Colleen & Catie’s Picks for New Year’s Eve
Colleen
Location: Chicago, IL
Accommodations: Eaglewood Resort in Itasca
Located just 12 miles from O’Hare and 25 miles from downtown Chicago. Spa, golf, bowling alley, indoor pool, multiple restaurants on site.
NYE party with live music by the Keith Semple Band, former contestant on The Voice.
The resort offers special New Year’s Eve packages including overnight accommodations in a luxurious king room, 5-hour open bar featuring specialty cocktails, food stations with carved meats, midnight sparkling wine toast and a balloon drop, early check-in and late check-out, as well as chef-crafted breakfast buffet for two on New Year’s Day.
The overnight package for two is $359 – 630-694-5921 or www.eaglewoodresort.com
Other Chicago NYE Activities:
Lakefront dinner cruises in Chicago – The best view of the fireworks display over Lake Michigan is from the water. Book one of Chicago’s many dinner cruise options that depart from Navy Pier, which includes dining, music, a champagne toast, views of the lit-up skyline and midnight fireworks show. Prices vary.
Zoo Year’s Eve at Lincoln Park Zoo – Need a break from the typical bars? Grab your crew and head to the zoo. Spend an after-hours evening at Zoo Year’s Eve, when one of the oldest zoos in the country will be decked out in millions of glittering lights. Plus, enjoy ice carving, cash bars serving beer, wine and champagne, a live DJ, giveaways, games, free carousel rides, and more. Tickets start at $10; Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St.
Catie
Location: New Buffalo, MI
Accommodations: Marina Grand Resort – Located 70 miles from Chicago
Holiday Family package starting at $189 a night.
Cozy up to the fireplace in your waterfront suite and sip hot cocoa and homemade cookies that they’ll deliver to your room
Play board games, watch holiday films, enjoy the pool
Go to Bentwood and get free kid’s meals with every adult entrée.
Visit https://marinagrandresort.com to book
Restaurants: Beer Church Brewing Co.
A Civil War era iconic church at the crossroads of downtown New Buffalo, Michigan. A brief role as an improvised armory during a time of need.
Go to church at the pizza place for dinner. They have igloos outside currently too. Great for kids for adults. Make reservations.
Activities:
Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, MI – NEW YEAR’S EVE CASH BASH – Tuesday, December 31, 2019 from Noon – 6pm Eastern. Great for a fun but more low-key NYE. They have a great kids club too called Kids Quest. Plus, you can win big in several drawings with a total of $115,000 in cash prizes.
Winter Fest is happening in Michigan City In January. Horse carriage rides, snowball fights, etc.
“What’s” with the “Trip Sisters”
What’s in Your Suitcase?
Friend or Faux – $12.78 on Amazon, Target, Walmart
Friend or Faux inspires players to get personal, share stories, recall memories and laugh until it hurts. Points are earned through five rounds of increasingly revealing questions that players answer about each other. Ages 18+, 2 or more players. Great NYE party game!
What’s on your phone?
Enlight Pixaloop – Free on Android & iOS with in-app purchases
Photo Animator & Photo Editor – Bring your photos to life! Create animated pictures, from a flicker of flame to cascading waterfalls – the creative possibilities are endless.
What’s the tip?
Tips for Spending New Year’s Eve at Times Square
You do NOT need tickets to go to Times Square on New Years Eve – The Times Square NYE celebration is a free event open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Don’t be swindled into buying a “ticket” by anyone on the street!
Arrive as early as possible – People start lining up around the barriers in the early hours of the morning on the day of New Year’s Eve. Once you have a spot, do not leave it! Go with a group so you can take turns holding the spot while going to the bathroom or getting food.
Arrive the day before New Year’s Eve, stay at a hotel, and eliminate the stress of getting there the day of.
If you prefer not to spend time sitting down for a meal, grab something for takeout or stop at one of the many fast food chains in the area. You could also pack snacks and drinks so you can eat right in your spot.
Only bring a SMALL bag. Large bags are not permitted and ALL bags will be checked at security.
Dress in warm layers, even if it doesn’t look like it’s going to be very cold. It will get cold when the sun goes down and you can always take layers off
Take the train into the area, not a cab.
No alcohol in Times Square – Public drinking is illegal in New York City and this is strictly enforced at the Times Square NYE celebration.
Don’t miss the ball being raised! The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is raised up a 77-foot flagpole at the top of One Times Square at 6:00 pm.
