Chicago Planning & Tips

Getting There and Around
Because it's smack in the middle of the country, Chicago is easy to get to from most any point. The city has two major airports. O'Hare International Airport, the second busiest in the United States, is on the northwest side of town and is serviced by most major airlines. Midway Airport is on the south side and served predominantly by budget airlines like Southwest. You can find direct flights several times a day to and from most major cities around the world. Both airports are easily reached by the via CTA trains.

There are also several main road arteries that lead directly to Chicago: I-90 runs from Seattle to Boston and goes right through downtown Chicago where it joins I-94, another east-west interstate that runs from Michigan to Montana, to form the Kennedy Expressway. I-55 starts in Louisiana and ends in Chicago, where the local portion of the freeway is known as the Stevenson Expressway.

It can be more of a hindrance than a help to have a car in Chicago - particularly downtown. Traffic is often heavy and on-street parking can be nearly impossible to find. (If you do score a spot on the street, have plenty of quarters on hand and watch the clock. Meters and pay boxes take as much as 25 cents for five minutes of time in the busiest areas, and many places have a two-hour parking limit.) Parking lots and valet services are plentiful most everywhere, but you'll pay for the privilege of using them. The major roads and highways are plagued by constant construction, making congestion and delays a part of life of everyday life for drivers. (A well known local joke kids that Chicago only has two seasons: winter and construction.) Cars are best saved for trips to outlying suburbs and areas not easily accessible by public transportation.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates rapid-transit trains and buses. Chicago's train system is known as the El (short for elevated, because parts of the tracks run above ground on an elevated platform.) Each line has a color as well as a route name (for example, Brown/Ravenswood); many stations have escalators or elevators to ease trips with strollers but outlying stations will likely have only stairs, so be prepared. Most trains operate 24 hours, though some stations are closed at night. The El is packed during rush hours and hampered by frequent construction and service delays, but it's the quickest way to get around.

An extensive bus system includes northbound and southbound buses that stop on every other corner, and eastbound and westbound buses that generally stop on each corner. Schedules vary depending on the time of day and route, and service is less frequent on weekends and off-hours.

CTA fares are paid with either cash or transit cards (cards are available at train stations and some grocery stores and currency exchanges, and you can use the same one for your whole family if you like). You can purchase a $5, one-day Visitor Pass that offers 24 hours of unlimited CTA use (discounts are available for multi-day passes). These passes are sold at hotels, museums and other tourist spots.

Cabs are bountiful in Chicago, and you can hail one on just about any busy street. They aren't all yellow, and come in a range of sizes (even minivans). If the weather cooperates, you'll get the best taste of the city by heading out on foot. Busier streets can be a challenge with large strollers and small children on foot, but walking is often faster than driving here and a lot less stress-inducing.

The Art of Smart Timing
Locals like to say that the only thing certain about Chicago's weather is that it changes so often. The months of June, September and October are normally mild and sunny, and the best time for visiting. You're hedging your bets the rest of the year%253A November through March ranges from cool and crisp to positively bitter; April and May can be cold and rainy or springy and sunny; it's a toss-up whether July and August have perfect summer days or pack the double blow of high heat and stifling humidity.

The Swedish-American Museum Center, small unassuming venue, houses the cute-as-a button Children's Immigration Museum - a gem of a place for kids to run around, play dress-up and explore things like a century-old Swedish farmhouse or a 20-foot steam ship.

Different Strummer (4544 N Lincoln Avenue, at W Wilson Avenue, Lincoln Square)
Part of the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Different Strummer store offers plenty for the budding musician: CDs, videos and toy instruments, as well as real ones made especially for younger players. Check out the school's concert schedule for kids' performances.

Visitor Bureau
Chicago Visitor Bureau