join in the debate and savior the experience with the locals.
Personally I prefer a thin crust pizza but the loaded Chicago style deep dish pizza is unbelievable. A debate rages over who invented the first deep dish pizza but two of my favorites are Pizzeria Uno and Giordano’s. These dining options are very popular so arrive early or make reservations. According to my seat mates at Wrigley Field a Chicago Style Hot Dog is a steamed all beef hot dog topped with yellow mustard, bright green relish, onions, tomato wedges, pickle spear or slice, sport peppers and a dash of celery salt served in the all-important steamed poppy seed bun.
The toppings are just as important as the order they are applied to the Hot Dog. Add toppings in the following order:
· Yellow Mustard · Bright Green Relish-I swear this stuff would glow in the dark. · Fresh Chopped Onions · Two Tomato Wedges · A Pickle Spear or Slice · Two Sport Peppers · A Dash of Celery Salt
My preference is just a dog slathered in Cleveland Stadium mustard but I tried a few of the Chicago mutts and found them both tasty and filling.
Another discovery was Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap. It’s right downtown at the corner of Wabash and Superior. It serves up your typical pub grub but I was thinking about tackling their 8 pound monster burger. After all I polished off the Norm Burger at Boston’s Bull and Finch pub. You know the one made famous by the TV show Cheers. However after I saw one of Jake's monster burgers on the platter I decided that a regular Jake burger would do.
Regardless of your tastes you are bound to find it in Chicago land. From contemporary dining to ethnic Chinese to soul food the dining scene is stunning. Whether you’re downtown or in one of the 77 neighborhoods excellent dining opportunities abound.
Playing football in northeastern Ohio in the summer months can be brutal. It can be summed up in two words: heat and humidity. Watching games of the 2009 IFAFJunior World Championship this past weekend at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium left me soaked and sun fried.
Having spent many summers up here on the gridiron coaching high school and college ball I was prepared for the elements. My kit consisted of plenty of SPF 60 sun block, a few towels, spare t-shirts and a cooler full of water and OJ.
The quality of play was good but what really impressed me was the crowd. It was a festive, carnival like atmosphere something you do not experience around here in high school football. NOTE: Most of the players were of high school age or recent graduates.
The cheering, noisemaking and waving of country flags reminded me of fans at international soccer tournaments that I’ve seen. Fans from the participating teams (I mean countries) apparently had flocked in mass to Canton and supported their national teams.
The Viking helmets complete with REAL not plastic horns were the dead give always for the supporters of the Swedish team.
There are a few more days of competition this week so if you’re having a football craving head up I-77 North to Canton OH.
A little change of topic-hopefully this enthusiasm carries over to the incoming soccer tournaments in the Barboursville area. Drive on over and check out the games. spend some time and better yet a few bucks.
Even better yet if you can volunteer some time and help make these games a success contact the fine folks at the Huntington-Cabell County Conventionand Visitors Bureau and let them know you want to assist.
My schedule is packed but if I had the chance I'd be on the soccer pitches.
On the road again to Canton, OH home of professional football.
I’m off to the Junior World Championship of American Football in Canton OH this weekend and my laptop is staying docked on campus. That means I’ll be off the Net until Monday. If you’re a football fan plan a visit to the area visit and catch a game or two of the Junior American Football World Championship series.
Canton is home to to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the games are being played at Fawcett Stadium adjacent to the HOF.
A visit to Chicago wouldn't be complete without some shopping time. Shopping in Chicago began on State Street (that great street!) with the opening of the original Marshall Field’s Department store in 1852. Today, the former Field’s flagship store is known as Macy's on State Street and shoppers still find an outstanding selection of men’s and women’s apparel, an extensive house wares department, several fine restaurants, a food court and a visitor center. Your shopping experience must include a stroll along the fabled “Magnificent Mile”. This strip runs along Michigan Avenue from Oak Street to the Chicago River. Amidst department store giants such as Marshall Field’s, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s, are hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques offering goods from around the world. Oak Street, just west of Michigan Avenue, is a boutique shopper’s dream.
