OT - Chicago transportation question

[NotUrsula]

I wouldn't take a cab from MDW; it takes forever in traffic and costs a mint.

The W Lakeshore is rather far north off the Mile on the corner of Lakeshore and Ohio, the orange line doesn't run that far north (it terminates at the Loop). You have a couple of choices.

1. Get off the Orange line at the Harold Washington Library station on the south end of the Loop, and transfer to the Red line subway heading north. Then get off the Red line at Grand. At that point you can walk the additional eight blocks E. on Ohio to the hotel (or get a cab on Ohio), or you can backtrack a block to Illinois street and take a cab or either the #29 or #65 bus to the hotel via Navy Pier. (Either way you can't go east on Grand in a vehicle, as it is one-way in the wrong direction.)

2. If you don't mind spending a bit more for a cab, stay on the Orange Line train until State/Lake, then take a cab the rest of the way. That would be about 16 blocks, or 1.25 miles.

PS: You can get off the Orange line at State/Lake to transfer to the Red Line, too. I suggested transferring at the Washington Library because it gets you off the L sooner, and the walk to transfer is a bit shorter there. The "cab-the-rest-of-the-way" option is easier at State/Lake because there are more cabs available at the north end of the loop than at the south end.

 

[Mickdeb]

Hey thanks so much for the info. I think we will take the orange line to State/Lake and then a cab from there. We arrive about 10:30, so the AM rush will be over.
So looking forward to exploring your city. Hope the weather is improving and
Spring will be in the air.

Thanks again Horace and Not Ursula, both very helpful.

Deb

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, to clarify, I don't live in Chicago; I just know a lot of the touristy transit stuff because I stay in hotels there quite often. Horace is the one who lives there.

 

[manning]

The distance from the Lake/State station to the Hyatt is about 4 tenths of a mile.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The distance from the Lake/State station to the Hyatt is about 4 tenths of a mile.

Duds, who is staying at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, is flying into O'Hare. So Duds would be taking the CTA Blue Line, which is the Dearborn subway in downtown Chicago. The CTA Blue line does not stop at the State/Lake CTA station.

Hi Duds... What did you decide to do?

Mickdeb is flying into Midway, so they would be taking the CTA Orange Line. But they're staying at the "W" Lakeshore, which is quite a bit further from the State/Lake CTA station than the Hyatt Regency Chicago. So a cab from the State/Lake CTA station makes sense.

 

[BCV23]

I've been checking to see what Duds decided, too. Really hoping they decided to stay downtown the whole time. Woodfield is just a mall.

 

[WDWorld2003]

Hi Duds,
Fellow Minnesotan... I'm travelling with my teen daughter to Chicago in a few weeks for a Mother/Daughter trip and it's our first time to Chicago. After everything I've read in guidebooks, online, etc. (and I research everything to death!) the people on this board are right - you should stay downtown and enjoy Chicago.

You may want to try a non-refundable Hotwire or Priceline hotel but I would only bid a 4 star and stay in the Magnificent Mile or River North area. I just tried it for the first time We were able to get the Intercontinental for $84.00 night through Hotwire for the first 3 nights and 1 night @ $279.00 full rate (unless I find a better rate) which works out to less than $149.00 night which I understand is a bargain. This forum has GREAT advice on Hotwire/Priceline hotels and the people on there are very helpful http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=18&

I see a few hotels on Hotwire http://www.hotwire.com/hotel/results.jsp?searchId=4015314949 with 4 stars in the Magnificant Mile and River North area in the $100.00 range for the night of the 15th (not sure that's the date but you said mid July). The thing about Hotwire/Priceline is you cannot cancel but at this point you have your plane res. so it's unlikely you will. Also, if you take this route I would do it now... hotel rates for our time period have doubled since I booked our hotel in March.

Hope you have a great time... we are very excited for our trip.

 

[tinaluis]

I've gotten the Hyatt on Priceline for $45-$55 a night for out of town clients. Of course, with Priceline there are no guarantees that you'll get the Hyatt, but when I've been aiming for it, I have always gotten it. Don't know how much of a gamble you want to take, but I just wanted to mention it. Good luck whatever you decide and have a great time in Chicago!

 

[bavaria]

I've been checking to see what Duds decided, too. Really hoping they decided to stay downtown the whole time. Woodfield is just a mall.

Duds has friends who look after him - not to worry!

 

[BCV23]

Duds has friends who look after him - not to worry!

Oh, that's good.

 

[dudspizza]

Hi everyone! It is so great to have friends!

We decided to stay downtown, but at a different hotel than the Hyatt. We are right on the Magnificent Mile the first night, which is closer to Navy Pier. We may switch to this hotel for all of the nights, if the opportunity arises.

Thank you for your help everyone! We are flying in to O'hare and then with take the Blue Line in to the city. Anything that we absolutely need to see on a Sunday or Monday along the MM? We will not have a car, so taxi or walking is our best bet!

Thanks again.

Duds

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Anything that we absolutely need to see on a Sunday or Monday along the MM? We will not have a car, so taxi or walking is our best bet!

Millennium Park: http://www.millenniumpark.org/ -- Be sure to check for park events.

Navy Pier: http://www.navypier.com/ -- Again, be sure to check for events.

The Art Institute of Chicago: http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.php -- If you like art museums, this is a really good one.

As I wrote before, "It's a great city with spectacular museums and enough other things to keep you busy for a year. It's really a matter of what you and your family enjoy doing. Read up about Chicago at http://www.choosechicago.com/ "

 

[bavaria]

I like a walk from end to end of Navy Pier - not even shopping or the rides, just walking and seeing the sites. Then walk back on the inside through the stained glass exhibit.

A walk along the Magnificent Mile is nice as well - I like to do this at dusk/dark on a weekend evening.

Of course, I also love the 'design your own handbag' place at www.1154lill.com but that is probably more for Mrs Duds

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, it's not near the Mile, but I think that one of the most interesting museums in Chicago is the Chicago Historical Society. It just recently reopened after a 2-year closure to completely redesign the exhibit spaces.
http://www.chicagohs.org/

The museum is at the south end of Lincoln Park. They are open 12-5 on Sundays. To get there you can take one of several bus routes straight north on Michigan Avenue. (Don't try to take the Red Line -- it looks like it comes very close, but really doesn't. The bus will take you to right across the street.) If you like zoos the Lincoln Park Zoo is just a few blocks north.

Most stores in the Mile area don't open until rather late, and especially so on Sundays, when they usually open at 11 am. Most museums open at around noon on Sunday, but the Field is an exception, it opens at 9 am.

If you decide to go to the Field, or any other of the institutions at the Museum Campus, do take the Harbor water taxi one-way from Navy Pier. It's $7 for adults and $3 for kids from there, but it is fast, the ride is a blast and the view is wonderful on the way. This is a small boat that seats about 20, and it goes rather fast. If there is chop on the Lake you'll do some serious bouncing.

Another fun excursion if you like boats is to go out on the Windy, a tall ship. It isn't really cheap, but it's a cool experience on a breezy day -- the cruises run for about 90 minutes.

The Museum of Science and Industry is worth the trip, IMO, but it is a long haul from the Mile area. In summer you can catch the #10 Science and Industry bus on Michigan between Delaware and Wacker street, it takes around 45 minutes to get there.

Eat at good local restaurants if you can. I'm personally very fond of Heaven on Seven, if you like Cajun food.