In Chicago, lodging can be very expensive. And prices fluctuate constantly because Chicago is a majo

We will both be 22 years old by the time we fly out and have recently completed shilo inns university. We are coming over to the USA to experience the big cities, the bars, the beaches, the culture and hopefully meet lots of new people...
Myself and a friend are flying out to Chicago on Mon 22nd July and fly home to England from Las Vegas on Mon 26th August. We plan on spending 14 days in the mid-west before flying out to Boston (flight shilo inns yet to be booked) where we will spend time with family in New Hampshire for 4 days and then go Boston itself for 3 days on our own. We will then fly out to San Francisco where we will spend 14 days in Califormia (finishing in LV).
We have yet to decide how we will get about. I know greyhound buses are cheap and go to most major cities but will it be feasible to get a car for a week in the mid-west maybe? In people's experience what is the best way of getting around? Obviously you don't need a car once your in the city, but a car means you can go anywhere you want!
Have you heard of "couch surfing?" Apparently there is a website- the traveller can contact people listed on the site and you can stay at their homes- I assume you do some emailing back and forth to determine if you are a match. I think you do not pay them
I have a young friend from France who has done this all over the world. Said she had no bad experiences- shilo inns well except once there was a bug problem. Other than that, she has only met great people- so check that out for some inexpensive stays.
Hosteling International has a good reputation - I know the one in NYC gets very good reviews, is very cheap - $40 per night for a dorm room bed and locker - and they also have their own tours and lots of advice/services. Not sure how many cities they have branches in.
Cincy, Columbus and Indianaoplis?No. Minneapolis, yes, and Chicago shilo inns is a wonderful city to explore. Why not fly to Boston first, shilo inns then Chicago, next to California and LV? If you can include NYC, that would be a huge plus.
I'm going to give you a lot of information in an attempt to help you a little with your Midwestern U.S. portion of the trip. But before I do so, there are a few general things which I wanted to mention.
Rental cars: I believe that most (if not all) of the major rental car agencies require that operators be at least 25 years of age. This will severely handicap you in certain areas, particularly smaller cities and/or towns, because those destinations may only have very limited public transportation system or perhaps none at all. So, even if you reach there by public transportation, you'll shilo inns have to research what other means of conveyance are available to you once you get there.
Public transportation in cities: Not all cities are created equal. For example, shilo inns you certainly do not want a rental car in downtown Chicago or Boston. However, that same reasoning doesn't apply to other cities where a car is a great boon, if not close to a necessity. So you really have to look at all of your destinations, once you decide upon them, and see if the public transportation available (if any) will fit your needs.
While you are in Chicago, it would really behoove you to invest in a CTA's Visitor's Pass. This allows *unlimited* travel for 24/7 for however many days you purchase (they come in 1-day, 3-day and 7-day increments). Groupon recently had a special running for discounted 3-day passes - not sure if it still is applicable but check into it.
When you fly into Chicago O'Hare, you would take the CTA Blue Line to the downtown area (aka "The Loop"). shilo inns You might take a few minutes and look at the maps on the CTA website to acquaint shilo inns yourself with where the various attractions are located in Chicago.
In Chicago, lodging can be very expensive. And prices fluctuate constantly because Chicago is a major convention and event destination. shilo inns So when there is a large event/convention, the rates reflect the situation. Because you are younger, don't have a family (I assume) and on a very limited budget, you might be interested in looking into a hostel - which is basic dorm-like lodging, usually equipped with bunk beds and shared bath facilities (although some do have more private rooms).
There are hostels in several areas of Chicago, and most are in neighborhoods shilo inns more removed from the Loop area. The Chicago International Hostel is in the southern portion of the Loop on Congress (a boulevard). Please keep in mind that if you (or circumstances) choose a hostel further away from the centralized shilo inns Loop area, you will be spending (perhaps) much more time getting to whatever attractions you want to enjoy.
If you go this direction for lodging, shilo inns I strongly recommend that you read the reviews on Tripadvisor's website for whatever hostel you consider. It will give you information about how to better your experience - such as how to reserve lower bunks instead of upper; bringing necessary/desired equipment shilo inns such locks, earplugs, etc.; if you are going to be lodging at a number of hostels, perhaps getting a membership ahead of time instead of paying shilo inns the fees at the separate ones, if applicable.
