My husband and I were thinking it might be fun to spend a day taking the "El" to different interesting Chicago destinations to sort of learn the neighborhoods and the El system. We know about the El tours that are offered, but that's not what we're looking for. We want to be able to get on and off the train and maybe have lunch, or coffee, or visit a bookstore, garden, music store, gallery or see interesting architecture or anything! Does anyone have any favorite el destination points?
Thanks,
Laurie

Be sure to get a one day $5 pass.

Brown line to Western: Lincoln Square, great restatuarants, german delis and shops

Brown line to Armitage-lincoln park boutiques

Blue line North & Damen- Bucktown, ecleectic arty fun

Green or blue lines west to Garfield Conservatory and Oak Park neighborhood (Frank Lloyd Wright homes)

you can get a map a www.transitchicago.com

Red line to Chinatown

great ideas -- thanks!
Laurie

Red line north to Wrigley Field to see the Cubbies play. It's a fun neighborhood too.

Red line south to see the White Sox play. I think you'd only go there to see the game though. It's never struck me as a "fun" neighborhood.

Blackmons, do agree with Lincoln Square, Armitage and Wicker Park/Bucktown suggestions.

You can also take a number of lines (Red, Brown, Purple) to the Belmont station. If you go south from there on Clark, Broadway or Halsted, you would be going into Lincoln Park (after Diversey); if you go north on Clark, you are going up into Wrigleyville; if you go north on Halsted, you are going up into Boystown (or Broadway-has a number of shops as well).

If you take the Red Line to the Clybourn station, you are right at the Halsted/North Avenue/Clybourn intersections (aka "Clybourn Corridor"). Steppenwolf and Royal George Theatres are just north on Halsted. There are many, many stores on North Avenue and going north on Clybourn.

If you take the Red Line to Addison, you are right at Wrigley Field. Take the #152 bus WB (or walk 5 blocks west) and you are on N. Southport just south of the Music Box Theatre. If you walk north from the station on Clark to Irving Park (4 blocks or so), you are at Graceland Cemetery. It's the final resting place of some of our city's most famous individuals in a parklike setting. Get a guidebook from the office when you are there (not open on Sundays) or take a Chicago Architecture Foundation afternoon walking tour (depends on their schedule and when you are here).

Have fun exploring Chicago!

Take the Red Line north to the Loyola Stop and go West on the Devon bus (#155), get off at Western Avenue and eat lunch at an Indian Resturant and then go window shopping. Devon street is best on a warm Saturday when everyone is out on the streets.

Blackmons, a correction to my post. I had forgotten that the Purple Line doesn't stop at Belmont anymore. But you can still take the Brown or Red Lines there.

If you go to Lincoln Square, don't forget to walk down Lincoln Ave. until you hit Montrose (or even beyond). There is one of the biggest libraries in the city and a great park where you can play horseshoes. There is a great bookstore called the Book Cellar. Across the street is the "town square" with a cute little fountian. In the summer on Thurs. they often have bluegrass/polka/etc bands playing. In terms of dining, I like Daily Bar, Square Kitchen, and my favorite sushi bar in the city Tank. They also have the Davis theater that show films for $7 (a deal nowadays).

If you get off at the Montrose stop, head east till you hit Lill Street. Lill Street is a pottery studio and gallery that is the home to a great little non for profit cafe called First Slice http://www.firstslice.org/
If you go west out of the Montrose stop, you'll see 2 great little store Hazel and William Daniels. Margies just opened for some great chocolates and old fashion icecream sundaes.

On N. Southport, there is alot of great upscale shopping.