help going to chicago

[momma of 2]

My dbf and I are taking 5 girls to chicago next month and we have no idea what to do. We will be staying for 2 nights. We are taking a train in from Pontiac, mi and will be getting in around 4 pm. Would the best way to get around be the buses? Is the bus station near the train station? This is the first time we have every gone anywhere with the girls by ourselves.

HELP

 

[Melissa518]

Are you going to be coming into Union Station? If so, it is not very centrally located, but taking a bus or taxi to Michigan Avenue is easy. Where are you going to be staying?

 

[momma of 2]

we are going into union station and staying at the Four Points.

 

[gwcollins71]

My dbf and I are taking 5 girls to chicago next month and we have no idea what to do. We will be staying for 2 nights. We are taking a train in from Pontiac, mi and will be getting in around 4 pm. Would the best way to get around be the buses? Is the bus station near the train station? This is the first time we have every gone anywhere with the girls by ourselves.

HELP

Feel free to PM me and I will help out.

Which Four Points are you staying at? There are more than one in the Chicagoland area.

What are the ages of the girls? Some activities are better for some ages.

Good luck.

Gretchen

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

Southside girl here.... give me dates, hotel and what station you are coming in at. It would help tremendously.

 

[momma of 2]

should i buy the passes before we leave? If we get in around 5pm friday night and leave 8am sunday morning, should we just get the 1 day fun pass? I also saw that children under 7 are free, do you have to provide any id for them. My 5 year old is the size of a 3 year old but the 6 year old is bigger. Will the bus drivers question us?

Can you tell that this is the first time going to the city???????

Thanks

 

[Manda]

No, the bus drivers won't care enough to bother with the kids, LOL. They just walk on and you pay your money. Personally, I prefer to attempt to take the L or cabs almost everywhere. Buses can be a pain. What's the address for the Four Points? I can't seem to think of where it is? Union Station is at the far Southwest corner of the Loop. Most touristy hotels are a couple miles North near N. Michigan Avenue. It would be less than $10 probably to take a cab. It will cost you $4.50 (assuming two adults?) to take the bus. Since you'll have luggage, I'd probably just take a cab to the hotel, get your bearings, and then walk/pub trans from there.

 

[Manda]

Just looked at where your hotel is (I think? 630 N Rush). Great location! You can walk to the Hershey store (fun for kids - make your own cupcakes), American Girl, Hancock building, Lego Store, Navy Pier, Water Tower, etc. You'd need to take a cab or bus to get to the museum campus, but otherwise, it's a great location. You'll just walk out your door and be in the middle of everything.

 

[momma of 2]

Yup that is the address. WE were trying to all stay together. With 7 people I don't know if even 2 cabs would work. Not sure though. We don't have cabs here. But it sounds like alot of stuff is going to be close. Can we take the el to these different places???? Does the el run from union station to our hotel?????


Thanks

 

[mahend0]

We stay downtown on the Mag. Mile every summer with our 3 little ones, and there is tons of great stuff to do. Besides all that has already been mentioned (don't know the ages you have) but every year we walk to the Rainforest Cafe. There are free trolleys to take to Navy Pier, shopping and other places - but make sure you get a map of the routes. We also love to visit Grant Park, especially to watch the the light show on the fountain at night. There are so many wonderful museums to choose from, but if I had to pick for the older kids, I'd choose the Field Museum. If the weather is nice enough, don't forget about the Lincoln Park Zoo. Take a couple of cabs to get there, since it's the easiest way, and the zoo itself is free.

 

[Manda]

We stay downtown on the Mag. Mile every summer with our 3 little ones, and there is tons of great stuff to do. Besides all that has already been mentioned (don't know the ages you have) but every year we walk to the Rainforest Cafe. There are free trolleys to take to Navy Pier, shopping and other places - but make sure you get a map of the routes. We also love to visit Grant Park, especially to watch the the light show on the fountain at night. There are so many wonderful museums to choose from, but if I had to pick for the older kids, I'd choose the Field Museum. If the weather is nice enough, don't forget about the Lincoln Park Zoo. Take a couple of cabs to get there, since it's the easiest way, and the zoo itself is free.

As of this month, the free trolleys no longer exist. Just FYI.

