# Visiting Chicago for a couple days. Could use some help **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120 "2022-06-13T18:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/1 "2022-06-13T18:39:29Z")
We’re planning a short family vacation at the end of the month. Really want to take our kids to the Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, and the Field Museum. I’m trying to find a place to stay and it’s pretty overwhelming. If we stay right down town, we could possibly walk to the The Aquarium and Field museum. Maybe check out the last day, drive down to the Science and Industry museum and drive home afterward? But, is there parking downtown? Is that something included with a hotel, or would I need to pay additional parking in a garage? The other option would be to stay further out - and either drive in for the museums or take the train in. I don’t have a clue where/how to do that. I’ve been to soldier field many years ago and just recall that trying to drive out of there was a nightmare I’d rather avoid. Any advice on where to stay and how to get around? It’ll be me, my wife, and my 3 kids from 9 - 13 years old. We’ll be coming in from WI if it makes a difference. Looking at reasonably priced hotels - nothing super extravagant. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/2 "2022-06-13T18:49:35Z")
Stay at the Hyatt on Wacker Drive & Michigan Ave. They have a parking garage and valet parking. You want to do the Lake front at all costs and Navy Pier in particular. There are local cruises of the lake and the Chicago River with dinner included if you wish. They are very nice. The art museum is very close, and you can take a local bus, cab, or Uber to all the other museums very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/3 "2022-06-13T19:32:57Z")
Thanks for the advice! Pretend I’m an idiot when it comes to the bus system. Ok - you don’t need to pretend. I google mapped it from that hotel to the Field Museum. Looks pretty straightforward - there’s a bus station near the hotel, and I just get on the bus with the correct number on it. Is it cash only? Can I swipe a card? I don’t want to be the dumb tourist holding people up as I try to figure it out. I’m thinking we can walk down from Wacker drive. But, I can see my kids being tired at the end of the day and not wanting to walk back. I imagine there are plenty of ubers. Might do that as well. Looks like there is a train, but the stops aren’t very near the hotel or the solider field area. The hassle doesn’t look to be worth the extra steps saved. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/4 "2022-06-13T19:40:17Z")
[**A link is worth a thousand words.**](https://www.transitchicago.com/howto/pay-for-your-fare/) LOL ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/5 "2022-06-13T19:41:12Z")
I would recommend the Blackstone Hotel. Avoid the Congress. But basically, you want to stay downtown. From there you can walk to a lot of attractions. There are card-swipe day passes you can buy for the bus so you don’t have to deal with cash every time you get on and off. Ubers and Lyfts are also very easy to get in that area. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/6 "2022-06-13T19:50:56Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I would recommend the Blackstone Hotel. Avoid the Congress. I stayed at the Congress about 10 years ago with the kids, it was an older place but somewhat charming stay. Great location and low price, what happened to justify an avoid comment? ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/7 "2022-06-13T19:56:25Z")
They have a longstanding reputation for underpaying their workers and treating them poorly. Admittedly it has been several years since I was following the situation closely. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/8 "2022-06-13T20:20:18Z")
Very handy. Thanks. I found the Metra site - but hadn’t seen this. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/9 "2022-06-13T20:21:26Z")
Thank you. Sounds like downtown is the consensus. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/10 "2022-06-13T20:25:15Z")
I actually stayed at the Congress Hotel on a work trip 6 ish years ago. I had a lakeside view which was nice. And yeah, it was dated then, but seemed clean and well kept. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/11 "2022-06-13T20:37:05Z")
