Looking for transit info around Brookfield zoo

[Curly Q. Bobalink]

Originally Posted by max.robertson

Thanks for all the replies. Really excited about the weekend pass. Thanks for giving me some local advice. I feel much less stressed about this. Just to clarify though. If it's 6.75 one way that's 13.50 round trip. There are 2 of us, so what concerned me was it would cost 27 bucks just to get to downtown and back. We are awful about not getting out and doing things here in Tampa because it's too much of a drive between places. So we tend to not. I was worried that moving up north with the snow and cold would just be another hassle to drive in, and knowing us another excuse. That's why I wanted to know about the feasibility of the train. At least here in Florida when we don't go out and do things I can go outside and work in the garden. I dont think that's gonna happen in Chicago in January. So I was worried we would end up feeling even more isolated.

Who knows, you may even begin to "like" winter after getting used to it. I find that if it's above 32°F, especially if it's sunny or not windy, walking in the woods with the dogs can be more pleasant than in the summer humidity and bugs. Definitely look at Google Maps (satellite view) and zoom in on all the miles of trails and thousands of acres of forested area around Chicagoland, or check out the websites for the Forest Preserve Districts of Cook County and DuPage County. Abundant nature is one of Chicagoland's best kept secrets, and you don't have to go downtown to access it (although Lake Michigan is a big draw for many). My favorite season is the Fall, after a frost or two has knocked down the insects, and after most of the leaves are on the ground. Crunchy underfoot and crisp, clear air will make you want to walk much further than many places in Florida. Make exploring around Argonne Labs a day trip, and get an Annual pass to Brookfield Zoo. There are SO many small towns near Chicago you won't run out of weekend trips maybe....ever.

[RamenAddict]

Originally Posted by max.robertson

Thanks for all the replies. Really excited about the weekend pass. Thanks for giving me some local advice. I feel much less stressed about this. Just to clarify though. If it's 6.75 one way that's 13.50 round trip. There are 2 of us, so what concerned me was it would cost 27 bucks just to get to downtown and back. We are awful about not getting out and doing things here in Tampa because it's too much of a drive between places. So we tend to not. I was worried that moving up north with the snow and cold would just be another hassle to drive in, and knowing us another excuse. That's why I wanted to know about the feasibility of the train. At least here in Florida when we don't go out and do things I can go outside and work in the garden. I dont think that's gonna happen in Chicago in January. So I was worried we would end up feeling even more isolated.

I am from Tampa originally and know you have to allow 30 minute for even like a simple activity. I still do that here in suburban areas and end up way early a lot of times. It does get too cold for a couple of months out of the year to do a whole lot, but even in January and February, it is usually not so cold every weekend that you have to stay in. You can certainly drive around to close places. The snow is not that bad unless it has just snowed and they haven’t had a lot of time to clear it. I mostly just use the weekend pass to go into the city and it is very reasonable. If you aren’t going into the center of the city, a lot of times you can find cheaper/free places to park, particularly with 2 of you.

[ToriaT]

There are plenty of clear, cold sunny days out in the winter in Chicago where driving is not a problem. If its icy or snowy, many people just stay in if they can. Chicago has better transit than most but if you live in the suburbs, with a few exceptions, a car is a necessity. The bus coverage is not good enough and frequent enough. A few suburbs, like Oak Park, Evanston, Forest Park, Berwyn, you could get by without a car.

Riverside, Brookfield, LaGrange, are all nice suburbs and are close to the zoo. You can take the Metra train to downtown.