Established . Not bad for a layover activity! Here is what I would do: if you want to eat right away, breakfast at Lou Mitchell's is a good choice. Not knowing where to go or what to see, instead of exploring the area, I filled the layover working on my laptop while eating at the food court, then sat on an uncomfortable wood bench in the Grand Hall for a few hours, waiting for my next train. You can check your bags through to your next destination (if you didnt do so on the first leg of your trip) or leave them for the day, freeing you up to check out the city without lugging bags around. Interested in Chicagos diverse and iconic architecture? Explore different ways to experience this place. Is there wheelchair assistance available at Union Station? If you'd like to shop, walk north on Michigan (the "Magnificent Mile" area of high end stores). It may not display this or other websites correctly. Devastated our child, who was already dressed in his Polar Express pajamas and ready to go. 201 E. Randolph Street, ~8-minute drive from Union Station. I'd really appreciate your help :). On Second Citys three-hour foodie tour, youll sample classic Chicago tastes. Oops, forgot to tell you that the trip is in late December. I'm going to look in to that too. Yes, red caps service and handicapped transportation (wheel chairs or Tram carts) are available in the station. As for chow, if you are not in a Pizza or Diner mood, Al's Beef just around the corner on Adams tosses out an excellent Italian Beef Sandwich. If you have a business class ticket you can store your luggage for free in the Metropolitan Lounge - if not go near the Greyhound bus desk and across from there they have the baggage check. Tickets are bought, but Im wondering if there are any ambulatory services available to take them to their train? The Lincoln Park Zoo offers free daily admission to all visitors. It is about a 20 to 30 minute walk from Union Station depending how fast or slow you walk. In the downtown area (The Loop) the pizza place listed in The Thousand Places To See Before You Die book is the Exchequer: http://www.exchequerpub.com/ (The name comes from the fact that it is next door to a law school.). Jill is currently writing the first of 12 train travel guides: Ride the Southwest Chief. Which places are best for bars & clubs near Union Station? This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Spend part of your layover on the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise. Millennium Park, The Art Institue and the Adler Planetarium are also on the trolley routes. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Dotted with factories and warehouses, West Loop is packed with various types of dining and nightlife options. The outside of the station was a little grayish but it was so much more impressive inside. If you have a roomette or sleeper car,you can hang out in the Metrpolitan Lounge while you wait. And then our sons went by train one time and had an easy and nice ride. $$ - $$$ Mediterranean Greek Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ International Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, Historic Sites Points of Interest & Landmarks, Points of Interest & Landmarks Monuments & Statues. A couple blocks away is the French market. As a Kansas City expert, Jills travel guide, The Best of Kansas City: 3-Day Itinerary, launched number one in its category on Amazon. How long would that take? Union Station (Chicago) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor Chicago Amtrak Station. Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive, ~8-minute drive from Union Station. Our train arrives at 9am and cant check into the hotel until afternoon. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. If you don't mind spending some money, the Willis Tower is right next door and would be interesting. And Lou Mitchell's at 565 W. Jackson is walking distance. The attraction is open March to September from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and October to February from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. We found 1,456 things to do for you near Union Station Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower 17,661 Reviews 233 S Wacker Drive entrance on Jackson Blvd (south side of building), Chicago, IL 60606-7147 7 minutes from Union Station Experiences from $11 See 39 Experiences Chicago Riverwalk 3,034 Reviews Chicago, IL 60601 7 minutes from Union Station For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Windy City is more than just big sports stadiums and amazing museums. Besides, Chicago is such a vibrant city; it would be a shame to pass through without taking in any of the sights and activities. I was faced with about the same situation and my Hotel was more than accommodating in holding my luggage for me and had their house keeping staff tend to my room first. As beautiful as our little town is driving 5 hours by car and paying for the parking hundreds of dollars or having someone to drive us and go back the same day results in 10 hours of driving in one day. You may have to clomb narrow stairs to board the train. We went by Coach ride and were amazed at the leg room and comfortable atmosphere on the train. When its time to board, an Amtrak attendant will make the announcement for passengers to form a line, then youll follow the attendant to the correct boarding track. 95% of travelers recommend this experience. If youre a sleeping car or first-class passenger, spend some time relaxing in the Metropolitan Lounge (or, if youre a coach passenger, consider paying the daily fee for access) located in the Grand Hall. We already have this email. I was blessed to be born in the 80s, and grown up in the 90s, as a kid one of my favorite books (there was only 3 I was obsessed with) was The Polar Express I was a teenager when the movie with Tom Hanks came out in 2004. Announcement were regularly made for boarding trains and when ours was called, everyone socially distanced in the hallway near the front and were led by an employee to our train. There is Metra train service from Union Station to "O'Hare Transfer" but it's (1) weekday only, (2) fairly infrequent, and (3) the "transfer" in the name means that you're a shuttle bus and airport tram . Two things to see on Jackson Blvd other than Willis are The Federal Reserve Bank and the Chicago Board of Trade. Travel writer and publisher of Evolving Magazine, Jill Dutton caught the train travel bug when she spent three months in Europe with a Eurail pass. Any restaurant recommendations or ideas on places to go (& best means of travel to get there) would be so appreciated. Check with your hotel to see if they will hold your luggage until check-in. