Chicago: Overview

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Overview

Considering the difficulties of driving in Chicago, try other means of exploring the city. Public transit is inexpensive and convenient; taxis are generally easy to come by. And many areas of the city are a pleasure to walk through, even in unpredictable weather conditions.

Convention goers can take advantage of several alternatives to cabs or shuttle buses. CTA trains do not serve McCormick Place, but CTA Bus 3 (King Drive), Bus 4 (Cottage Grove), and Bus 21 (Cermak) stop at 23rd Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and travel north to downtown Chicago. Another option is the Metra commuter train, which has a 23rd Street stop, accessible from the North Building, on the Metra Electric and South Shore lines. Visitors going downtown can get off at one of two stations: Van Buren Street or the northernmost and final stop, Randolph Street. On weekdays Metra trains run fairly often, but weekend service is less frequent.