 

[Tiggerish]

The el is not near Union Station but you can easily get a bus there that will stop very near your hotel. There will be signs in the station about where to go to catch the buses and most bus drivers will tell you if they are the right bus for where you want to go or direct you to the right number bus. I would order the 3 day bus passes if you are going to rely on public transportation.
Here is a link for ordering them. http://faremedia.chicago-card.com/store/main.aspx?DepartmentId=34

I think using the buses and el is part of the adventure and all it takes is an good attitude and it does not hurt to study the map they send with the tickets.

 

[maymom96]

Don't bank on arriving or departing on the train on time if you are using Amtrak. We decided to go to Chicago in July. Our train was over an hour late picking us up and then had to stop because another train was on the tracks. Once we arrived in Chicago, then it was riding the L and then buses.
Going home, our train was canceled because of the tracks (apparently Amtrak doesn't own the tracks). We were loaded onto buses based on where our stop was. It took us 4 hours to get to our stop (should have only taken 2) and then we had a two hour drive home.
The bus driver was horrible. He kept telling us if Amtrak had been 2 minutes slower, he would be drunk by now. He has serious road rage. I'm surprised he had a horn by the time we got to Michigan.
When I called and complained, I was told by Amtrak that they just have to get be to my destination. They don't guarantee by what mode of transportation.
So be prepared to entertain and feed the girls you are taking in case you have a similar experience.

 

[mom2travel]

DD & I stayed at the same Four Points by Sheraton on N Rush last fall. It is a great location! We walked to American Girl Place, and up and down Michigan Avenue, even back from Navy Pier. The bus was really easy - we took it twice: once to the Museum Campus where we exited at the Field Museum then walked over to Shedd Aquarium after; the second time was in the opposite direction to the Lincoln Park Zoo which is free! I did a trip report on Trip Advisor; it's under the same user name as here if helpful (there is a link to some photos too)
Have a great trip!

 

[bear_mom]

If you go to the CTA website you can order a visitor's pass for unlimited transporation on the El and buses. It costs $5/24 hours and $9/48 hours, totally worth it. Dh and I do this often, it isn't really hard to figure out the buses and Els. The CTA also has a part of their website where you can input your starting and ending destination and it gives you how to get there. The first time we went, I did this and then wrote the route down on index cards. I would look at the route before we left, so it wasn't too obvious that we were newbies at this.

I would recommend the Shedd aquarium for your kids. My girls loved seeing the dolphin show and then walking around and looking at all the different kinds of fish.

We stayed at the Four Points last time we went, it was a nice hotel in a great location.

Emily

 

[4Ms Family]

Hi, if you do go to Navy Pier check out the Children's Museum. My boys love it there, although there is a better Children's Museum up in Glenview. Anyway, based on the age of your children they probably will enjoy it very much.

 

[Tam1067]

You'll be able to get around most places in the North Michigan Avenue area by walking. The Four Points is near the back entrance to the Nordstrom mall (it's called North Bridge), and you can walk through there and exit right on Michigan.

I would expect you'd like American Girl Place which is on Michigan. Also, go to Milleneum Park which is at Michigan and Randolph. The so-called "Bean" is there, and it's worth seeing. If the girls like museums, there are lots. My kids actually have had fun at the Art Institute which does have activities for kids and some exhibits kids often like. It's within walking distance, too. The Field is great if you have a dinosaur fan, but it's not my personal favorite (that's just me I think though). Navy Pier is worth a trip as well.

Have a great time!

 

[Momto3Girls&Max]

Yup that is the address. WE were trying to all stay together. With 7 people I don't know if even 2 cabs would work. Not sure though. We don't have cabs here. But it sounds like alot of stuff is going to be close. Can we take the el to these different places???? Does the el run from union station to our hotel?????


Thanks

The el is not near Union Station but you can easily get a bus there that will stop very near your hotel. There will be signs in the station about where to go to catch the buses and most bus drivers will tell you if they are the right bus for where you want to go or direct you to the right number bus. I would order the 3 day bus passes if you are going to rely on public transportation.
Here is a link for ordering them. http://faremedia.chicago-card.com/store/main.aspx?DepartmentId=34

I think using the buses and el is part of the adventure and all it takes is an good attitude and it does not hurt to study the map they send with the tickets.

The Clinton Blue Line subway stop is about 2 blocks south of Union Station. You could transfer to the Red Line at Jackson and get off at Grand which will get you within blocks of your hotel. Or you can catch the 157 Streeterville Bus and get off at Grand and Michigan. Personally I'd do the bus if you will have luggage because there are a lot of steps down to get to the subway.

Luckily your hotel is centrally located to most of the places suggested, so you may find that you can walk to most of them. Have a great trip!