ChicagoSmarts.com Blog

Getting Around In Chicago

Like most big cities in America, it’s fairly easy to get around in Chicago. Travelers have several types of dependable and convenient transportation systems at their disposal. These modes of travel range from the famous “L” system of train lines to Chicago car services to water taxis. And of course there’s always walking and bicycling.

Chicago is served by two airports, O’Hare International and Midway International. O’Hare is located on the northwest edge of the city while Midway is situated southwest of the downtown area. The city’s public transportation is overseen by the Chicago Transit Authority or CTA. They have an in-depth and thorough Web site, transitchicago.com, which provides travelers with schedules and other useful information. You can also call them at 1-888-Your CTA.

Below, Chicago Smarts looks at all the various ways you can get from point A to point B in the Windy City. Make sure you read each section because you never know which mode of transportation you might need during your trip to Chicago. Chances are good that you’ll use them all.

The ‘L’
You’ll sometimes see this rapid transit system referred to as the “El” but its official name is the ‘L.’ It’s a reference to the phrase “elevated train” although the ‘L’ also runs at street level and below ground. Operated by the CTA, the ‘L’ is the second longest rapid transit system in the United States after the New York City Subway. There are eight color coded rail lines that connect Chicago’s downtown area to residential neighborhoods and both airports. It costs about $2 to ride the ‘L’ and you can purchase tickets at vending machines located at each station.

Trains and Buses
Also operated by the CTA, Chicago’s trains and buses provide residents and visitors with dependable and affordable transportation. Trains are a great way to get from the city to the suburbs and that includes neighborhoods in Indiana and Wisconsin. Trains arrive and depart from one of four stations: Union, LaSalle, Millennium, and the Ogilvie Transportation Center. As for buses, they run regularly throughout the downtown area. Bus stops are well marked with blue and white signs.

Taxi
Taxis are relatively easy to find in downtown Chicago although they’re few and far between in neighborhoods and some outlying areas. All Chicago taxis are licensed and should have a numbered metal medallion fixed to their hood. At the time of writing this article taxis charge $2.25 for a fare and then $.20 for each 1/9 of a mile. An extra passenger will cost you $1 and then it’s $.50 for every additional member of your party. Depending on gas prices, you may be charged an extra $1 for fuel. To take a taxi from one of Chicago’s airports to downtown, or vice versa, expect to pay around $30 from Midway and $40 from O’Hare.

Water Taxi
Using a water taxi is one of the most enjoyable, as well as one of the most scenic ways to get around in Chicago. The city’s two main water taxi services are Chicago and Shoreline. These two seasonal ferry services operate on the Chicago River and they take passengers to places like the Magnificent Mile, River North Arts District, Sears Tower, the Museum Campus, Navy Pier, and Chinatown. A typical ride will cost you anywhere from $2 to $13. For a full schedule, visit either water taxi services’ Web site.

Car Service
Using a Chicago car service, like a limousine or town car, is a great way to get around the city while leaving the hassle of driving to someone else. If you want to rent a car there are a couple of things you should know about driving in Chicago. One, it is best not to drive during Chicago’s rush hour periods—7am to 9:30am and 4pm to 7pm. Also, obey all parking signs. If you park illegally in Chicago you’ll get a ticket, or worse, you’ll get your vehicle towed. It’s also recommended that you carry around a roll of quarters to feed parking meters. As with most big cities, Chicago drivers have a reputation for being aggressive. So if you plan on driving in Chicago keep your head on a swivel and be prepared for anything.

Walking
Walking is a great option if you’re visiting the “The Loop” or Michigan Avenue. When the weather turns walkers usually take to the Pedway. That’s a series of tunnels, concourses, and skywalks that connect dozens of stores, hotels, and train stations in Chicago’s central business district. Places of interests along the Pedway include Millennium Park, Chase Tower, Aqua, the Richard J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza, and Macy’s.

Bicycles
Chicago is one of the best bicycling cities in America. Chi-Town contains over 100 miles of bike lanes, 50 miles of bike paths, and more than 10,000 bike racks. The CTA permits bicycles to be taken on their trains and all of their buses are fitted with bike racks. You can also rent bicycles at various places throughout the cities including businesses at Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and North Avenue Beach.

With spring quickly fading, a lot of folks are dusting off their shorts and flip flops, readying themselves for hot fun in the summertime. In Chicago, that means different things to different people. For a lot of them, it’s baseball, baseball, baseball. Still, for others, there’s a whole city to explore and experience.

Some of the top sights in the Windy City are even more glorious under the shimmering summer sun. Millennium Park, Navy Pier, and Lake Michigan certainly have their individual appeals.

Navy Pier boasts a wealth of entertainment for the young and old. It houses the Chicago Children’s Museum, an IMAX theater, a park replete with carnival rides, a beer garden featuring live music, and the Smith Museum of Stained Glass. Various boat rides also launch from the Pier.

Those seeking a maritime adventure can either hop on the speedboats, the Architectural slow cruisers, or the Tall Ships to enjoy the Lake. Ticket prices vary. For the Tall Ships, the range is from about $25 to $65, depending on the boat and the tour. Kids are down in the $20-25 neighborhood.

If you’re at Navy Pier and you prefer to see the city from a different perspective, the summer brings Aeroballoon Chicago back to life with helium-filled balloon rides. Alternately, rent a bike and sight-see from ground level.

When it comes to entertainment, the Ravinia Festival is Chicago’s “sound of summer.” This year’s slate includes The Judds, Robert Plant, k.d. lang, Dave Brubeck, Maroon 5, Jennifer Hudson, Steely Dan, and many more. Classical and classic programs also fill the calendar – from Yo-Yo Ma to Tony Bennett. Even Garrison Keillor brings A Prairie Home Companion to Ravinia on June 25.

