A friend thought it would be fun to plan a day trip to Chicago to the Millennium Park area for a small group. I am helping her plan.

We've heard that there is a train that goes from perhaps Kankakee to this area. I tried to find it on Amtrak with no luck, so I am guessing it must be a different line. Is anyone familiar with this train? We thought it might be easier and maybe fun to drive to Kankakee (or wherever it is) and take the train in.

Debbie

You would probably need Metra rail from Kankakee...here is a link to the Metra website:

http://www.metrarail.com/cgi/Search/...terms=kankakee

Your friend can take the Metra Electric line from University Park to Millennium Station which is under the park. Or, she could take the Southwest Service line from Manhattan to Union Station.

I believe Metra has a bus that will take you from Kankakee to University Park. Check their site for info.

If she chooses the SW line, there is a free trolley that stops on Adams just east of Canal. It will drop her at Michigan and Lake, two blocks north of Millennium Park. Another option would be the Number 151 bus. She can catch it on Canal Street in front of Union Station and take it to Michigan & Randolph. If she'll be going anywhere else, she can purchase a visitor pass that allows unlimited rides on all CTA buses and trains for the day. The vending machine is near the Metra ticket windows and the pass is $5.

Thanks - METRA was the missing key. I suppose we could drive to University Park rather than Kankakee. I spent some time checking out their website. I'm still slightly confused about the cost etc.

Does the $5 CTA visitor pass allow us to ride the Metra too or is that separate?

Debbie

The $5 CTA pass would be seperate from what you pay to ride Metra.
With the CTA pass, you can ride CTA buses or the El.

Thanks.

Now can anyone give us information on the trolley. My friend suggested that we might want to go to Navy Pier (I'm iffy on that.) I've seen that this IS a free trolley, but am not sure how it works. It seems to me that if it was free and easy, people would take it instead of paying for public transportation.

We are also interested in things to do within walking distance (I know that's variable) of Millennium Park. I think we should take one of the boat tours and I am sure some of the women would enjoy walking over to Macy's/Fields.

Years ago, I remember going to a little museum in that area that had something to do with broadcasting. I wonder if that is still there.

I once worked in the Loop (CNA), but that's been a really really (maybe I should insert a third REALLY) long time ago.

Debbie

If you are travelling METRA on the weekend there is a $ 5 RT fare that is valid all day Sat and Sunday.
I find the free trolleys to be too crowded for my own personal use with frequency every 20- 30 min.
You would be better off thaking a CTA bus to Navy Pier. The #29 on State Street runs every 10 minutes.

IMHO, there are far easier ways to accomplish this, and probably less expensive as well. And looking also where you are "going"- to my mind, much easier driving and access for the ease of the car parking, as well.

This is one of two or three others I can think of, where there are more trains going in each direction doing this too, so you are looking at much more leeway to comings and goings exactly when you want to and not on a stricter schedule.

Metra LaSalle Street Station/ Joliet line- it used to be called the Rock Island Line (just like in the song- the same track and train). And it has no crossing lines or different "routes" so you aren't going to go astray. You will only have a pick of "trains" for instance- routewise- coming BACK to your car. But LaSalle St Station makes that clear too- so all around it seems easier and faster and I think, cheaper with better train, to me.

You can access one of the best and cheapest parking areas in the Southland for $1 a day and prepay by putting your cash in a slot in a spacious ground level parking facility- get on the Metra and get back to it easy as pie.

Exit I-80 (this is extremely close to where I-57 comes into it as well from the South- so you aren't going to have to go so far East)at the Tinley Park Harlem Ave. exit- right near the big convention center. Go just blocks to the 80th Ave. Tinley Park Metra station. There are literally 1000's of safe spots and great parking- get the train going downtown. Rush hours they are every 20 minutes or so, and the rest of the day 44 minutes after the hour. More trains overall- even at night.

You can buy your round trip or combo package right there- it is manned at the window inside- or if you wait until you get on the train and buy it from the conductor- it will be more. Last time I went it was about $7.80 for a round trip. There are weekend packages for $5.00 the entire weekend- for all the Metra line trains, I believe. That might have gone up a bit.

