Da Bears Ultimate Fan's Vacation!

Da Bears! So, are you a Chicago Bears fan who lives outside of Chicago and want the ultimate Chicago Bears vacation experience? Well, take your Christmas vacation a week early, and travel to Chicago for your Ultimate NFL Vacation!

Traveling

If you live in Chicago, feel free to skip this step. Find a great rate to fly at any number of discount flight sites like Expedia.com, Orbitz, etc. Make sure you fly on a Tuesday, and try to fly back out on a Tuesday as well. This will save you a 'bit of cash, typically. Chicago has two major airports, O'Hare, and Midway. O'Hare is a much bigger airport, and if you really want to experience the spectacle of Chicago, it is a good location to fly into. There used to be a 3rd airport in Chicago, but Mayor Daley decided to close it down the hard way in 2003. Since you don't need to rent a car while in Chicago due to the robust public transportation system there, (The CTA), I would not suggesting that you fly into Gary or some other close metropolitan area to save money. Plus, Soldier's Field, the home of the Chicago Bears, is right off of the El.

Lodging

Chicago's 'off season' is definitely the winter, so finding a place to stay should be no issue. Finding an inexpensive place to stay is the bigger issue. The trick to finding a good hotel is to find one that is near the El or Subway. Check the CTA link earlier in this article for the area you intend to stay in. Since the trains and some of the buses go out to some of the nearby suburbs, you may consider staying right outside of the city. I would probably suggest the Holiday Inn - O'Hare. It seems to be pretty reasonable ($69.99-$118 for rooms right now, prices may be cheaper in December).

Dining

Must eat places during your trip.

Ditka's $$$$ This is going to be your -expensive- meal in Chicago, but if you are a Bears fan, it is worth it! Make a reservation! Mike Ditka's restaurant. Da Coach, Da Team, Da Bears. This is a must hit location for your Ultimate Chicago Bears trip!

Giordano's Pizza $$ - If you want REAL Chicago Pizza, REAL Deep Dish Pizza, come here! Some prefer Gino's East, but Giordano's is my choice for authentic Chicago pizza. Get the Deep Dish pizza, eat one slice (yes, it WILL fill you up, regardless of your appetite). There are locations all over town. If you share a pizza, you will not spend too much per person.

Ed Debevik's $$ - In the Heart of Downtown Chicago, this 50's style diner keeps its prices low, the waiters are rude, the waitresses are adorable, and they dance on the tables in the afternoons. The price is remarkable for its location! This is a lot of fun, and a lot of good food for cheap!

So, when do I go?

You should plan your trip around the Sunday, December 13th game against the Packers. If you want to see Chicago fans in rare form, watch the Bears play against the Packers. Since the Green Bay Packers fans will typically drive from Wisconsin to watch the game, it is definitely a worthy time to shoot for!