Need a Springfield, Ill. hotel suggestion

Hi everyone,

We're going to be spending a weekend in Springfield, IL this summer and was wondering if someone familiar with the town could suggest a nice place to stay. We're going with my parents and our two children (ages 3 and 7) to see the Lincoln sites. We'd like the hotel to have a pool and be relatively close to downtown. A cheap rate is also important (has to be under $100 a night).

Restaurant suggestions are also welcome, of course.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

Overall we're pretty pleased with Drury Hotels. There's one in Springfield, although we haven't stayed there in a couple of years and it's not as close to downtown as you might like:

http://www.druryhotels.com/properties/springfieldil.cfm

Drury offers "Gold Key Club" and AAA discounts, both 10% IIRC.

Brad

quote:

Originally posted by danimal15

Hi everyone,

We're going to be spending a weekend in Springfield, IL this summer and was wondering if someone familiar with the town could suggest a nice place to stay. We're going with my parents and our two children (ages 3 and 7) to see the Lincoln sites. We'd like the hotel to have a pool and be relatively close to downtown. A cheap rate is also important (has to be under $100 a night).

Restaurant suggestions are also welcome, of course.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

Considering your requirements (pool, relatively close to downtown, cheap rate), I would have to suggest the Howard Johnson Inn & Suites on J. David Jones Pkwy. It is across the street from Oak Ridge Cemetery (Lincoln's Tomb) and only 3 miles from Lincoln's Home, Presidential Library & Museum, and Old State Capitol. It has an outdoor pool and rooms are $69 per night, plus tax.

Thanks for your help. I knew I could count on fellow Roadfooders for suggestions!

Dan

Okay, now that we've got the hotel thing under control, let's talk about the food.

The first thing you need to do is contact The Dr. of BBQ through Roadfood.com. In addition to telling you where his trailer is currently located, he can also clue you in to where to find the best Horseshoe Sandwich in Springfield along with many other great food suggestions.

In addition to The Dr.'s 'Que and a good Horseshoe, my other recommendation would be The Cozy Dog Drive-In on south 6th street.

With all the Lincoln sites (don't forget to travel north and west about 20 miles to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, the town where Lincoln first settled in Illinois), the old and current Capitol Buildings, the Governor's mansion, the Illinois State Museum, the new Lincoln Library, and you only coming down for the weekend, you may not be spending as much time at that pool as you think.

Have a great trip to one of my favorite Illinois cities,

Buddy

P.S. In a previous life I ran tours down to Springfield for Chicago area 7th and 8th graders. Leave Chicago at 6am, hit all the hot spots, stop at a local smorgasbord for dinner with two busloads of crazy near adolescents and drive back to Chicago all in one day. Man that was a good time.

B.

I stayed at the Courtyard by marriott the last time I was there. I believe the pool is indoors. At that time, the rate was $90.00 daily and it was close enough to downtown and the Lincoln Museum which is very very nice.

I believe the address is 3452 Freedom Drive.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by BuddyRoadhouse

With all the Lincoln sites (don't forget to travel north and west about 20 miles to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, the town where Lincoln first settled in Illinois), the old and current Capitol Buildings, the Governor's mansion, the Illinois State Museum, the new Lincoln Library, and you only coming down for the weekend, you may not be spending as much time at that pool as you think.

Have a great trip to one of my favorite Illinois cities,

Buddy

If you can possibly squeeze it in, as it will take several hours, I have to second Buddy's suggestion to see New Salem. After the new Lincoln Museum and Lincoln's home, I would consider it the third most important Lincoln site in the area. It is just south of Petersburg, and I must give you fair warning: The cops in Petersburg are very strict about enforcing their speed limits. (My son lives about 10 miles east of Petersburg, and knows from experience!)

quote:

Originally posted by 6star

quote:

Originally posted by BuddyRoadhouse

With all the Lincoln sites (don't forget to travel north and west about 20 miles to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, the town where Lincoln first settled in Illinois), the old and current Capitol Buildings, the Governor's mansion, the Illinois State Museum, the new Lincoln Library, and you only coming down for the weekend, you may not be spending as much time at that pool as you think.

