Short Trip to Chicago – 2-3-4-5 days

Trip to Chicago – 2-3-4-5 days

Why you need this?

Because on the first day we get lost, we waste time looking for things, so this small guide will save you some time and efforts so that your day can become productive. This is from experience.

These steps are only for the First Day of how to manage your trip for the coming days; once you have followed or done this, your trip will become smooth and enjoyable.

Important:

•  Hotel should be in Downtown area.
•  Have one evening for Devon Street + enjoy the beach if weather permits.
•  Have a Go Card instead of City Pass
•  Have a CTA Pass with you
•  Always keep GPS and Maps handy – You will definitely need it there.
•  If you have kids then take the stroller for him/her.
• And be prepared for long walks to enjoy the scenic beauty.

Day First:

1. Reach hotel and check in (Try to get to the hotel as early as possible) – Do carry bag-packs with you as the weather is unpredictable there and very windy – That’s why it is called the Windy CityJ.
2. It’s up to you to decide if you want to park your car at Hotel or want to take it Downtown and park it there (rates are going to be the same – $5-$10 difference). But convenience matters.
3. Ask for maps and understand the local railways at reception (i.e. Blue line, Redline, Orange line..etc.)
4. Bus Stops are also in abundance, every block has one.
5. From reception ask for the destination from where you will collect the Go Card and CTA pass (I would suggest to avoid taking print-outs for the former).
6. Go to the nearest station or bus stop if your hotel is like 3-4 miles from the main Downtown location or if it is there at the heart of the downtown, I would suggest load that bag-pack and start walking. Keep all the essentials in the bag-packs like a jacket (little warmer one), umbrella, some water bottles or Coke and Chips, some tissues and lastly, cameraJ.
7. CTA passes are usually available with Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy. Go Cards can be collected at any of the major attraction site. But do go to the Macy’s for collecting it – One of the biggest stores in US –with more than 7 stories at 111 N State St Chicago.
8. One more map and attraction’s booklet will be handed out to you at the counter along with your Go Cards.
9. If you are at Macy’s the next block is which you should look for is the Palmer Building - all light-up with fancy bulbs, easily identifiable. Go to the Gift Store inside that building and get your Hop-On-Hop-Off bus passes straightaway. That is included in your ‘Go Card’ and it is very useful. To enjoy more on that bus prefer sitting at the top most deck. Put the stroller in the lower deck and carry your kid to the top most deck of the bus, but beware the wind becomes chilly as you get close to the Lake.
10. Hop-On-Hop-Off bus starts and drops at every major attraction of the city and on that bus you will have the tour guide who will also give you the city tour and info about the city on the run. The buses run at every 15-20 minutes interval and there will be no problem till 6:00 PM. After that you will have to use the CTA buses to get to different places.
11. Make sure that you reach safely and sound and not too late.

ü  The places I personally liked the most were the Sky deck, Navy pier, Architecture Cruise, Lake View Cruise, Devon Street, Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park (Involved lot of walking).

ü  With kids you will enjoy – Field Museum, Shedds Aquarium, Planetarium, Navy Pier rides + Children’s Museum (which is there at Navy pier), Zoo and Millennium Park.

ü  If you have the liberty to spend extra time in Chicago – Do visit all the Art galleries, Hancock Observatory (which will be of similar experience as Sky deck @ Willis Tower formerly known as Sears Tower), LEGOLAND for kids and Balaji Temple near Naperville – It might be little off route (but the South Indian Food you get is worth it at the temple complex). Do spend time at the lakeshore which is 10 minutes’ walk from the Millennium Park only if the weather permits.

For Devon Street:  At the heart of the downtown go to any station near to you which connects to the ‘Red Line’ for e.g. Jackson and Chicago, go towards ‘Howard’ line, i.e., you will have to get down at ‘Loyola’, take the bus 155 up to Campbell and you will be at the Devon Street. While coming back you can do the reverse of it i.e., reach ‘Loyola University’ station by taking bus 155 down, take redline and head to Jackson or Chicago. If you have your hotel 2-3 miles away from the main downtown change from redline to blue line from either of these stations and get off to that nearest spot.

Popular Attractions:

1. Sky-deck – Good view, good photographs can be taken of the city and at the suspended glass section which gives you the view 103 stories down.
2. Navy pier – Enjoy food there, Architecture Cruise and Lake View Ride starts from there. Local rides (Ferris wheel and rides for the kids, bi-cycling or tri-cycling is a must.)
3. Architecture Cruise - 40 minutes guided tour ride on the boat.
4. Lake View Sight Seeing - Guided Tour on the boat.
5. Planetarium – One 3D movie is included in that Go Card.
6. Shedds Aquarium - Dolphin show for $5 as you are the Go Card holder.
7. And many more – it depends upon the personal choices and taste – Cannot argue on that..!! J
8. I have missed out on Museums and Art Galleries - As you need at least 1 day for each to enjoy all that and time was one luxury which I didn't have at that time.. but some time later I will re-visit and see all of that.
9. If by any chance you are at Navy Pier and its Saturday do wait till 10:30 PM for Firework show that happens for the tourists, one great spectacle it is.
10. Lastly, there are many theaters at Magnificent Mile offering good plays, musical shows, stand up comedy shows and live events. The tickets are not expensive and can be enjoyed with your friends and families, only if you are interested to do that.

The Best Use of Go Card:

1. On the holiday when there is lot of crowd you might feel little privileged if you have one of these cards.
2. You don’t have to stand in the common queue always and the waiting time in the queues is lesser compared to the general queues.
3. You will get something extra on the ticket when you get at every attraction.
4. More than 25 attractions to see with this card.  Comes with 1-2-3 and 5 days validity. Once activated it will last till the time your card duration expires. If you don’t activate it then it can be used later too. By activate it means, get to any attraction and at the ticket counter it will be swiped and your card will get activated.
5. The Card will include all the paid attractions valid till 5:30 PM, after that you will have to pay for those from your pocket.

My visit was for 2 nights so couldn't get much time to do everything but still covered most of the popular attractions of Chicago. My blog is mostly for the South Asian people as I am myself one and was visiting this city for the first time. But it can be helpful for anyone coming from a different country for the fist time to this place as a tourist.

Few pointers:

a. On 'Groupons' http://www.groupon.com/deals/chicago-transit-authority-cta-4?pt=aUaTg2DAAAADrwCD_sScwCsDR04BFD-ZU you will get a good deal for CTA passes otherwise they will cost you $20 at the stores.

b. You can also go with advance booking for Car-Parkings as the parking rates are very high over there but it's up to you how want to enjoy the City. I prefer walking..!! :)