Fans of edgier music also have Lollapalooza at the ready in Chicago’s Grant Park August 5-7. The line-up there features Eminem, Muse, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Cee-Lo Green, The Cars, and about a gazillion other bands.

Taste of Chicago, which runs from June 24 to July 3 at the Petrillo Music Shell, brings a whole other flavor to the palette. Latin music, gospel music, world music, Celtic music, country music… it’s all there. Even Broadway show tunes and Natalie Cole are on the agenda.

Lovers of cinema will be pleased to know that the Movies in the Parks series gets underway on June 14 at Belmont Harbor and Montgomery Ward Park (formerly Erie Park). The wide array of offerings includes North by Northwest, The Karate Kid, Airplane!, A League of Their Own, Catfish, The Dark Knight, The Social Network, and a slew of others.

If all of those choices still aren’t enough, there are always sporting events and concerts at the United Center, guided tours, and other myriad things to do both uptown and down. Chicago really does have something for everybody.

Chicago’s Navy Pier: A Destination For Tourists & Locals

It sounds like a place you’d go when you want to buy a polo shirt for $9.99. But it’s actually the Midwest’s number one tourist attraction hosting nearly 9 million visitors a year. I am of course talking about the world famous Navy Pier.

The Chicago landmark is situated on Lake Michigan, east of the Windy City’s downtown area. The 3,300 foot long pier, in the shape of a rectangle and running west to east, is home to a variety of entertainment attractions, thrill rides, exhibition facilities, restaurants, and retail shops. The pier is free to visit although most of the attractions mentioned in this article require an admission fee. You’ll also need to pay for parking.

One of the pier’s most visible attractions is its 150 foot-high Ferris wheel. Operating year-around, this amusement ride is modeled after the very first Ferris wheel which was constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago. A ride on the Navy Pier’s Ferris wheel takes about seven minutes.

Other big-time attractions at the pier include the Chicago Children’s Museum, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Pepsi Skyline Stage, the Landshark Beer Garden, Crystal Gardens, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, and the Amazing Chicago’s Funhouse Maze.

They don’t call Navy Pier a “pier” for nothing. It’s an actual working pier on Lake Michigan; you’ll find moored boats there and everything. It’s also the launching point for speedboat rides, sightseeing tours, and dinner cruises. It doesn’t matter if you want to explore Lake Michigan or the Chicago River, it doesn’t matter if you want to cruise in luxury or take a causal jaunt on the waves, there’s a charter for every whim at Navy Pier.

The entrance to Navy Pier is framed by Gateway Park. This 19-acre park not only welcomes visitors to the pier but it provides a buffer between vehicles and pedestrians. Gateway Park’s main attraction is a large computerized foundation created by the same team that created the Fountains of Bellagio at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The first section of Navy Pier is the Family Pavilion. This area is home to the aforementioned 50,000-square-foot Children’s Museum and the awe-inspiring Crystal Gardens—a six-story glass atrium that houses more than 70 full-size palm trees. The Family Pavilion also contains several restaurants and retail shops.

The next section is called Pier Park and it’s home to the previously mentioned Ferris wheel, a musical carousel, a swing ride, remote control boats, the Light Tower Ride, and an 18-hole miniature golf course. Additionally, Pier Park is where you’ll find the 1,500-seat Pepsi Skyline Stage. This venue hosts a number of concerts and events in the spring and summer.

Running alongside Pier Park is Dock Street. This area is only open to walkers, bicyclists, and joggers. Here you’ll find retail shops and restaurants as well as the Funhouse Maze and the Shakespeare Theater. This is a great place to come and people-watch. On select nights during the summer Dock Street puts on an exciting fireworks display.

East of both Pier Park and Dock Street is Festival Hall. This facility is designed to host exhibitions, trade shows, conferences, receptions, and art shows. It has more than 170,000 square feet of exhibit space which can be split into two sections. This area of Navy Pier is also where you’ll find the Museum of Stained Glass and the Dock Street Café.

At pier’s eastern-most tip, is the East End. Visitors come here for breathtaking views of the skyline and the lakefront. This historic part of Navy Pier is great for picnics and strolls. It’s also home to the Grand Ballroom. That facility opened in 1916 and is still a popular banquet and exhibition space. The main feature of this historic building is its 80-foot doomed ceiling.

The Grand Ballroom opened in 1916 along with the rest of Navy Pier. It was built for $4.5 million with construction beginning in 1914. From the very beginning, Navy Pier was used as both an active dock and a place for the public to gather and be entertained. In the days before air-conditioning, the Pier was literally a cool place to hangout.

During World War I, the pier housed soldiers, Home Defense units, and the Red Cross. The vital role the pier played in World War I led to it being officially named “Navy Pier” in 1927.

The public began recreating at Navy Pier more and more in the 1930’s. That ended however when World War II broke out and the U.S. Navy leased the pier to use as a training ground for sailors and pilots. One of most famous pilots to be trained during this time was President George H.W. Bush.

In the 1950’s, the Pier once again returned to being a recreation and entertainment destination for tourists and Chicago residents. During this era, the pier averaged more than 3 million visitors a year.

From the mid-1960’s until the end of the 1980’s, the pier was vastly underused. That changed when the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority took over the facility in 1989. They made major renovations to just about every aspect of the pier and eventually sculpted the site into what it is today.

Before visiting Navy Pier, ChicagoSmarts recommends that you check with their Web site for hours of operation (especially for particular attractions), admission prices, and the best places to park.

Navy Pier is one of those rare destinations that are both appealing to tourists and to residents. It’s unique enough to draw visitors from out-of-town but possesses enough charm and character to attract life-long Chicagoans.