Need Some Help.

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Permalink Reply by E.G. - ND's Creator/Admin on March 19, 2011 at 10:47am

Kerry,

 

A lot depends on how busy you want to be with the one day you have with your son. After my son's PIR we went to the mall close to the base. This is all the Sailors hear about in boot and where most want to go. We had lunch at Red Lobster and then walked the mall. After the mall we went back to our hotel where Evan was able to change into civie's and just hang out and talk, it was very relaxed. Even though they are now Sailors they still have to report back to base around 9-10pm. This is what will make it tough to drive the 20-45 minutes to Chicago, depending on traffic to the city and back that night.

 

If he wants to see Chicago and a couple of site's in the city, I would say it can be done without a problem but you will be rushed the entire time. We had the luxury of having Fri & Sat with our son. One day the mall and one in the city, we were lucky.  I can only give you my experience and hopefully others will share theirs as well. The first few hours after PIR our son seemed detached. I guess the shock of the real world again, not being in a car, seeing family, etc. He really didn't seem to become himself until we we're in the room with him in his civies just lounging in the room talking about his experience.

 

As for place's to eat, you're in Chicago, all of them. We loved the Cheesecake Factory & Giovanni's pizza. Hope this helps a little, have a great time at PIR, it go's by too fast!

Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on March 19, 2011 at 12:02pm

you may be surprised at what your sailor ends up wanting to do or rather not wanting to do.  Many just want to kick back with some buddies, have some pizza and watch movies....after they take that hour long shower.......plan to be flexible..........

Permalink Reply by Jared on March 19, 2011 at 12:09pm

We went to the Museum of Science and Industry. It is an awesome place! We spent about 5 hrs inside and did not come close to seeing everything!

Permalink Reply by Lala Ribbon Queen PIR Ribbons on March 19, 2011 at 6:06pm

Also, PIR is usually over by 10:30 and you will have to wait a few min for your sailor to comeback from his ship (they usually have to go back to pick up their pictures) But that doesn't take long. We were off the base by 11:15

Permalink Reply by tracy davis on March 20, 2011 at 1:11pm

hi my doughter is also PIR's on the 15 of april she on ship09 div 133 and we plane on doing any thing she wants to do, i know she wants deepdish pizza but we are staying in waukegan il abouy 4 mile away but she is a grad and go so i do not want to go to far away

Permalink Reply by Dan Breen on March 22, 2011 at 3:40pm

I was on active duty at great lakes about 10 years ago.  Traffic can be an issure.  My son graduates on April 15th.  Pending on what he wants to do.  I was planning on taking him the Harry Caray Restaurant in downtown Chicago.  Top Notch Steaks, but expensive.  Traffic between noon and 3:00pm should be ok, I hope.

Permalink Reply by NavyDads Admin, Tim on March 22, 2011 at 4:26pm

My son had his PIR 3 years ago this August. We drove up from Oklahoma. He was not a grad and go so we had friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday to spend with him. We did run into Chicago on friday as Trevor had wrote that he wanted to go to Coach's and eat steak. GPS is the only way to go if you are not familiar with the area. We printed out Directions to Coach's off of mapquest and went right to it. Traffic wasn't bad but I myself being from a town of 30,000 was no match for the traffic in Chicago. Drove the wife insane with all of the people.

Saturday we took the train into Chicago and did the Navy Pier and some shopping and back to the rooms for alot of downtime for Trevor. Sunday reality sat in that we were leaving Trevor behind from mom and his wife. A long quiet ride home was in store for dad.

All in all make sure that you look ahead and find out what your sailor would like to see while on leave. REAL food as they call it has been absent for 8 weeks now and they will act like they have never had it before in their life.