July 1-4...Foolish with a 2 yr old?

I’m considering a long weekend in Chicago the week of July 4. I know there is a lot going on, Taste of Chicago and the fireworks on July 3.

My questions are:

1. What time are the fireworks typically scheduled?

2. Can we see them from a hotel room near Nordstrom on Michigan Ave if we had a “city view” room? (Considering the Conrad Hilton)

3. How foolish would we be to walk to Grant Park with a stroller to see the fireworks?

We’d also like to do other things while we are there…such as the boat tours and possibly Shedd’s Aquarium. Would it be smarter to go on a less busy weekend? Or are the fireworks and Taste of Chicago worth the battling of the crowds?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

July 1-4...Foolish with a 2 yr old?

1. Around 9:30

2. Probably not.

3. Walk over to Navy Pier instead.

If you don%26#39;t mind the crowds, the Taste can be lots of fun. The fireworks are pretty amazing.

July 1-4...Foolish with a 2 yr old?

The fireworks start when it gets dark. You most likely cannot see the fireworks as other buildings are in the way. I would say certainly not from the Conrad as it%26#39;s too far from the lake. YOu don%26#39;t have to make a career out of watching the fireworks--they don%26#39;t last but a half hour or so--you can walk to the lake, watch the fireworks, walk back to the hotel. Personally, I don%26#39;t think fireworks and taste are worth it and not at all with a two year old. Navy Pier does fireworks all summer or you can catch a sox game on a firework night and see them there. I would come on a less busy weekend. Also, since this year, July 4 is on a saturday, that means most people will be off on friday, July 3. It will be zoo like that weekend in chicago.

I say go to Chicago another time. The crowds are tremendous for the Taste and fireworks. In my opinion, I think it is overrated - too crowded, too expensive, too many drunk people, and usually too hot and humid. We did it 2x, once when our child was in a stroller, the other time on our own. Will never go again.

On the other hand, tons of people go with their kids and love all of it.

My advice: don%26#39;t even try to go to the Taste of Chicago on the evening of the 3rd. It was one of the most miserable experiences of my life...an absolute mass of humanity. It literally took 20 minutes to walk 100 feet at times. We went back on the 6th and it was a great experience.

If you want to watch fireworks, try assembling around Buckingham Fountain, away from the center of the festival. There will be a lot of people around, but nowhere near the same congestion. You could try being at Navy Pier, too, but I have no experience with that.

Not to thread-hijack the original poster, but thanks for the headsup on the taste of chicago and the crowds!

I am in Chicago over this time, and was struggling to fit everythign in, including stuff like going to the fireworks and the festival.

In the end I decided to get a ticket for the baseball on the 3rd instead, and to go to the theatre in the evening! I think I am going to be glad I did. The idea of being stuck in such crowds isn%26#39;t so much fun!

This thread reminds me of that famous Yogi Berra quote:

';Nobody goes there no more, it%26#39;s too crowded.';

:-)

That weekend will be fine as long you avoid the ground zero time of fireworks on the 3rd.

Taste of Chicago goes on that whole weekend, so going on the 1st or 2nd would be fine. If you are staying long enough on the 4th, you can see the fireworks at Navy Pier (which are usually about 10pm on Saturdays during the summer).

The Navy Pier alternative to watching fireworks on the 3rd is a good one. Another alternative that might be cool for a 2yr old (and that I have done before) is seeing the fireworks from the John Hancock Observation Deck. Can%26#39;t hear the %26#39;booms%26#39; from the inside (which might be good for a 2yr old), but you do see the fireworks from above.

You should still have a good time on that weekend.

Dave%26#39;s answers are correct but -- why would you consider putting your child in danger? Don%26#39;t attempt taking a baby into crowds of 100,000 strong; day or night. We%26#39;re adults who go to both events and actually fear for the children of foolish parents who wheel their babies through these crowds of people. The people are drinking, they are shoulder to shoulder trying to push their way through the crowed. There%26#39;s no way that they can see your baby in a stroller until they%26#39;ve tripped over him/her. With a 2 year old - come on a different weekend.

I would recommend waiting until your child is at least old enough to not need a stroller and knows not to run off in the crowd. That being said, you probably wouldn%26#39;t be the only one there with a 2-year-old in a stroller. Also, this year there will be 15% fewer vendors. This was supposedly done to ease the crowding, but I doubt that it will help much on the 3rd.

I%26#39;ve talked myself out of even looking at Chicago for July 4. If it were just my husband and I, or there weren%26#39;t so many people in town, it%26#39;d be a completely different story. We%26#39;ll make it up there another weekend...possibly this fall. I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ll be looking for suggestions then. Thanks everyone for your replies!