Mass transit vs motorcycling in downtown Chicago
 

We are planning a trip to Ilinois and Wisconsin in mid May. We will be traveling by motorcycle and pulling a small trailer to carry our clothes and camping gear. We plan to camp most of the trip. We would like to spend a few days in Chicago in a hotel near the central loop district or mag mile area but are concerned about safety, cost, and availability of parking the bike and trailer in the City. We are considering taking the train from Milwaukee, which would mean backtracking to get home, or from a Metra station outside of Chicago. We were looking at the Manhattan station. I realize there will be cost and other issues to be considered by leaving the bike and trailer in another location. What are the pros and cons of this idea? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated..

How about Lake Forest? http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/m....LAKEFRST.html
Call the listed number about your parking questions.
The cheapest clean place to stay in Chicago would be the HI Hostel on Congress. It is at the SE corner of the "loop" not too far from the lake.

Thanks so much. I will check that out. Am I being stupid about not wanting to deal with the bike in Chicago?

Not stupid at all. BNSF operates the Metra line from Aurora to Union Station if that would work better for your departure.
http://www.hihostels.com/
The beset ways to get around Chicago are walking, bus, the El and by taxi depending on how far you are going.

I wouldn't worry about the bike but would about the trailer.

Trailer spells "Loot".

I have lived in Chicago and I agree with Ackislander.