An abundance of shopping can also be found at The Shops at North Bridge, Water Tower Place, the 900 North Michigan Avenue Shops, Chicago Place Shopping Center, Navy Pier and “The Shops at the Mart” located at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.
I've always wanted to return to the "Magnificent Mile" during the December holiday period to view the holiday decorations. I imagine that the displays will be stunning.
On this visit my window shopping excursion worked up an appetite. There are plenty of national chain restaurants and famous local eateries but I’ll save Chicago style dining for a separate post.
One of the many things that surprises and delights visitors to Chicago is how easy this world-class city is on their wallets. Some of the city's most extraordinary attractions and cultural institutions are free every day, and many other popular visitor must-sees offer free days at least once a week! Treasures like famed Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, Millennium Park, and Chicago Cultural Center, which offers a mind-boggling array of music, art and theater, charge no admission fee and are open nearly every day of the year with exciting things for visitors of all ages to see and do. And these are just a fraction of the options available. Check out the current Chicago freebies here.
The Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureauhas put together a few of their favorite freebies to share with you. They (the CVB) or your travel planner will work with you to create a customized itinerary designed to meet your particular interests, budget and time.
Chicago is a bustling, energetic city that never stops no matter the season. It’s a destination with world-class cultural attractions, diverse neighborhoods and architectural wonders. Chicago is known for critically acclaimed restaurants, world-famous museums, first-class shopping, adventurous nightlife, action-packed sporting events and a thriving theater scene. Chicago is world-renowned for its diverse collection of museums, which explore a variety of subjects including Chicago history, art, African-American culture, astronomy, natural history and much more.
Those visiting Chicago should plan on spending time at Chicago’s Museum Campus. This scenic park along the shores of Lake Michigan conveniently links the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum ofNatural History. The Shedd Aquarium offers one of the world’s largest array of more than 8,000 aquatic mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and fish. After exploring the oceans, attendees can gaze up at the heavens in the nearby Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum. The Field Museum offers exciting displays of mummies, Egyptian tombs, Native American artifacts, and dinosaur skeletons are on display. It is also the permanent home of Sue, the world's largest, most complete and most famous Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Chicago has that feel. Just like the one I get when I’m in Boston, Gettysburg, Munich and Prague. You know the sensation it is warm, inviting, comfortable and familiar. Not the cold and distant vibes like I receive when in New York City or Los Angeles.
The “Windy City” has everything to offer to the traveler. You can experience world class art, history, architecture, shopping, dining, theater, cultural diversity, education, museums and sports. You will find e plenty of additional categories and other activities that I’ve left off this list. It’s easy to get to as it is only an hour flight out of Columbus Ohio with airfare costs as low as $78.00 roundtrip these days. My preferred gateway is Midway Airport as it’s less congested than O’Hare and in my opinion easier to navigate. Plus it is served by one of my favorite airlines Southwest. Even though they only serve free peanuts in flight the beverages are free and Southwest still does not have any baggage charges and their Rapid Rewards frequent traveler program is one of the best around.
After you arrive it’s easy to get around using the Chicago Transit System (the L)trains and buses. A 3 day unlimited pass only cost me $14.00. I jumped on the Orange Line at Midway Airport then transferred to the Red Line at the Roosevelt stop en route to Grand CTA stop. This stop is just north of the “Loop” district an area full of shops, restaurants and hotels. Exiting here it was a short two block walk to my hotel located in the heart of the downtown.
The “L” is convenient and it can take you to most of the areas attractions and neighborhoods. I’ll be using it quite a bit during my stay here and will keep you updated on my journeys and discoveries.
Steve Call gets paid to tell people where to go as the director of the Travel, Tourism and Hotel Management associate degree program at Ohio University-Ironton. Professionally, he's a certified travel consultant and accredited cruise counselor and holds two college degrees. He has visited all the continents with the exception of Australia and Antarctica.