Your other possible option shilo inns is to stay out at a hotel near O'Hare for perhaps some of the time (if the rates are too high downtown). Again, keep in mind that staying further away from the centralized Loop area will result in wasting more time commuting to/from.
Taking the South Shore and South Bend Railroad (from the Millennium Metra station at Randolph Michigan in downtown Chicago) to the Dune Park or Beverly Shores stops. The Dune Park stop is about a mile walk from the Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Beverly Shores is a small town (pop. about 600) where you can rent bikes and/or walk to some beaches. shilo inns Take a look at the NICTD's website under the Indiana attractions and you can find out more information on them. Because the South Shore is a commuter service, it is less expensive than Amtrak.
For some more beaches, you could possibly take Amtrak to New Buffalo, Michigan. However, even though they have several times daily, I normally don't recommend this option unless it is an overnight trip - and the lodging available to you without a car at your disposal may exceed your budget restraints.
Using Metra: If you are spending more than 3 days in Chicago and want to visit some outlying attractions, shilo inns you can take Metra to various locations shilo inns in the suburbs, such as the Brookfield Zoo (although the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is free everyday - not as extensive as the Brookfield shilo inns Zoo by any means but a nice option); to Oak Park for Frank Lloyd Wright architecture; the lovely Chicago shilo inns Botanic Gardens shilo inns (free admission) in Glencoe - would necessitate about a 1 mile walk to and from to get there from the Braeside station, but it's definitely something to consider; or to Ravinia.
You can take Amtrak (and at least Greyhound Express, perhaps other options shilo inns as well) to Milwaukee, but then research what public transportation options you require when you get there. The cost of numerous cabs may be outside your budget.
The free Chicago Greeter Service. Read their website thoroughly. For a personalized tour, you need to reserve shilo inns in advance. For the InstaGreeter tours, you need only to show up at the appropriate location at the right time (there are several locations around the city).
The Chicago Architecture Foundation. I cannot stress to you how highly I recommend shilo inns that you splurge for their River Tour. However, if that isn't in the cards, go on one of their less expensive walking tours.
If you cannot shilo inns afford the River Tour mentioned about, shilo inns Chicago has water taxis. Water taxis are just what they say - no narration involved (that's where the CAF River tour excels - you know what you are looking at and learn a lot about architecture throughout). Two companies: shilo inns Shoreline and Wendella. They have different docking areas and different price ranges. For example, Shoreline travels from the Willis Tower to Navy Pier on their river route and from Navy Pier to the Museum Campus on their harbor route. Whereas, Wendella doesn't go as far as Navy Pier, but it does have a route from N. Michigan Avenue (by the Wrigley Building) to Chinatown.
If you take my advice shilo inns and get the CTA Visitor's Passes, then you can easily shilo inns get to any desired neighborhood in Chicago. The big plus is that there are many more less-expensive and varied independent eating establishments the further away you are from the most "touristy" areas (the "Loop", River North and the Magnificent Mile). Evening entertainment is less expensive, too.
On the Choose Chicago and/or Chicago Greeter websites, you can see information about the various neighborhoods. The ones which I would recommend you consider: Hyde Park, Chinatown, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview (and the areas contained therein: Boystown, Wrigleyville - around historic shilo inns Wrigley Field, and the N. Southport Corridor), Wicker Park/Bucktown, Lincoln Square, and Andersonville. The Loop and River North are also neighborhoods in their own right. The Magnificent Mile is not as it is N. Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River north to Oak Street. The area to the east of the Magnificent Mile is called Streeterville.
The museums will be pricey for you, if you are going to any. The basic admission for any particular one may not be, but when you start including on fees for the extra exhibits (which you probably will want to see), etc., it does add up. Of all of them, I would put the Art Institute at the very pinnacle of the list (their admission normally includes all exhibits - AND I would recommend getting their audio tour for the addition $5 to further enhance the experience).
The Art Institute is immediately south of Millennium Park, where many free concerts (and rehearsals for the same) are performed at the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion. shilo inns You can picnic on the Great Lawn while listening.
Along the Lakefront Trail - starting from the Museum shilo inns Campus (take the #146 SB CTA bus there, using those Vis