Help with getting aroung Chicago?

Question

The wife and I are going to Chicago this labor day weekend, tomorrow Friday through Monday. We'll be staying in Itasca. Neither of us know the area don't know how to get anywhere. Should we drive to a local light rail/subway terminal and park and take the rail system or should we drive around town? I'm interested in knowing the amount of time each would take and the complexity and difficulties of each decision. What rail station would we use and is there parking to leave the car for a day and pick it up to drive back to hotel each day?

Major Points we plan to see for the weekend:
Museum of Science and Industry
Millenium Park
Chicago River Tour
Navy Pier
Sears Skydeck
Some major art place

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Also how much walking are we talking about to get from rail stations to the places I listed? A couple blocks or a mile?

Answer 1

Start at the Metra train station in Itasca. Trains downtown will connect with all the spots you mentioned. There will not be an agent on duty but you can buy tickets on the train.
A Chicago Tribune area map will cost you about $8 and you may be able to find one at your local Barnes and Nobel or Borders. It has a very detailed Chicago area map and an excellent downtown map. It is well worth the trouble.
The Metra trip will take about 45 minutes and cost $3-4. Here are their links... http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/md_w/itasca.shtml
http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/md_w/mdw_wki.shtml
The Museum of Science and Industry is about a 30 minute bus ride from the station. Service is not bad, but consider popping for a cab.
The Sears Towers is a nice walk from the station.
The bus to Navy Pier will pass near the Art Institute, Millennium Park, Water Tower, the river boats, and numerous historical sites.

Answer 2

I hope you and your wife have a great time in Chicago. Can i give you some advice about the attractions you listed.

If youre going to see Millennium Park, you should also see Grant Park, its right by Millennium. Grant Pk has Buckingham Fountain which will be beautifully lit up the nights youll be there..its a must see and its a romantic spot. Both parks are free. And theyre in safe areas, I say the safe thing in case you decide to do the parks at nighttime..lots of visitors see the parks at night for the views of the skyline lit up. If you go during the day, check Millenniums' website to see if any free concerts willl be happening..what you can do is have a picnic by the pavilion before the concert..

You said a 'major art place'...well, The Art Institute is wonderful, and its just a hop and jump from Millennium Pk.


Navy Pier is ok, its full of tourists.. when youre in Chicago, you only wanna be at NPier for a few hours because there are many better things to see and do.

Ok, the Sears Tower...the John Hancock will give you a better view of Chicago and Lake Michigan. When you get to Hancock, go to the lounge and get a drink n' look out at the great view. A restaurant is there, its expensive.

A river tour is a great idea, check architecture.org for the different tours they have.

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Are you sure you dont want to stay in the city. You could stay at a hotel like 'Embassy Suites Lakefront'.. you'd be able to walk to many attractions, and a short cab ride would get you to the rest.

Answer 3

Itasca is a suburb of Chicago. If you want to drive to downtown and other places, please be aware that
parking is expensive in most places in downtown/loop area.

If you want to take the train, you could drive to the Itasca "metra" station (on Irving park and Walnut Ave) and take the train going downtown. Parking is available all day. For train timings and parking info, please contact the Itasca station at [phone]. You would take the train all the way to Union station in Chicago which will probably take a good hour.

As you come out of Union station, you should see Sears Tower on Adams and Wacker. Once you finish the Skydeck
tour, you would then walk about 10 blocks East on Adams to reach Michigan Ave. This is where you will find the art institute of Chicago. You would then go 2 blocks north on Michigan Ave to the Millenium park.

Navy pier is probably another 10 blocks North East of Millenium park. If you like shops and architecture, I recommend walking along Michigan Ave and then going East on Illinois st to the pier. The Chicago river tour or architectural tour is just a stones throw away on the southeast side of the pier.

Now, Museum of science and industry(MSI) is on the southern part of the Chicago loop. You will have to go for about a mile south of millenium park. You could also tour the planetarium, aquarium, field museum when you visit MSI.

Happy Chicagoing!