fredandgingermad

I have an approx 5 hour layover in Chicago on July 5th, we're supposed to get into Chicago at 8.45am (if the Capitol Limited is anything like the Lake Shore Limited i guess we'll be late lol) and then the train to Omaha, NE isn't till 2pm so allowing for delays and baggage checks (i don't know whether we'll have to recheck it) we could have around 3 hours in Chicago that i would prefer not to spend in the Amtrak station I'm travelling with my 4yo daughter, is there anywhere within reasonable distance that i could take her say like a play park so she could lose some energy lol. We'll have had a 15 hour train trip from Washington DC and the train to Omaha is another 9 hours so any ideas where she should could have a proper runabout would be great

TIA

tomfuller

If you check bag(s) in Washington through to Omaha you will not see them until you get off the train in Omaha.
If you don't want to carry your carry on luggage around Chicago, you can put it in a locker in the baggage section of Union Station. The lockers take quarters or your credit card to take your luggage out about an hour before your train leaves.
Your train to Omaha will leave exactly on time since it originates in Chicago. There are several places to eat in Union Station. Three blocks east (across Chicago River) on Jackson Blvd. is the Willis (Sears) Tower. Take the tourist elevator. You can spend as much time as you wish while you are up there. 4yo might be a little young to visit the free tour of the Federal Reserve Bank, also on Jackson Blvd.
About every third corner will have a Walgreen's for a cold drink or something to eat. String cheese is my favorite snack while riding a train. There is a park near Printers Row (south of Jackson), don't remember the name.

fredandgingermad

Well thats cool with the bags, means i have longer to spend in Chicago depending on The Capitol Limited running on time or not. I've been to Chicago before but this is the first time i'll have been with my 4yo

swalter518

Depending on the weather, you could also hop a cab to Grant Park/Millenium Park and let her run free for awhile. Another option is just to hope on the El and ride a loop of the Loop. My 5 yr old loves trains so if your daughter is the same, that might be a crummy weather option. To go along with Tomfuller's suggestion, there is also a skating rink at the top of the Sears Tower.

swalter518

I mean Willis Tower-it will always be the Sears Tower to me!

exiledprincess

Well, I wouldn't be making any concrete plans, because that route is often quite late getting into Chicago.

And I wouldn't necessarily recommend the Willis Tower, especially at that time of the year (just after the 4th), because the lines could be too bad.

But what you *could* do is pick up the River Taxi (at the base of the Willis Tower) and ride it to at least the DuSable Bridge (fka Michigan Avenue Bridge). If you have sufficient time, you could ride it even longer, maybe to Navy Pier or even beyond.

Take a look at Shoreline's website for details, fares and map of their service area.

tomfuller

The park I mentioned in the first post is Dearborn park which is 4 blocks south of the Monadnock building.
The Monadnock building is the tallest building in Chicago without a steel superstructure. The walls at the base are over 5 feet thick. It was built 1890-1892.

fredandgingermad

The park sounds a good idea, i'd read else where that the Capitol Limited is just as bad as the Lake Shore Limited for getting into Chicago on time (i've taken the LSL but not the CL) although i've just noticed on Amtrak's website that the journey time is actually 18 hours (apparently) (i clearly can't count lol and i'd forgotten about the time difference) which would mean a chance for my 4yo to lose some energy would be even more welcome

HappyTrvlr

Grant Park..she can wade in the pool between the two large photographic screens next to Michigan Avenue. Also let her see stainless sculpture Cloud Gate nicknamed The Bean; she can see her reflection in it from different angles.
Navy Pier.. ferris wheel, large peir where she can run. OUr grandkids love that ferris wheel with views of the lake and the city.
Lincoln Park Zoo..Wonderlul , easy to navigate free zoo in lovely Lincoln Park..take a taxi there.

fredandgingermad

Grant Park sounds good specially if the weather's good, how easy would that be to get to from union station?

MarySteveChicago

Grant Park is very doable via taxi. Just a short distance east. There's a terrace restaurant that has decent food at reasonable prices. Lots of families picnic on the grass by the Bean. Take a change of clothes for your daughter. She'll love the wading pool, the moving screens and the Bean sculpture, as will you!