With at least 10 people I know who come from the Southern direction, they always pick this train and park here. It's HUGE and easy spacious driving- and has many more trains than the other lines.

LaSalle St. Station is practically attached to the Board of Trade building and a short walk East to Millenium park.

Honestly, Millenium Park is ok but to me it is not an all day thing. But there is tons of stuff to do in the area.

Forgot to say- just not to confuse you- that there are TWO big stations for this train in Tinley Park- nearly a mile apart- Tinley Park is large and in two counties- and the parking is much better at the 80th Ave. station and not the downtown Tinley Oak Park Ave. station- which is classic vintage and fab in looks and restaurants, but is NOT as user friendly with that universal available parking.

Just a thought, but if you don't want to eat downtown and want the best thin crust pizza in the world- you could get off the Metra at Oak Park Ave/Tinley go to Ed & Joe's and then get back on to go one stop more down on the train to get your car.

There's a Fodors poster from AZ who wants me to send him that pizza, even frozen. It's a bar/pub/pizza and entertainment at night venue- but the pizza is rated within the top 5 in thin crust all the time. And it really is that good.

Info on the free trolleys is at: http://tinyurl.com/5homrl. They're designed to connect the tourist sights and not replace the entire transit system. They can be slow and crowded and aren't enclosed, so comfort depends on the weather.

The Museum of Broadcast Communications used to be in the Cultural Center but closed in 2003. Their new building has been under construction for at least six years with no end in sight due to financing problems.

The Cultural Center has regular concerts and exhibits, you can check their schedule to see what's happening the day you plan to visit.

As for architectural river cruises, the best is the one by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The dock is at Michigan and Wacker. If you're up for a walk, the Foundation also has a number of walking tours through various parts of The Loop. They last from 1 to 2 hours and you can purchase tickets online at www.architecture.org.

You could also go to a matinee of Wicked at the Oriental Theatre, Jeresy Boys at the Bank of America Theatre (formerly the Shubert), Shout at the Drury Lane Water Tower or Ain't Misbehavin' at the Goodman.

You could take the Number 151 bus north into Lincoln Park and visit the zoo and conservatory which are both free. Depending on your interests, the possibilities are almost endless.

Is the 151, the Sheridan? I am going to have to go to the CTA site and check. The first time someone mentioned that bus, I wondered, but when you mention Lincoln Park, I wondered even more.

The first place that I lived was near the Lincoln Park Zoo - on Orleans - 2000 north I think. It was a block over from a major street. For the life of me, I can't recall what it was.

The next place was on Sheridan Road - maybe 5600 - in any case it was right before Lake Shore Drive ended.

We lived there the year of the huge snowstorms (77 or 78). We were a block from the el stop, but they were so crowded you couldn't get on. An express bus stopped outside our building, but the same thing was true. One morning when bus after bus was full, I decided to take a local. Two hours later...... Boy, that was a long bus ride to work.

Debbie

I agree that MP is not an all day thing - see the bean, see the faces, go on.

I am going to note Ed & Joe's so that even if we don't go there this time with the group, we can go another time with my family. We don't go to Chicago too frequently, but at least once a year. If nothing else, we've gone to the Illinois at United Center game every year ever since they started selling out at the Assembly Hall and that was our only option.

I would love to do the walking tour and the architectural walk both. When we lived up there, I had a book and would do little walking tours on my lunch hour. I'm not sure if the Architecture Foundation did tours way back then. They sure would have been handy since they are so close to CNA.

The friend and I are going to go up for a day and plan things out before taking the group.

Debbie

I would love to go to a matinee of any of those plays. I may plan a third day in Chicago this summer.

Debbie

We are back to planning the trip.

I have decided that my friend must have misunderstood about the women she knows taking Amtrak from Kankakee to Chicago. I did some checking on that today and the trains are infrequent and expensive.

Since she mentioned ending up at the Millenium Park station, I think the women may have taken the train from University Park.

Question - Does anyone know how much parking would be in University Park? Would Tinley Park be a better choice than University Park? Univ. Park is a little closer to us, but the difference is not that big.

I found my own answer. My friend called her friend and, indeed, the friend didn't take the train from Kankakee - they picked it up in University Park.

