gabe

We will be arriving in Chicago by train and want to know the best way to get around to see the many beautiful and interesting sights the city has to offer. We will be staying near the Navy Pier. Thanks in advance!

Shawn

Many of the sites that I presume you want to see (museums, Sears Tower, shopping, restaurants and bars) are located fairly close to Navy Pier-some within walking distance. If the things you want to see are in the downtown area you can easily get a cab for not too much money. If you are trying to get to places a little further away (Wrigley Field, for example), you can take the el ($1.50 each way). The best bet would be to ask at the hotel how far things are and decide from there if you are able to walk it. It depends on how much walking you're used to doing, and also what time of year you are coming. If it is winter, the wind off the lake can be brutal and walking a block can seem like a mile!

Jane

Public transportation is very good and reliable in Chicago. From where you are staying, if you want to do the museums,(Science, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute) take the 146 Bus. You need exact change on busses. Rides are $1.50 and an extra $.30 buys a transfer which will allow 2 more rides within a 2 hour period. I advise buying a fare ticket at the airport. It works on the El and the busses. At night, if your restaurant is a good distance from the hotel, spring for a cab, especially after dark. Chicago is a pretty safe city and there is always people around the downtown area. It's a great city, have fun!

Donna Frost

On my first visit to downtown Chicago I took a trolley tour which was great fun and allowed me to get on and off at different stops. Most recently we used the bus and subway system. There are good maps and helpful people. Day passes for unlimited rides and changes are available at certain places, like some hotels but not at the stations. I guess they are designed for tourists. We bought a ticket that allowed several rides and that was fine but we only had a half day. Take a cab when you need to, your feet will only last so long and there are so many places to see.

raeona

Good advice from all the previous posts. If you are staying near Navy Pier...you will be in pretty good walking distance for lots of stuff: 10-15 minutes from Michigan Avenue shopping (the Magnificent Mile), and another 10-15 minutes to the lovely mansion lined streets of the Gold Coast. From Michigan Avenue, it's a 10-minute (or so) walk to the mythic restaurant stretch that includes Ed Debevic; Hard Rock; Michael Jordan's, etc....Not that I would recommend any of them. Do treat yourself to Pizzaria Uno or Due (a block apart -- THE Chicago pan pizza experience). And be sure to visit Marshall Fields in the Loop -- if there's a better department store in the States, I've yet to find it. Last note: the el and subway are very convenient (and reasonably safe if you don't act/look like a tourist, or take late at nite). But they are not near to Navy Pier. Buses are...as suggested above, ask at your hotel.