Layover in Chicago next Sunday
 

My niece will fly into ORD airport at 5.15 am Sunday morning and her flight from ORD departs at 5.50 pm. What should she does. She has never been to Chicago. What do you recommend? If she takes the train or bus to downtown which area of downtown Chicago should she visit? How long does the train/bus take? Will things be open on Sunday? Is there lockers in the Airport?Weather Channel forecast for Sun, Mar 5 is 32/46°F. and 30% Precip. Many thanks in advance.

I can't think of much that will be open that early -- she should probably head to a restaurant for breakfast until things open up. (can anyone think of something that's 24 hrs and fun? How old is she?)

It's very easy for her to go downtown on the el blue line without transferring -- takes 35-40 minutes, costs $2. (check out http://www.transitchicago.com/) A cab will cost $35 or less (won't be any traffic that early).

I'm sure there's luggage storage at ORD -- do a google search for their website and map of services.

Michigan Ave shops don't generally open on Sundays until noon, the large dept stores might open at 11 am. I think Borders bookstore at 830 Michigan Ave opens at 9 am.

Art Institute of Chicago opens at 10 am, and Field Museum generally opens at 9. Museum of Science and Industry opens at 11 am. If she's a student, an ID will grant significant discounts.

So breakfast, museum or two, shopping/walking down Michigan Ave, Sears Tower or John Hancock building?

She should dress warmly since it's likely going to be *very* cold when she starts her day...

No luggage storage at O'Hare.

She could try to walk over to the O'Hare Hilton and ask the bell captain (with the right tip) if she could leave it there.

Starbucks on Michigan ave will be open - what about the great b'fast shop that is connected to the Pennisula? It has heaters outside so you can sit outside and not be cold while you eat. (The Peacock????) It's a great people watching place!

I think they took lockers out of all airports after 9/11. Too easy to store your explosives in there.

There is a great and famous breakfast place right by Union Station on Jackson called Lou Mitchells. It says they open at 7 am on Sunday.

Just one word of caution about Sunday trains in Chicago. They don't run very often. I would budget at least an hour ride to get back to the airport and she will need to look at the schedule because sometimes they only go once an hour.

She might want to consider the Airport Express shuttle, which could drop her right at one of the North Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile) hotels. (If she takes the el, she'll have to transfer trains and walk about 10 minutes - not a big deal, I used to do it all the time - but not that easy for a young woman new in town on a deserted Sunday morning.) The shuttle, round-trip would be in the neighborhood of $25, I think. A stroll along the Magnificent Mile and some of the adjacent streets certainly gives a good - quick - flavor of one of Chicago's best areas. (On the other hand, if the Art Institute is appealing, the walk is a short one from the blue line (lst train she would take).

She's probably going to need to be back at the airport about two hours before her departing flight? That's something to keep in mind as well.

As posted by <b>kelliebellie</b>

<i>I think they took lockers out of all airports after 9/11. Too easy to store your explosives in there.</i>

as if that made any sense????

If you're past security, what's the difference?

no lockers, so you just take the bomb on the plane? I'm missing something here...

but of course TSA brain has not worked right since inception.

<i>Them are not the smartest, in the scheme of things......</i>:-D

I was talking more about the lockers outside of security where any yahoo could drive up and deposit whatever. Same with train stations. Now lockers inside security would make perfect sense.

Hey, maybe she could leave her luggage at one of those airline clubs for a small fee?

Soon after 9/11, a reporter was flying and had his razor and batteries taken. He went through security, went to the newstand inside the secured area, bought a razor and batteries and took them back to security to show them!

The Art Institute has a checkroom; it's 1$ per item, which might be the best solution for her suitcase. She can board the Blue Line (labeled &quot;Trains to City&quot;), exiting at either Washington or Jackson. It's a 10 minute walk east to the Art Institute, which opens at 10. Millennium Park is right next door to pass some of the time. If she exits the train at Washington, she can walk straight east towards the bandshell that looks like an exploding aluminum can!

She'll need to leave downtown between 2:30 and 3 p.m. to get back to O'Hare. Sunday nights can be busy there.

Thanks a lot to everyboy, I think, if there isn't lockers, It could be a problem, she is 20 years old but she was at least twice in states and speaks english more fluently than me. Any other advices are welcome.

Horacles,
If she goes to the Art Institute, there's a sandwich shop called Cosi right nearby, at 28 E Jackson Blvd. Good and inexpensive!

Sandy

<b>kelliebellie</b>,

my post had nothing to do with your post, just the idiocy of TSA!

Oh I'm all on board with mocking the TSA! And like my husband says, if anyone tries anything funny on any plane in the future, there are going to be about 20 guys lining up to tackle them. I think the days of hijacking with nail clippers are long gone.

We had a guy on a plane to Jamaica getting upset with the lady in front of him (she had the indecency to actually want to recline her seat). Well my husband kept one eye on him the rest of the trip as did many other passangers around the cabin.

Okay, this is officially the third topic I've hijacked today. Please excuse me, I'm on bedrest and getting bored.

If I were your niece, I would definitly try to attempt getting to the city. The city will be quiet on a Sunday, but if she can find somewhere at the airport to leave her luggage (hey, can she just check it in that early for her last flight?) she would really enjoy Chicago. It is my favorite city in the U.S.