Things To Do During Liberty

[Billie]

N4Ms:  Use this forum to post ideas of things to do with your sailors while they are on liberty at the Great Lakes.  Whenever possible, please include the URL for related websites.

[Charlotte Anne]

Do they go back at night? What if they are Grad and Go? I am confused on the whole weekend. We live about an 1.5 hours away so driving isn't an issue. I am just not sure how to plan the weekend. Charlotte, Patrick's mom

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

Charlotte Anne Is your rct G&G? They have to stay within a 50 mile radius of RTC

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

If they aren't G&G to Great Lakes they have to go back to the barracks at around 8 pm. If they are G&G to GL for A school they may have overnights with family. If G&G elsewhere they will leave RTC shortly after PIR (usually VERY early Sat morning)

[Jaysmom (Ship 12 Div 039)]

My son has PIR 1/14, when will he know if he is Grad and Go? Do you know when they are told what liberty they will have that day and for the balance of the weekend? Thanks for any info you may have.

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

Jaysmom here is the link to your PIR group http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir1142011

They will find out about G&G about 2-3 weeks before PIR. Unless they are G&G to an A school other than Great Lakes they will have Friday after PIR till about 7pm, Sat and Sun from about7am till about 8pm

If they are G&G elsewhere...they will have liberty after PIR till 7pm then leave for the airport usually between 2-5am Saturday morning.

G&G to GL will have liberty after PIR for a little bit then will have to go back to barracks, pack up and bus to the A school side...this takes 3-5 hours. Then you MAY have overnights

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

- Military personel get free admission to all museums in Chicago! Plus most Chicago White Sox Games!

Here are some other places your sailors are free:
Near Great Lakes:

Chicago Botanic Gardens - Close to Great Lakes (about 15 minutes driving) - I am going to assume free means they the parking fee which because that is the only cost to go there and its huge. Great place to walk around with little kids both inside and outside gardens and greenhouses.
Gurnee Mills - Lots of discount stores and the Rain Forest Cafe

Downtown:

Free for Everyone - Lincoln Park Zoo - just have to pay for parking
Free for Everyone - Walk along Lake Michigan or Navy Pier
Free for Everyone - Window shopping along Michigan Avenue (free until you buy something :))) - lots of flagship stores like Nike - Apple, etc.
Navy Pier - lots of activities, stores, boat rides and fun - you can spend a little or alot depending on your budget - Bubba Gumps and the Jazz Restaurat - Be-Bops are a favorite there

Free for your sailor -
Art Institute
Chicago Children's Museum (a must if you are bringing kids under 10)
Field Museum
Shedd Aquarium
Peggy Notebart Nature Museum
Museum of Contempory

Museum of Science and Industry (you really need a car to access - park on the side streets across from the musuem and save on musuen parking). This museum is lots of fun but a little further south of the city.

Parking tips: Parking Chicago can get expensive - $25-35 for a day. Take some time to drive around and see if any lots are offering parking specials. You may have to walk a few blocks but sometimes its worth it. When you drive by a parking garage or lot - go slow - they will have specials usually listed on a sign right near the entrance. Another trick is to pick a restuarant - opt for valet parking, eat there and then get your car later - usually that will run you around $10-$15.

Sears Tower versus the John Hancock Building....Sears Tower is free to your military personel and has a very cool glass balcony (you can look straight down) John Hancock Building - not as tall but what you do is go to the bar/lounge on the 95th/96th floor and for the same price buy a drink (sodas if you want) and sit back and relax and enjoy the 360 degree view for as long you want. Both are great!

[EsMom]

Hi- this is my first time posting but I wanted to share some things that worked out really well for our family while our sailor was on liberty. We stayed at the Illinois State Beach Resort (http://www.ilresorts.com). It is actually very close to recruit training command, so the back and forths are easy. That said, I selected this facility for its location on Lake Michigan, its surrounding peacefulness and beautiful beach front. This facility has it all, especially important now that the weather is getting rugged in that area. There is a complete game room, pool, hot tub, restaurant (open for breakfast,lunch and dinner). We explored Kenosha. There is a wonderful Civil war museum, a small but impressive dinosaur museum, nice coffee shops and a quaint streetcar. This web site is very helpful(http://www.kenoshacvb.com/thingsdo/history.asp). Racine has the Wind Point Lighthouse, a small heritage museum that we really appreciated and excellent "Kringles" (a traditional baked good). I found this web site helpful https://www.realracine.com/what-to-do.html. We did explore Chicago's 'museum campus'. We arrived early (0930) and parked next to Soldier Field. There was not a Bears game, so we were able to walk around the stadium. We toured the Shedd Aquarium first and I highly recommend it. Active duty is free (as I've seen posted here). We also toured the Field Museum and decided we needed three days lol. We so thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring this part of the country, I just wanted to share...

[send2herb Ship 004 Div 804]

EsMom,

Thanks so much for this info.  It is very helpful.

[5-O's Mom-S12 Div039 PIR 1/14/11]

Lots of good information here, but my son is Grad and Go. So I am looking for ideas that are right there or very close as I will not have the luxury of time with him. Any suggestions, even if it is just for a place for dinner?

[JessicaB-Sailor Mom]

Giodanos has the best pizza. I hope that you plan on meeting him at the airport...often the flights don'tleave for hours=more time with your Sailor and his buddies.

 

There is a questionaire that you MAIL to your rct and he/she HANDS to you at PIR that will have info that you need regarding G&G. I'll post it in the discussion forum of your PIR group

[5-O's Mom-S12 Div039 PIR 1/14/11]

Thanks for the information!

[Jaysmom (Ship 12 Div 039)]

Have you posted the questionnaire, I didn't find it.  I am sure my son is G&G based on N4M info, but he has not said either way.