Chi-Town HELP

burtbabe09 · Newbie Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 49 City: Chicago

I have finally made it to Chicago.. and I finally have internet, cable, and all life's little luxuries. yes! But I definitely feel like a tourist. I don't start working in wonderful Chicago public school system as a counselor til July and need to figure out what there is to do around here...

I have my ex's 2 jet skiis (don't ask) and am thinking about buying my brother's old boat off him once I figure out what $$ will be like. Problem is... I don't know where to go, what fees are like, etc. A few ol' undergrad friends go to private lakes in Indiana or Lake Michigan. My cousin and his wife swear by some culver military academy lake but I don't think it's close. But I'm definitely a private lake girl... NO Great Lakes. I'm used to having upstate New York at my fingertips and now I'm lost. Any advice out there?

ctgretzky99 · Posted: May 20, 2009 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Chi-Town HELP

nmballa · Posted: May 20, 2009 7:27 am Post subject:

burtbabe09, hit up muck. I know he often comes up a wakeboards in wisconsin. What size boat is it? Will you be slipping or trailering?

Hollywood · Posted: May 20, 2009 7:39 am Post subject:

The county north of Cook is called "Lake". There are many inland lakes there! You can come ski with me but leave the jet skis at home.

burtbabe09 · Newbie Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 49 City: Chicago

Hollywood, NICE! I'll have to look into that

nmballa, I don't know the size boat. It's an old mastercraft that's been around for a good ten years. I was still in high school when dad bought it. Comes w/ a trailer and everything but living in NYC has left me auto-less. That's changing this weekend during family time in Ind. THANKS DAD!!!

8824 · Posted: May 20, 2009 8:26 am Post subject:

nmballa · Posted: May 20, 2009 8:29 am Post subject:

Well if you wander towards Wisconsin let muck or I know. Muck usually rides the same lake that I make it down to a couple times per summer.

8824 · Posted: May 20, 2009 8:38 am Post subject:

burtbabe09 · Newbie Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 49 City: Chicago

I'll let you know about WI. I don't know anybody up there but who knows... maybe I'll make an adventure out of it.

And yes, I'll be at the 500. Midwest USA at it's finest. Between lake drinking and race drinking, I think it's gonna be a good weekend...

lawdog2131 · Posted: May 20, 2009 8:47 am Post subject:

Depending on what side of Chi town you live on....There are a couple lakes in Laporte county Ind...Pine lake and Hudson. I dont know a whole lot about them because I haven't been on them. I go to Diamond lake, Eagle lake and Juno lake in Cass County Mich.

Wazzy · Addict Joined: 01 May 2003 Posts: 706 City: Illinois

CHeck out ... soulriders.com & midwestwakeboarder.com as well

burtbabe09 · Newbie Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 49 City: Chicago

ctgretzky99, know of any good sushi bars offhand? My moving friends and I are trying to find a place tonight that won't get any of us sick! Then martini's galore....

lawdog, I live right outside wrigleyville. I'll have to venture out once I get wheels. I'll have to be satisfied with IN water this holiday weekend. Thankfully it's almost 80 today!!!

8824 · Posted: May 20, 2009 1:20 pm Post subject:

nmballa · Posted: May 20, 2009 1:43 pm Post subject:

burtbabe09 · Newbie Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 49 City: Chicago

nmballa, are you new?? 500 = Indy 500. haha. sorry for the smartA remark. break out the jorts and try to make it. i hear it's a good time

nmballa · Posted: May 20, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

Well kind of what I assumed after that fact.

lawdog2131 · Posted: May 20, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject:

burtbabe09 · Newbie Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 49 City: Chicago

boarder52002 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 454 City: Chicago

I live in the loop, but I usually go up right over the border of WI to boat and board. Let me know if you have any other questions about the city in general.

Liquid Lifestyle · Posted: May 22, 2009 6:44 am Post subject:

I would check out http://www.funonthefox.com. Very Happy

It covers the Chain o Lakes area about an hour - hour 1/2 ride NW of the city. for local boating, I am sure you could ask questions on the message board to get some answers.

There are some great parties, bars you can only get to by boat, and a great scene to be out on the water most weekends.

In terms of wakeboarding, Chicago MasterCraft and MunsonSki (malibu) host events every week on the river and lakes.

Chicago Mastercraft is actually sponsoring a "boat bar" on the Fox River at the Broken Oar this year. They will be hosting their Wednesday "Mid-Week Wake-Up" events there.

There is always something going on, and a party to attend out there. Feel free to hit me up with any questions, I run the site and some events out there.

nmballa · Posted: May 22, 2009 7:38 am Post subject:

Nice. I have been to Blarney island a couple of times. I need to roll down there sometime this summer.

YELLOWMOBIUS · Addict Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 776 City: da region

lake maxinkuckee- about an hour and a half away from me, i'm the first exit into indiana, live on the border.

It gets blown out pretty quick it is 1800 acres though, so it's pretty big, but nothing more than a big ol circle, it can get pretty rough.

theres bass lake right by there.

Pine lake in laporte not bad but can get crowded, and can't get in unless water level is high.

lake michigan, couple of places to drop in, but again, you need to make sure the lauches are open due to water levels.

lawdog2131 · Posted: May 23, 2009 6:07 am Post subject:

Not sure how far away it is from where you are at but you could try Lake Wawasee which is a 10,000 acre lake. It is in Syracuse, IN.

itch · Posted: May 23, 2009 7:11 am Post subject:

I can attest to Pine lake its about an hour outside of the city in Indiana, PM Naw he has all the downlow on good rides.
Itch

burtbabe09 · Newbie Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 49 City: Chicago

Thanks for all the help on getting adjusted to what's around here! I DID go to the sushi place the night before I left Chicago for the weekend. Some friends are coming into town in two weeks to head out on the water. I'll have to do some research and see what's close/affordable. Fox River definitely looks like a place I'll be headed to though. Very Happy

goinbig143 · Addict Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 659 City: Wonder lake

Liquid Lifestyle · Posted: May 26, 2009 10:08 am Post subject: