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Old 10-09-2008, 03:27 PM
 
53 posts, read 122,063 times
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Hey everyone!! I am SO excited! My boyfriend and I are coming for our FIRST visit to Chicago(on Nov. 7th-9th), to check out the school he might end up going to. (Flashpoint Academy it is at 23 N. Clark Street) Anyway, we are actually staying at a hotel near the O'Hare airport since we got an extremely good deal on it. We are driving up there and we were trying to figure out the best way to get around the city while we are there. He has a meeting and interview at the school on Nov. 8th at 10am and since we were staying out of the city would it be best to drive to the school and find a parking garage for the day? We are going to do some shopping/site seeing after his interview. Is there a better way of getting downtown? Also on Sunday we are coming back into the city to do some more shopping and site seeing. So I guess my question is...should we drive downtown on those days or is there a bus(train, taxi, etc) that can take us?? Thanks for you help everyone!!
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Old 10-09-2008, 03:35 PM
 
Location: Chicago
4,684 posts, read 9,706,653 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sl2050 View Post
Hey everyone!! I am SO excited! My boyfriend and I are coming for our FIRST visit to Chicago(on Nov. 7th-9th), to check out the school he might end up going to. (Flashpoint Academy it is at 23 N. Clark Street) Anyway, we are actually staying at a hotel near the O'Hare airport since we got an extremely good deal on it. We are driving up there and we were trying to figure out the best way to get around the city while we are there. He has a meeting and interview at the school on Nov. 8th at 10am and since we were staying out of the city would it be best to drive to the school and find a parking garage for the day? We are going to do some shopping/site seeing after his interview. Is there a better way of getting downtown? Also on Sunday we are coming back into the city to do some more shopping and site seeing. So I guess my question is...should we drive downtown on those days or is there a bus(train, taxi, etc) that can take us?? Thanks for you help everyone!!

If you're staying by O'Hare, drive to either the CTA station at Rosemont or Cumberland, depending on what's closer, park at the garage, and take the blue line in. It's 3 dollars to park for the day, and 8 dollars for both of you to get downtown and back. Good luck finding a parking garage for 11 bucks a day. Plus you won't have to sit through traffic on the kennedy, which can back up at any time of day.

Check out Chicago Transit Authority | 1-888-YOURCTA for more info.
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Old 10-09-2008, 03:41 PM
 
53 posts, read 122,063 times
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okay, so what exactly is the CTA? (sorry if I sound like an idiot, but we are from small towns and don't have public transportation here) I just don't want to get up there and look/feel like an idiot
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Old 10-09-2008, 03:43 PM
 
53 posts, read 122,063 times
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okay, sorry i didn't notice the link at the bottom of your post. Thanks
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Old 10-09-2008, 05:03 PM
 
Location: SE PDX
569 posts, read 1,747,800 times
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I agree to park your car and take the CTA blue line in. Why worry about traffic and parking when you can spend that energy getting to know your way around via public transportation and at the same time seeing sights and getting to know the city for what it is. Getting around on foot and pub trans is a totally different experience. You won't regret it. That's one of the great things about living/visiting a walkable city! Have fun!

Last edited by sharkylittleton; 10-09-2008 at 05:24 PM..
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Old 10-10-2008, 12:48 PM
 
53 posts, read 122,063 times
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Is it pretty easy to follow public transportation? I mean we won't be confused on what bus/train to take, right? Just wanted to make sure...we are excited and can't wait to get up there. Hopefully if he decides to go to school up there we will be up there for good in a few months. I just don't want to be lost on some bus/train not knowing where I am going.
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Old 10-10-2008, 01:03 PM
 
Location: Chicago
4,684 posts, read 9,706,653 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sl2050 View Post
Is it pretty easy to follow public transportation? I mean we won't be confused on what bus/train to take, right? Just wanted to make sure...we are excited and can't wait to get up there. Hopefully if he decides to go to school up there we will be up there for good in a few months. I just don't want to be lost on some bus/train not knowing where I am going.
Yes, it's generally pretty easy. If you don't have a good sense of direction or an ability to follow maps, you might end up going the wrong way. But people are generally pretty helpful about finding your way here, especially on the blue line, since so many tourists enter the city this way.
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Old 10-10-2008, 01:05 PM
 
1,156 posts, read 3,600,321 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sl2050 View Post
Is it pretty easy to follow public transportation? I mean we won't be confused on what bus/train to take, right? Just wanted to make sure...we are excited and can't wait to get up there. Hopefully if he decides to go to school up there we will be up there for good in a few months. I just don't want to be lost on some bus/train not knowing where I am going.
Well, it is somewhat complex, but IMO its less confusing than trying to drive around without knowing your way, plus it saves you money.

I'm editing this post - complex is probably not the exactly right word, plus if you're going downtown, its a pretty straight shot on one train line.
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Old 10-10-2008, 01:06 PM
 
Location: Phoenix metro
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Be sure to visit some of the western suburbs which can be accessed easily via the cheap Metra trains ($5 unlimited ride weekend passes). You should visit places like Hinsdale, Geneva, Naperville, etc. You can literally get right off the train and walk a block or two to their charming downtowns. That is, if youre interested of course.
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Old 10-10-2008, 04:05 PM
 
11,289 posts, read 25,080,451 times
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If you're from a smaller town and this is your first time visiting, I'd probalby skip the suburbs for this trip. There's a ton to keep you busy in the city, and you're only here for a limited time.



Take the Blue Line from Rosemont (near your hotel) and take that into either Clark/Lake Station or the Washington Station. You can walk around downtown, and the school is right in the middle of the "loop", which is where all the trains converge.

It's easy to walk around the Loop and then up north on Michigan Ave and the River North area if you want to explore. It would also be good to venture away from downtown if you have enough time, although you said you'll only be around wandering/shopping on Sunday. I'd probably just stick downtown if you only have one day, you wouldn't want to spend the whole time commuting around places and get worn out or not really stop and enjoy stuff....
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