Hi there!

On our way back from Boston to Brussels we have the opportunity to take a very early morning flight (arriving 7:30 am on Easter Monday) to Chicago, while our flight to Brussels is at 7:30 pm. Assuming that we need to be at the airport 2 hours in advance, this gives us 10 hours to spend. Me and my friend (we're 2 25 year-old-girls with a wide interest range) have never been to Chicago before. What would you suggest us to do? Is it feasable to get some sightseeing done downtown? I might be able to contact a far relative to be our personal guide, but good input by you might also help. Or is it just too few time and are we better off taking a noon flight to Chicago and spending 4 hours at the airport?
Any input grately appreciated!

Michele

Maybe I'm not adventurous enough - but knowing O'Hare and the traffic in Chicago - it doesn't seem worth it to try and tour downtown Chicago during a layover....especially since you wouldn't know exactly where you're going, etc. Maybe try "metromix" on the web and maybe there are some tour options out there.

Most certainly you can get a few hours downtown in. It takes approx. 45 minutes to get downtown by "el" (subway) from the airport. So even if you block out 1 hour downtown and 1 hour back, you still have 8 hours of downtown time. Even if you just come downtown and walk along the river, check out the Cultural Center, walk down State street, check out Millenium Park, and get some pizza or whatever else you'd like to eat, then you've avoided 10 hours in Ohare (a fate almost worth than death . And with "el" fare being 1.75 each way and dropping you off in O'hare itself, how can you go wrong? ... and if you get lost, just hop in a cab and ask him to take you to "The Thompson Center" (it will probably cost you $5-6 tops, depending on how 'lost' you are) you can catch the "el" back to Ohare from there.

If you've never been to Chicago before, absolutely try and spend a few hours in downtown Chicago. As the previous poster suggested, you can check your luggage and then hop on the blue line el that takes you right into downtown Chicago for $1.75, 45 minutes or so travel time to the Clark/Lake station right in the heart of the loop.

Since you will be getting downtown before some things open, you could pop by a Corner Bakery, Au Bon Pain or Cosi for some breakfast (all over the loop).

You don't say when you are coming, if it's relatively soon you could pick one of the fine museums to visit-the Art Institute, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum or the Adler Planetarium, all within a short walk or cab ride of downtown.

Or head over to Michigan Avenue for some shopping and/or visit the Hancock for one of the best views of the city.

Or you could stay on State Street near where the Clark/Lake el stop is, visit the flagship Marshall Field's, go have lunch at the Walnut Room in Field's or the Atwood Cafe in the Burnham Hotel, pop over to Garrett's popcorn for a snack of caramel corn or cheese popcorn, visit the Cultural Center to see it's beautiful Tiffany glass domes (also a visitor's center) and take a stroll through the new Millennium Park.

Or you could hunt down some of Chicago's famous deep dish pizza-Lou Malnati's, Gino's East, or Pizzeria Uno or Due.

Let me know if you are coming in the warmer months, I have a few more suggestions that are more appropriate for warmer days.

Hop on the EL (don't try and drive) and take it downtown. Shop on the Magnificent Mile, go to the top of the John Hanccok Building, go to Navy Pier.

Thank you all for the good input. I have done some travelling so I'm adventurous enough to get into the city jungle. Great clue about the taxi, thanks

Arriving at 7:30 AM will allow you to experience one of our fine rush hours! I doubt that the shopping places will be open very early but with the time you describe, you shoulc be able to catch something if that appeals to you.

Be aware that the weather may be cold and windy, perhaps rainy and snowy. Highly unlikely to be pleasant. Wandering about the lakefront/parks may not be as fun as one would hope.

At any rate, your time frame should be fine if you choose to give it a go!

Easter is quite early this year, so the Chicago weather on March 29 could range anywhere from a couple inches of snow to the 70s (f). Regardless, you do have enough time to get a quick flavor of one of the US's highlight cities. And if the weather is really nasty/cold, there's always the option of one of the Grayline-type city tours (Chicago must still have one?) that can be a quick way to get a nice overview of any city. Good luck!

ditto "gotravel" idea of top of the hancock building.. i would go later for lunch ( free entrance if you eat ANYTHING upstairs in bar or restaurant)after passing through beautiful marshall fields.. or if you have time and it is sunny, a boat trip around the river, lakefront.

when we go downtown from oak park while visiting family there, we never spend more than 6-8 hours anyway, so.. it is plenty of time to do museum, lunch, hancock and even boat tour.

have fun. don't miss chicago.