helpful information for PIR
Hi all,
I am sitting in my hotel in great lakes (actually lincolnshire) waiting for our family to wake up and i thought i would take this opporutity to post thoughts on this weeks PIR (8/1) we just attended.
1. our hotel. we are staying at the holmwood suites. a great great place. Just 15 minutes from base. IT is super comfortable. the staff is great. if you traveling with more than two people this is the way to go. we have a 1 bedroom suite. This includes a living room with a full kitchen and two bedrooms. After graduation the ne sailors just want to hang out, use a computer, cell phone, watch TV. the living room is nice because people can spread out.
2. lunch on graduation day! Stay away from any place near the base. They are super crowded and i am better over priced for what you get. We found the greatest restaurant. Wildfire just off Milwaukee Ave. in Lincolnshire (847-279-7900) (WILDFIRERESTAURANT.COM)
they offer a great deal. 6 people in the party must participate. but for about $20 you get to choose, two appetizer, two entres, two sides and two desserts. It's served family style and they keep bringing out more. Our sailor and his friend chose crab cakes and filets as the entres. They refilled us 3 times. Boy those sailors can eat! they were in heaven. The staff was wonderfu. If you have a large party and book a reservation... they have a nice private room.
3. seeing chicago. the museums offer a great deal. they are called city passes. You get admission into all the great museums plus one of the towers for about $59 a piece. (kids are $49). It is well worth it. we did buy one for our new sailor, but he really didn't want to do a museum.. he was intent on hanging out. but the thing is you have 9 days to use the passes from the day you start. so we left his with him since he'llbe in great lakes for a school, he will use it the next two weekends.
4. navy pier. The sailors figured out very quickly that that was the place to go as a new sailor. They got all sorts of perks.. free boat rides on the lake, free drinks ( only non alcoholic) offers of pictures with pretty girls, lots of congratulations!
a fun place to be.
5. on graduation day, be at the base early. it is crowded but they navy does a great job of moving people. efficiency is there thing. all extra people got in... no problem.
in the hall we say up against the back wall on the bleachers thinking it would be better for our backs. it was, but it also got pretty warm there. on the up side, we got to spread out a little. most of the action takes place in the middle of thedrill hall. but there are huge screens that show all that goes on.
6. i can't say enough about the graduation. it was wonderful. To see all those young and women who have chosen this as their path was amazing.
7. buy the division shirts. The sailors design them and they are proud of what they did.
8. skip the nex that day. it's open until 8:00pm and i found that it's best to do in after you drop off your sailor.... they need to be back on base about 30 minutes before their liberty expires... so you can go in then. things are very reasonably priced.
9. if there are local treats that your sailor enjoys, bring it with you. xave was happy for wawa icead tea and tasty cakes. they are on a pretty bland diet while at basic. so anything from home is a super treat.
10. Takes tons and tons of pictures. and enjoy
please email me with any questions.
I am sitting in my hotel in great lakes (actually lincolnshire) waiting for our family to wake up and i thought i would take this opporutity to post thoughts on this weeks PIR (8/1) we just attended.
1. our hotel. we are staying at the holmwood suites. a great great place. Just 15 minutes from base. IT is super comfortable. the staff is great. if you traveling with more than two people this is the way to go. we have a 1 bedroom suite. This includes a living room with a full kitchen and two bedrooms. After graduation the ne sailors just want to hang out, use a computer, cell phone, watch TV. the living room is nice because people can spread out.
2. lunch on graduation day! Stay away from any place near the base. They are super crowded and i am better over priced for what you get. We found the greatest restaurant. Wildfire just off Milwaukee Ave. in Lincolnshire (847-279-7900) (WILDFIRERESTAURANT.COM)
they offer a great deal. 6 people in the party must participate. but for about $20 you get to choose, two appetizer, two entres, two sides and two desserts. It's served family style and they keep bringing out more. Our sailor and his friend chose crab cakes and filets as the entres. They refilled us 3 times. Boy those sailors can eat! they were in heaven. The staff was wonderfu. If you have a large party and book a reservation... they have a nice private room.
3. seeing chicago. the museums offer a great deal. they are called city passes. You get admission into all the great museums plus one of the towers for about $59 a piece. (kids are $49). It is well worth it. we did buy one for our new sailor, but he really didn't want to do a museum.. he was intent on hanging out. but the thing is you have 9 days to use the passes from the day you start. so we left his with him since he'llbe in great lakes for a school, he will use it the next two weekends.
4. navy pier. The sailors figured out very quickly that that was the place to go as a new sailor. They got all sorts of perks.. free boat rides on the lake, free drinks ( only non alcoholic) offers of pictures with pretty girls, lots of congratulations!
a fun place to be.
5. on graduation day, be at the base early. it is crowded but they navy does a great job of moving people. efficiency is there thing. all extra people got in... no problem.
in the hall we say up against the back wall on the bleachers thinking it would be better for our backs. it was, but it also got pretty warm there. on the up side, we got to spread out a little. most of the action takes place in the middle of thedrill hall. but there are huge screens that show all that goes on.
