Trolley/Hotel help please ? (Chicago, Industry: where to stay, preschool, college)

[Growing2Boys]

Hi all,
I want to take my 2 preschool sons on a 2 day trip to Chicago. I want to do the Navy Pier (children's museum there) & the museum of industry.

I will drive there from Iowa, but I know my boys would love riding the trolley.
I thought I would try to take it to one of the museums.

Any suggestions on where to stay that is easy to navigate with kids to get to a trolley? Can I bring a stroller on board? I read the free ones no longer run? It's all a bit confusing online. The ones I am finding are like $30 a person & seem to be party buses more for adults?
* We can only go mid-week, no weekends

Thanks!
Rebecca

[Chicagodan]

Hi Rebecca,

It sounds like a fun trip you're planning for you and your boys. I live and work in downtown Chicago and can give you some good information. First, the Navy Pier trollies are still running. They run from Navy Pier to State Street and back. The Courtyard by Marriott Downtown/River North (30 E. Hubbard) is on State Street and has the Navy Pier trolley stop directly behind it. Second, the CTA #10 bus will take you and your boys to the front door of the Museum of Science and Industry. There are two #10 bus stops within walking disance of that hotel; one at Michigan/Chicago and the other at State/Lake. I believe the free trolley service that ran between downtown and the Museum of Science and Industry has been discontinued. You might also want to consider the Hilton Garden Inn, 10 E. Grand, which is only two blocks north of the Courtyard.

[Growing2Boys]

Perfect Chicagodan!
Thank you so much for saving me MANY nights web surfing to organize! I will follow your advice exactly. I get the biggest kick out of my boys who find riding a bus the most fun thing on the planet right now. They actually jump up & down when they see one (I don't recall it being fun for me back when I was standing in a snow storm trying to get to college

Cheers
Rebecca

[Chicagodan]

Glad to help out. As always, though, it's a good idea to check ahead of time just to make sure that the museums are open and the trollies and buses are on their normal schedules during your stay. Deprecated Browser Error Welcome to The Museum of Science and Industry Navy Pier http://www.transitchicago.com/assets...hedules/10.pdf Enjoy your visit!