Debbie

Traveler,

You are thinking of The Museum of Broadcast Communications. It was in the Chicago Cultural Center at Washington & Michigan (The old Chicago Library).

Even though the museum is closed you must go in & see the Tiffany stained glass ceiling. It has just been restored at a cost of $2.2 million.

Just a few blocks west on Washington is Daley Plaza. You can see the Picasso there.

Across the street from the Picasso is the Miro.

If you walk to the far west end of Daley Plaza and North 1 block you will see the James R. Thompson Center designed by Helmut Jahn (formerly the State of Illionis Building). In front is the Dubuffet "Monument With Standing Beast". During Business hours you can enter the lobby. This lobby was used in the movie "Running Scared" with Gregory Hines. It has 3 floors of shops & restaurants.

traveler2005

I hope you see this.

The train from Tinley Park is the old "Rock Island"- just as in the song.

Its trains are superb in timing and you end up at LaSalle St. Station which comes up cheek/jowl-within the block and confinements of the Board of Trade. And is better, IMHO- to quick walk straight East to where you want to go.

But more importantly than that, it has much, much better parking than University Park. It also is dirt cheap at $1 per day. And they also have just finished the 80th Ave. street construction itself that borders it.

Take the I-80 exit at Harlem Ave. and proceed west to 80th Ave. and it will be just North of 183rd street on your right driving North.

There's no comparison.

I went to school in University Park for years, and live in Tinley Park.

Tinley Park has two train stations, one in our old downtown and one on 80th Ave. The 80th Ave. one is the one I'm describing that is the best place to park on any train going to the downtown area from the Southern side of Chicagoland.

It has 5000 or so spaces and it is never, ever filled. I think it only has been filled once in 10 years, when the Sox won the pennant- that parade day. There is also a station (soon to be replaced with vintage like old downtown)with an agent to buy tickets from that location, and they are cheaper than from University Park. It's also a better and more often train.

Don't wait to buy your tickets on the train, it is more money by far if you do that.

The most your train fare can be will be around $8.00 for the round trip. If it's a weekend it might be less- some are 3 days for $5.00 unlimited.

Metra- see the schedules- it is the LaSalle St. Station- Joliet line.

It runs OFTEN, and is on time- not like the other. Most times right now, in summer, are nearly 1 every hour. Going downtown is 44 minutes after the hour just now.

Parking ease, placement etc. etc. all better in Tinley Park.

You don't need to line up or worry about parking fees being recorded either- you have a number where you park your car and stick your $1 or $2 (if you are gone 2 days) into the slot near the station with that number on it. No middle people- fee takers- easy. Can't go wrong- your train goes East (and eventually North). If you go early enough in the days- the trains are express and you'll fly over all the stops after Beverly.

cheribob - Thanks for your tips. If a previous note someone had suggested going inside the State of Illinois building and I hadn't realized that it had been renamed. I also hadn't realized how much was in it.

I was also unfamiliar with the Miro and googled it.

JJ5 - Thanks for your tips on Tinley Park versus University Park. It sure sounds like Tinley Park is the way to go.

My friend and I are going to go up one day this week and check out the details in advance of taking the group. We need to feel out how much is doable in a day. Some of the women may be familiar with Chicago, but there may be others who are not at all. Also we will have a variety of ages. We plan to make up a list of things that they might want to do and then split up.

I would like provide a simple map to the people going on the trip.

I've looked at all the ones that I have and none really have everything that I want to include.

Does anyone know a spot that has a really simple, bold, map of the loop with some of the tourism spots on it. I could probably write some things in by hand. I suppose I could draw one myself, but I don't think I could do a very good job.

I'd recommend stopping at one of the visitor's centers. There's one in the Cultural Center across from Millennium Park. You can pick up maps and ask questions about the best way to get to the destinations you want to see. (The other is in the Water Works at Michigan and Pearson.)

The Department of Cultural Affairs also has a booklet of public art in The Loop. It includes descriptions of the Picasso, the Miro, the Chagall at Chase Tower and many other pieces. As another poster recommended, go upstairs and see the restored Tiffany dome while you're there.