6. i can't say enough about the graduation. it was wonderful. To see all those young and women who have chosen this as their path was amazing.
7. buy the division shirts. The sailors design them and they are proud of what they did.
8. skip the nex that day. it's open until 8:00pm and i found that it's best to do in after you drop off your sailor.... they need to be back on base about 30 minutes before their liberty expires... so you can go in then. things are very reasonably priced.
9. if there are local treats that your sailor enjoys, bring it with you. xave was happy for wawa icead tea and tasty cakes. they are on a pretty bland diet while at basic. so anything from home is a super treat.
10. Takes tons and tons of pictures. and enjoy
please email me with any questions.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by annmarie collins on
-
I know i read everything i could when we were waiting our turn. Congratulations to both ofyou!
Please email me if you need anything else. I'll try and tell you as much as i can? do you know where you are staying yet?
-
Permalink Reply by Sarah K3 on -
Yes, i have made reservations at Homewood suites too. I have heard nothing but great things about it. Was his PIR weekend just friday and saturday? Is Sunday not included?
-
-
Usually he sailors have liberty friday, saturday and sunday,unless they are grad and go. They need to be back sometime around 8:00 pm . Remember to get them back to base at least 30 minutes early.... they need to get across the base to be counted as back. Sometimes they may has watch and will need to be back earlier.
we had our sailor with us until 8:00pm sunday night.
-
Permalink Reply by dusty's mom on -
OK my hint for everyone is pay attention to where you park when you are at PIR. We were not in line at 6:30 we got to the gate at about 6:50 AM there was no long line. We did have to get out of the car and it was given a short search. It was a rental took some looking for the hood release. The security people wanted to look under the hood. It was really quite quick. We parked where we were directed. My mission was to get into the hall. I wanted to be sure to get the division t-shirt since my son had designed the flag. Take extra batteries for your camera. Mine died during the ceremony. We were going to leave base immediately with him but we couldn't find the car! As I said it was a rental and we couldn't find it. We went to the NEX for a while, bought some souvenirs and found it after the parking lot had cleared a bit. It's funny now but not then. One end of the lot has the recruit Chapel and the other is MCPON Hall try to see which end you are at it will help.
-
Permalink Reply by Ginnie (Justins Mom) on -
Congratulations annmarie on your new sailor my sons PIR is next weekend. I am so excited I think i am going to start packing now. God to hear about homewood suites that is where we are staying, and wildfires sounds great i am going to get online and check it out thanks so much for all the info.
Dustys mom thanks for the advice on where you park the car i have done that at the mall.
-
Permalink Reply by teresa on -
thanks for the advice we are going to stay at the homewood suites sept 5
-
-
tell john at the front desk the collins' say hello. and thank you again. also, they have GREAT hot free breakfasts
-
Permalink Reply by Connie "Nick's mom" on -
I have heard you can get a room at Homewood for about $100 a night, is that true? We would love to get a suite but they are quoting almost $200 a night over the internet. Do you happend to know the discount code?
-
Permalink Reply by beachmomma on -
If you call and tell them you are coming up for the navy graduation, they have a special rate for that. My AAA rate on the internet for a two bedroom suite was about $179 a night, the special rate knocked it down to $168. The one bedroom suites run about $100 a night.
-
Permalink Reply by Jill - TomsMomAZ on -
I am going to be on a VERY tight budget for my son's PIR ... anyone know of anything less expensive?? Also, do you know if you can get an extra parking permit? My dad (retired Navy) is driving up to see his grandson graduate from the same place he did ... was wondering if I could get him a parking permit as well.
-
-
i hear the navy lodge is very inexpensive. about $69 a night.
as for the parking pass... my dad also went in his car. we had him drive right behind us and it wasn't a problem. just tell him to have id ready.
-
Permalink Reply by Jill - TomsMomAZ on
-
I must be the luckiest mom in the world!! My dad (retired Navy) has very kindly offered to rent the hotel room for my husband and myself!! I have an awesome dad!! That is a big expense gone!!!!
First Time Here?
Is your son or daughter thinking
of joining?
See how the U.S. Navy can provide excellent educational and career opportunities.
> Learn More
of joining?
See how the U.S. Navy can provide excellent educational and career opportunities.
> Learn More
More Navy Information
Is your son or daughter thinking
of joining?
See how the U.S. Navy can provide excellent educational and career opportunities.
> Learn More
of joining?
See how the U.S. Navy can provide excellent educational and career opportunities.
> Learn More
Now Available: N4M Apparel
printfection.com/navyformoms
cafepress.com/navyformoms
zazzle.com/pd/find?qs=navyformoms
**Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by cafepress, zazzle, or printfection.
printfection.com/navyformoms
cafepress.com/navyformoms
zazzle.com/pd/find?qs=navyformoms
**Please note: Profits generated in the production of this merchandise are not being awarded to the Navy or any of its suppliers. Any profit made is retained by cafepress, zazzle, or printfection.
© 2009 Created by Navy for Moms Admin | Community Guidelines