Have a great trip to one of my favorite Illinois cities,

Buddy

If you can possibly squeeze it in, as it will take several hours, I have to second Buddy's suggestion to see New Salem. After the new Lincoln Museum and Lincoln's home, I would consider it the third most important Lincoln site in the area. It is just south of Petersburg, and I must give you fair warning: The cops in Petersburg are very strict about enforcing their speed limits. (My son lives about 10 miles east of Petersburg, and knows from experience!)

Thanks for the travel tips. We're definitely going to New Salem. I've been there twice, but it will be the first time for my two boys. Wouldn't miss it. We will take your suggestion and drive slowly while in that area.

Is Petersburg worth a visit?

Any other eating suggestions are definitely welcome. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by BuddyRoadhouse

Okay, now that we've got the hotel thing under control, let's talk about the food.

The first thing you need to do is contact The Dr. of BBQ through Roadfood.com. In addition to telling you where his trailer is currently located, he can also clue you in to where to find the best Horseshoe Sandwich in Springfield along with many other great food suggestions.

In addition to The Dr.'s 'Que and a good Horseshoe, my other recommendation would be The Cozy Dog Drive-In on south 6th street.

With all the Lincoln sites (don't forget to travel north and west about 20 miles to Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, the town where Lincoln first settled in Illinois), the old and current Capitol Buildings, the Governor's mansion, the Illinois State Museum, the new Lincoln Library, and you only coming down for the weekend, you may not be spending as much time at that pool as you think.

Have a great trip to one of my favorite Illinois cities,

Buddy

P.S. In a previous life I ran tours down to Springfield for Chicago area 7th and 8th graders. Leave Chicago at 6am, hit all the hot spots, stop at a local smorgasbord for dinner with two busloads of crazy near adolescents and drive back to Chicago all in one day. Man that was a good time.

B.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a horseshoe sandwich?

Buddy described it in this thread: http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16516.
I'm hoping to try one the next time I'm along that stretch of I-55.

Brad

Thanks Brad, for saving me from repeating myself.

Buddy

Thanks for the horseshoe description, but alas, it's not something we can eat (we don't eat meat with cheese).

Can anyone else give any Springfield restaurant suggestions? I remember a pretty good Chinese place about a block from Lincoln's home, but the last time I ate there was 1994. I wonder if it's still around.

quote:

Originally posted by danimal15

Is Petersburg worth a visit?

No, unless you need gas or something.

For Springfield food, you might want to check out the people-voted "Best of" places from the Illinois Times for 2006 at http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A5751 If you eat Mexican, I can recommend the Mexican place that got first (Xochimilco). The Best Buffet (Buffet City) is the one that got raided and closed for having illegals working there. (It was one I liked also.) The Illinois Times has been doing this rating for several years, and the results seem to be pretty accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by danimal15

Thanks for the horseshoe description, but alas, it's not something we can eat (we don't eat meat with cheese).

As a non-observant Jew, I only know the basics of the dietary laws, so forgive the ignorance of this next question. The Horseshoe Sandwich also comes in a sliced turkey version. Does poultry count as meat? I know lox and cream cheese are perfectly permissable because lox is fish. Where does turkey fit in the picture?

Buddy

quote:

Originally posted by BuddyRoadhouse

quote:

Originally posted by danimal15

Thanks for the horseshoe description, but alas, it's not something we can eat (we don't eat meat with cheese).

As a non-observant Jew, I only know the basics of the dietary laws, so forgive the ignorance of this next question. The Horseshoe Sandwich also comes in a sliced turkey version. Does poultry count as meat? I know lox and cream cheese are perfectly permissable because lox is fish. Where does turkey fit in the picture?

Buddy

Yes, poultry does count as meat.

I'm not the slightest bit religious. I think most of the rules of Judaism and other religions aren't worth following. But for whatever reason, some of the Jewish dietary laws have sunk in with me. The very idea of combining cheese with meat makes me feel like gagging. Same with the idea of eating pork. I guess it's because I've never had either (except bacon and sausage when I was at camp as a kid).