Teens (alone!) in Chicago
 

Please help- as part of a post prom excursion my 18 year old and 11 others would like to spend the day in Chicago on
May 20th. They do not have a real plan of action or a lot of money to spend. We are from Rockford and are semi- familiar with the city. This is the plan so far:
1. Take the blue line from O'Hare
2. Go to Navy Pier ( is the closest stop Lake/Clark ?) from the map it looks to be.
3. Hang around pier- maybe do IMAX
4. Go to Hancock Obsev/ shop a little OR Lincoln Prk Zoo
5. Eat
6 head home

I know they can walk to Hancock from Navy Pier. What would approx cab cost be to ZOO? Is the zoo big? Is it worth their time? If they went to Zoo- any suggestions for places to eat? What would be the best place to catch the BLue Line back to O'Hare from there? Any other suggestions of things for them to do? Thanks

The only thing I can help with, there is a free shuttle from the metro to Navy Pier.

As they will be taking buses/metro maybe a day pass will be better? they can buy it at the airport.

My teen is going down for a post prom day too. They take the Metra in to the Oglive station (from Elburn) and then take the bus to whereever they want to go, this time North Avenue Beach if the weather is nice. Isn't there a Metra train that runs from close to you..Woodstock maybe? that would save them from driving into Ohare. As for food, they've tried different places but still like going out for good old chicago style pizza. The zoo is fine but if they're exhausted from Prom and post prom it may start to drag after a while. Hope they have a great time.

From Clark and Lake, they need to walk north to Grand Avenue to catch the Navy Pier shuttle. Info is on the Navy Pier website. For bus routes, have them look at www.transitchicago.com The 151, as well as other lines, goes from the Hancock area up to the zoo. They might be just as happy walking the three blocks north to Oak Street Beach and hanging out there.

They'll have to consider their timing if they plan to make it to Lincoln Park Zoo. It closes at dusk, and they will have to take the bus back to the Blue Line. I assume they are catching another bus at the airport to get to Rockford? If so, allow extra time on the Blue Line because of "slow zones."

I would strongly second taking the train in from Woodstock. You'll cut down on their driving and have a predictable schedule to work with. They could bus or take a $10 cab ride to Navy Pier from the train station.

Between Navy Pier, the Hancock, Michigan Ave and Oak Street Beach, they'll have a full day and can do it all on foot. They could also walk north along the lakefront to North Ave. Beach. I would not recommend the zoo on this trip as it would mean more transportation issues.

They'll probably need $50 to $75 each for train tickets, cab fares, Hancock, ferris wheel and IMAX, cheap eats. Also, maybe the parents could spring for a boat ride on the Lake if the weather is good (I'm not sure of current prices for that, though).

The beach is great fun for people watching. They would also have fun walking on the lakeshore paths.

Kevin

I checked the map and it looks like the Harvard station is closest. Also, if they are interested, the train can take 12 bikes on board.