CHICAGO TO NEW YORK
 

Hi all! Would you be able to help me with travel from Chicago to New York please. Obviously we can fly but I would like to consider other options..ie: train, rental car etc. Is it worth the drive or would we be better using that time to see more of the sights in our destinations? Also if we drove and travelled to Buffalo how easy is it from that point to see Niagara Falls? What would the estimated driving time be from Chicago to NY?

A limited time in Chicago with sons 16 & 18. If one afternoon to spare what would be the recommended sites to see.

Travelling early August.
Thank you...........Annie

You should familiarize yourself with maps.google.com It's very easy to use and while not foolproof, will give you a reasonable idea of driving times between points. All you need to do is type Chicago Il to NYC and you'll get an estimate.

What time of year are you doing this? How much time do you have? Chicago to Buffalo is 8-10 hrs. driving and Buffalo is quite close to Niagara Falls but I wouldn't do this in winter with potential weather problems. The train runs along the shore and is probably very pretty, but there only appears to be one train a day leaving at 9 pm and arriving in Buffalo at 8:30 the following morning so not sure how much you get to see. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten.../1237405732511
The trip from Buffalo to NYC is long (7+ hrs.) and the most direct driving route is boring but there could be some lovely stops along the way if you plan them.

So I repeat, what time of year and how much time do you have to kill?

1 afternoon isn't much, I would just do a tower, either Sears or John Hancock, and then Millenium Park.

Chicago is quite interesting and really deserves more time.

http://www.willistower.com/
http://www.hancockobservatory.com/en/
http://www.millenniumpark.org/

After reading your other post, I agree that you'll be able to "see" everything you list, but you won't have much time to experience it.

There really isn't much need to visit both towers. Each has different features so pick the one that appeals most. The Willis Tower has <i>The Ledge</i> which is a glass cube that projects from the side of the building while the Hancock has an open-air area and is much closer to the lake.

You say you have a limited time, is this a layover? If so, remember that you'll need to be back to the airport in time for your connecting flight and if Chicago is your port of entry the time to be processed through border control will cut into your sightseeing time.

You can take the Blue Line subway from O'Hare into the city for $2.25 each. The trip takes about an hour each way. A cab into the city would take about 30-45 minutes if it isn't rush hour, but the cost would be around $40-$50.

Millennium Park is contained within the larger Grant Park. Grant Park also holds Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute, Field Museum (Natural History), Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. You could easily spend several days exploring them all not to mention biking or other activities.

The city is also known for architecture. Tours through the Chicago Architecture Foundation are very popular as are tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright district which includes his design studios.

If you want an idea of what's available to do and see in Chicago, check the Chicago Visitor and Convention Bureau site at www.choosechicago.com or The City's visitors' site at www.explorechicago.org.

Hi aussie-annie.
I'd really recommend against driving or Amtrak train to NYC. The drive wouldn't be scenic, and the Amtrak trains, (which I have to take during the holidays) are filthy, cold and noisy. And Union Station - where you grab the Amtrak - is a dreary, crowded place and would dishearten your whole family, I think.
Luckily, Chicago is the only city with subway trains connecting to 2 airports --O'Hare and Midway - and they are cheap and reliable. To travel with less stress, I'd fly into LaGuardia (or Newark or JFK) - it's a short, inexpensive flight if planned early enough.

Niagara Falls is only 30 minutes from Buffalo... depending on your trip length in days, I would plan a visit to the Rock and roll Hall of fame, Niagara Falls Canada, Cooperstown and then NYC... without a car, a rental might work, but there are serious one way charges for drop off...