Foo - Chicago People, I need advise

My only son is presently at Great Lakes Naval Station for basic training. He will be graduating from Basic Training on 1-23-04. My wife and I will be driving from SE Ohio to Great Lakes. I have a few questions:
1. If there is snow, will I be able to get around by driving on the interstates?
2. Given the time of year, will there be a likelihood that a blizzard or other bad weather will prevent me from coming by car and I should consider mass transit?
3. We will be staying at the Naval Lodge on the night of 1-22 and could get to the train station in Chicago by Greyhound or train, is there a mass transit means of getting from the train station to Great Lakes?
4. How far away is Great Lakes from the Train station?

Any other information would be helpful. I have never been to Chicago so have no knowledge of your city. Thanks for any information.

i live 1/2 hour directly west of great lakes.

-we have has a mild winter so far, no snow nor cold weather to speak of. since great lakes is smack in the middle of Lake Co, one of the richest counties in the USA, the roads are always clear. i can't ever envision a time where travel would be compromised. mass transit would be difficult, but I-94 to US41 then east through the most beautiful and expensive land within 1000 miles (lake forest, highland park) you will be pleased with the travel.

in short, it is almost exclusively interstate driving save for 10 minutes, and that is through the richest of the wealthiest suburbs in the u.s.a. with no traffic you are 40-45 minutes away from union station downtown chicago (by car) - if you elect mass transit, i'll volunteer trying to get you from the train to your beloved son.

pm me with specific questions.

My only son is presently at Great Lakes Naval Station for basic training. He will be graduating from Basic Training on 1-23-04. My wife and I will be driving from SE Ohio to Great Lakes. I have a few questions:
1. If there is snow, will I be able to get around by driving on the interstates?
2. Given the time of year, will there be a likelihood that a blizzard or other bad weather will prevent me from coming by car and I should consider mass transit?
3. We will be staying at the Naval Lodge on the night of 1-22 and could get to the train station in Chicago by Greyhound or train, is there a mass transit means of getting from the train station to Great Lakes?
4. How far away is Great Lakes from the Train station?

Any other information would be helpful. I have never been to Chicago so have no knowledge of your city. Thanks for any information.


Yeah, like RiPHRaPH said, the winter has been mild... HOWEVER, the weather people predicted a mild winter through December followed by a pretty bad and severe winter starting in January. So there is NO way of saying how the weather will behave here. One weekend, we could get 6 inches of snow, then the next weekend, it'll be 50s for Friday, Saturday, and then Sunday, the blizzards start up again. We are kind of stuck between weather fronts that come from Canada, the south and the west. :( I wouldn't start checking the weather forecasts until a couple of days before you leave for your trip.

As far as mass transit... there just isn't much here for mass transit from downtown Chicago to Great Lakes. We've got the Metra that runs from downtown through Winthrop Harbor that stops at Great Lakes (this is the Metra/Union Pacific North line from Chicago (OTC) to Kenosha, Wisconsin), but I bet it will probably be pretty infrequent on weekends, so you'd be better off looking for accomodations close to where your son is and just taking a car to the base.

For interstates, I don't drive, so I can't tell you for sure. I can say that when they predict blizzards and snow storms, the city and state have their salt trucks and plowing trucks ready to go the day before. They seem to be pretty good at keeping the damage to a minimum. I have driven through blizzards before when the interstates have been pretty nasty, but I've never had an accident. You will probably be ok if you're driving over, but if you wanted to be on the safe side, consider taking the Amtrak or flying in, then either 1) take a train to the city and transfer to the Metra and take the train to the north suburbs by Great Lakes, then rent a car locally there, or 2) fly in or take the Amtrak and rent a car from the airport or by the train station and drive up to a local hotel and commute frorm the hotel to Great Lakes.

I've ridden my bike past Great Lakes from the train station. It drops you right across the street from the base, then you just walk onto the base. I think it could be an advantage to stay in Chicago if you want stuff to do, and then just navigate to the Metra and ride the train up, but then again, the infrequency of the train could be frustrating, especially if commencement starts in the morning, and the first train from the city isn't until 2 hours after commencement. It would be more of an advantage to stay local near the base, especially if it's going to be snowing.

If you are going to stay for the ceremony only, skip Chicago, unless you have a car or figure out the Metra schedule. For a list of events in the city, check with www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents for all the stuff going on in Chicago. Then go to www.yourcta.org and use the Trip Planner to see how you can get to and from the events from Great Lakes stop on the Metra to downtown so you can get the times and everything down and not miss the last train back and end up stuck in Chicago with noplace to go.

PM me if you need any additional info.

Koffee B.

riph and koffee,
Riph that is an awful nice offer, thank you. Koffee thanks for the information. I will see what the weather looks like the week of his graduation and make decisions at that time.

Gary

Cool- look us both up when you get out here- if you're going to spend all your time at the base, though, better to send a PM to RiPHRaPH and give me a call when you get here, since it's pretty unlikely I'd make it up to that part of Illinois, though.

If you're staying in Chicago, though, definitely drop me a PM. Perhaps we could hook up for dinner, and/or a stop at Yojimbo's for all your cycling needs? ;) Ok, ok... I HAD to throw that one in! :D :D :D

Koffee

Koffee,
The plan at this time is to travel by car to Great Lakes with wife and dear son's girlfriend. I want to do what my son would like to do if possible. Will keep your invitation in mind. Will PM you with my information and maybe get your number and Riph number and we can get together.

Gary

Cool- we'll BOTH be waiting!

Koffee

Also, from he Navy Lodge you may be able to catch a ride from others staying there for the graduation. I think they graduate about 7-10 companies at a time (about 500 new sailors) so I assume there will be a lot of familys.

Good Luck, and dress warm and wear comfortable shoes (lots of walking around the base).

At night you may be able to see deer on base near the parade ground. I have.I hope your son has an outstanding Navy Career . Bm2 Haury USNR. GO NAVY

FYI, during the winter months graduation ceremonies are usually held inside a huge hanger style building. Enjoy it, it is a very nice thing to attend. :D

Used to be a purty good little saloon down by them stock yards. Had it a real senorita bonita behin' the bar, too! Haven't been over yonder in a coon's age though, so I don't rightly know if it's still thar.

James Haury,

Just got the word that son will be graduating with honors, number 2, also won leadership award and we are to be with the Admiral during graduation. He seems to be starting off on the right foot. He wants to be a Navy SEAL and is going into Journalism which he says is a SEAL source rate. At 18 he is a little young for SEAL's in my opinion. I take it you go to the base for your active duty. Is it hard to get on and off the base since September 11?

Gus and Festus,

Thank you for the information.