owinsmom

It's me again. We are arriving in Chicago on Saturday via the South Shore and want to spend the day at Millinium Park. We are staying all the way North at the Whitehall, so I hate to have to go all the way up there to check in our luggage and then come back, (which I'm sure is what we'll have to do). Wastes so much time. Was wondering if anyone knew of lockers someplace or anything like that to store our luggage. Do you think we could just leave them at the Congress or another close hotel and pretend we are staying there? The Randolph St station does not have lockers, I already called. Thanks for answering my repeated ????

swalter518

My only thought would be that maybe Union Station where Amtrack comes in may have lockers but that is on the west side of the Loop and it may not save much to just go to your hotel.

patg

The Art Institute has a checkroom at the Adams/Michigan Avenue entrance, for $1 an item.

owinsmom

Art Institute it is...Thanks so much.

Kristi

If you are checking your bags at the Art Institute, make sure you get off at the Jackson/Van Buren stop, the Randolph St./Millennium Park station is too far.

owinsmom

Oh thanks Kristi, much appreciated.

Kristi

And if you like architecture, stop by the Cultural Center on the corner of Randolph & Michigan, right across from Millennium Park, there are two gorgeous Tiffany glass domes up on the 2nd floor and a gorgeous mosaic stairway on the Washington St. side, used to be the main branch of the Chicago Public Library and you can see authors' names as you go up the stairs.

There's also a tourist info office there, you might be able to catch an instagreeter or get on a free Loop tour by el train.

http://www.chicagogreeter.com/Instagreeter.html

http://www.architecture.org/tour_view.aspx?TourID=94

wantsomesun

I would not think that the Art Institute would accept luggage to be checked in today's world, you might want to call and see if there is any limit to what you can check. My suggestion would be to check it at a hotel close to where you are going and pick it up on the way out.

JJ5

My thought was the same as wantsomesun's. It's more of a coat check I believe. I don't know if they would contain something of that size as a check in item. I would definitely call.

MikeT

From their website:

$1 per item. The following items must be checked before entering the galleries: any parcel, purse, bag, or tote 13-by-17 inches, backpacks, baby carriers, long umbrellas, and briefcases. Food and drink are not allowed in the galleries and cannot be checked. The Art Institute of Chicago reserves the right to refuse checking services for any items at any time.

Seriously. The days of storing luggage in public plcase is over.

owinsmom

Again, thanks so much to all of you who have responded. I think we will just play it by ear tomorrow. With as hot as it is going to be, we may just want to get rid of everything we can and not have to worry about it. Have a great weekend all and try and stay cool. 8-)