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Readers of her USA by Rail blog have come to expect an intimate look at authentic experiences. There's a bunch of touristy stuff to do near that area. 93% of travelers recommend this experience. The inside of Union Station is absolutely beautiful, but the best part for my friend and I was the Metropolitan Lounge, which we had access to by virtue of being "sleeping car" customers on our AMTRAK trains, both coming and going. Taxis; Rideshare; Bike Share; i need to know is there any place some one can wait if there lay over is after 12am? We were shuttled to our train car at the appropiate time, and helped with our luggage. The neighborhood is best known as the location of Oprah Winfreys Harpo Studios, but this downtown neighborhood is also an up-and-coming spot for Chicagos trendsetters. We will be arriving at about 3-4pm and leave at about 10pm. First time I opened this book I remembered it, looking at the beautiful artwork, I wanted to be one of the kids on the Polar Express. lol. We went out to purchase our meals, and brought them back and ate them in comfort, while watching a huge TV. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. The Gage opens at 10. (Photo: Tim Boyle/Getty Images News/Getty Images ). Location Provided With Ticket Purchase, ~10-minute drive from Union Station. 520 W. Taylor Street, ~13-minute walk or 4-minute drive from Union Station. Union Station also features a variety of retail stores, eateries, and offers a grand ballroom for banquets and weddings. Luggage storage Union Station $6 / day | Bag Storage & Lockers Drive-Through Safari Adventure for 1 Adult (age 16+) Up to 35% Off on Arcade at Galaxi Fun Zone. On the Mezzanine level there were some fast food options like Starbucks, Jersey Mikes. Having a compartment allows entry. Sears sold it years ago and it has been the "Willis Tower" for quite some time. It was late only 12 minutes from La Crosse and making it on time to Union Station, Chicago. Child-sized attractions and interactive floor displays keep kids entertained before they arrive on the 103rd floor, and the tower's website provides a printable scavenger hunt to help kids find Chicago monuments and attractions from the tower's deck. Thank you so much for all the great suggestions & tips. Walk from the Gold Coast neighborhood to Old Town with a guided tour of the local architecture while sampling mom and pop specialty food items along the way. The Polar Express journey begins with a visit to the Founders Room to collect our Golden Tickets. I think the Tribune Tower with its rocks from around the world is fascinating. That space, which lives up to its name, boasts a 219-food-long barrel-vaulted skylight that acts as the ceiling for the room. The tour guides are actors who take on the personas of 1920s gangsters. Chicago was most recently updated with new tips on June 28, 2017. IlliniTrav: We were thinking of Greektown. The station is located at 225 S Canal St and the west side of the Chicago River between Adams Street and West Jackson Boulevard very close to the city center and just next to the Chicago Greyhound Bus station. These are the best experiences near Union Station: These places are best for bars & clubs near Union Station: Which are the best experiences near Union Station? Would never recommend, terrible. Millennium Park is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture, and landscape design. Once inside, I stood for a few minutes taking in the enormity of the station as other passengers moved past me, not knowing where to go next. Chicagos Union Station is the third-busiest rail station in the U.S., with about 140,000 passengers passing through each day. The Neoclassic exterior is dominated by the colonnades. We did walk it once because we were dropped off at the wrong station. Maybe it was a quiet weekend or time of day but very little people were walking through or sitting on any of the benches. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Shallow: Great reminder. The station used to be a grungy zoo but over the past few years they have made some updates. Once youre comfortable getting around the station, its time to check your bags for your day in Chicago. Once I get to the station, where do I go? more. Hotels near Chicago Union Station We found 1,474 things to do for you near Union Station Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower 17,721 Reviews 233 S Wacker Drive entrance on Jackson Blvd (south side of building), Chicago, IL 60606-7147 7 minutes from Union Station Experiences from RM 36 See 38 Experiences Chicago Riverwalk 3,057 Reviews Chicago, IL 60601 7 minutes from Union Station 10Best Says. Other Attractions in Chicago. The Chicago Riverwalk runs along historic Wacker Drive from Lake Michigan west to Lake Street, with access at street level from each major intersection. They need real working security at the union station I find many unmasked trouble makers also homeless asking for money in the mornings you have crack heads Asking for money. We recommend booking Union Station tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Youll feel more confident when you detrain and will be able to focus on having fun during your time in Chicago. With 90 minutes notice until the train departed, we were informed by text that our tickets would be cancelled and we would be refunded. The Top 10 Things to Do Near Union Station, Chicago - Tripadvisor The neighborhood is best known as the location of Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios, but this downtown neighborhood is also an up-and-coming spot for Chicago's trendsetters. I will check their website out more. Kids are able to observe a wide range of animals, including antelopes, lions, seals, tigers, wallabies and zebras. If your timing is right, you can take part in neighborhood events like the West Loop Farmers Market, Craft Beer Fest, or the Randolph Street Market Festival. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The Skydeck entrance is located on Franklin Street (the east side of the building). Luggage Storage Union Station - 24/7 - From $0.95/hour or $7.95/day Indoor activities, like the city's many museums, ensure a respite from the windy winters while outdoor sights, like the Lincoln Park Zoo, offer a good reason to get outside. Trains board quickly. I live in Chicago - Sears Tower, Greek Town for food are great ideas! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41530204', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Wendella River/Lake tour. Also located on the north side of the city is the Lincoln Park Zoo. Alternatively, you may use, Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown / Magnificent Mile, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, an IHG Hotel, Best Western Chicago Downtown-River North, http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g1-i12483-Train_Travel.html. Fulton Market, Randolph Market, Jackson Boulevard and Greek Town make up the West Loop. Along the Riverwalk, stop by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza and the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum.

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