Bitter

Headed to Chicago. Would like to visit the U of Chicago for the Robie House, Oriental Museum and Smart Museum. Our arrival day (Sunday) is the only day all 3 are open during our visit. We arrive about 11 a.m. The last Robie House tour is at 3 meaning time is a little important. Thinking about heading directly to the University from Midway, instead of going downtown to our River North Hotel first. Thoughts on this plan? Thoughts on what to do with luggage? (Oriental Museum says they have lockers.)

Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks!

tomfuller

Union station has lockers. You use fingerprint and code to reopen. They charge your credit card at the time you reopen the locker.
Get a taxi from Union station to whichever museum you want first.

Ackislander

Get a grip, Tom. It takes twice as long via Union Station and the OP are under time pressure.

Uber, Lyft, or taxi. ~30 minutes or less; ~55 minutes by public transportation,

Bitter

I thought of Union Station, but at that point I could probably drop the luggage off at my hotel. Looks like a straight shot to U of C from Midway, so I was kind of hoping to go there before heading the rest of the way downtown.

I may need to just call the Oriental Museum and check their policy. (I'd like to leave the luggage there while visiting the other locations, too).

ChgoGal

If you've never been to Chicago before, I'd skip Hyde Park/U of C entirely. If you're coming Chicago specifically for Wright or art museums, that's different, but your time is really limited.

Definitely taxi or uber/lyft straight to the Oriental Museum. Going all the way downtown and back makes no sense. Union Station is not going to work at all. You may as well go direct to River North, and then you'd run out of time.

Bitter

Thanks ChgoGal, I've been to Chicago a number of times and actually been to the OI, which I found to be underrated and am looking forward to seeing again. I agree, though, for a first timer there is plenty to see downtown. I have communicated with the OI and they will let us leave our luggage there while we hit the robie house and smart museum. Yay!

ChgoGal

Great news! Have a great time in Chicago, Bitter.

fmpden

Ya, makes absolutely no sense to take luggage to Union station and then back. That was crazy !!