Previous thread on the topic from my visit to Chicago last month: > [@Fun things to do during a one day layover in downtown Chicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fun-things-to-do-during-a-one-day-layover-in-downtown-chicago/959015/): > > As I mentioned in my [other thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-traveling-long-distance-by-amtrak/950896/107), I have finally booked my long distance Amtrak trip for mid May. If everything’s on schedule (It is Amtrak so it may well not be), I should arrive at Union Station at 2:50 pm. My second train departs at 2:15 pm the following day. So basically I have one afternoon and one morning to go do some fun things in Chicago. I booked a hotel that looks to be a 10 minute walk from Union Station according to Google Maps. In fact looking at the map it looks like it’s ap… As I mentioned in the other thread, I stayed at the Club Quarters. I picked it mainly because it was walking distance from the train station, and reasonably budget friendly (not that anything in that area is cheap). The location is great, right in the heart of The Loop. The room was perfectly fine. I’m sure there were fewer amenities compared to the pricier options, but it was clean and comfortable and modern. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/12 "2022-06-13T20:53:41Z")
I have lived/worked in/near Chicago for 60 years. Used to drive to Milwaukee regularly for work. There is plenty of parking in Chicago, but count on it costing AT LEAST 5x what you expect in downtown Milwaukee. How tight of a budget are you on? Being downtown is definitely preferable, but will cost more. The trains/els are awfully easy. You COULD find a cheaper hotel near a train/el stop, but only you can decide how much it is worth to take the daily train ride - especially w/ tired kids. I’d also recommend bringing swim suits and taking in a beach - either Oak Street or 12th St near the Aquarium. Sure - it is the same lake as in Mill, but would be a nice break on a hot day w/ a world class skyline behind ya. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/13 "2022-06-13T22:22:34Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > There is plenty of parking in Chicago, but count on it costing AT LEAST 5x what you expect in downtown Milwaukee. Just in round numbers, expect parking downtown to cost $50 a day for hotel guests. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/14 "2022-06-13T22:40:17Z")
Not sure where in WI you’re coming from, but Amtrak is only about two hours and twenty bucks from Milwaukee. And if you’re staying downtown you don’t need a car, so that could save a lot of money on parking. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/15 "2022-06-14T11:47:38Z")
I was wondering if your information is up to date, so I checked. Apparently, it is as good of a deal as you say it is! > Amtrak operates a train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Station every 4 hours. Tickets cost **$27 - $40** and the journey takes 1h 29m. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/16 "2022-06-14T12:40:01Z")
Get the Spot Hero or Park Whiz app to help you find parking. You can save a ton. I just typed in Friday from 7 pm to Sat 7 pm and see three spots near the Art Institute for $18-$22 for that 24 hour period. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/17 "2022-06-14T15:25:36Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > Very handy. Thanks. I found the Metra site - but hadn’t seen this. Just to be clear, Metra is the commuter rail that primarily goes to the suburbs. There is a Metra train the stops by the Museum of Science and Industry but the payment is different from the CTA which manages the bus and L trains. You’d probably be better taking a bus to the MSI. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-chicago-for-a-couple-days-could-use-some-help/966120/18 "2022-06-20T04:00:33Z")
Bus 146 runs every few minutes down the Magnificent Mile and State Street, from a stop near your downtown hotel to the Museum Campus, location of the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium. Bus 130 runs from West Loop Metra stations to the Museum Campus. Bus 6 or 10 run (express) from the Magnificent Mile and State Street to the Museum of Science or Industry. You pay your fare with a preloaded Ventra Card, which can be bought at any downtown subway or L station, and a few other places; or using Apple/Samsung/Google Pay on your phone. You can pay for as many as 8 people boarding at the same time; no need to make everyone carry their own farecard unless you want to teach how public transit works. [This is the visitor map I maintain for the RTA.](https://www.rtachicago.org/sites/default/files/documents/planyourtrip/RTA-Downtown-Map.pdf) If you choose one of the few downtown hotels west of State Street, you may need additional bus routing info. Google Directions or I will be happy to provide it. I also recommend the Transit App (that’s what it’s called) for knowing when the next bus or train will arrive and where it will take you—in hundreds of cities around the world. If you have a car to park, eschew the hotel parking and use SpotHero or ParkWhiz to find a spot. Here in the South Loop it’s generally $10-$15 for overnight. You don’t want to try to park near any museum mentioned, except possibly MSI. I’m pretty sure the labor situation at the Congress Hotel is now ancient history, but I can’t offer any knowledge about the lodgings.