Passenger Trains > Chicago -New Years Day Suggestions?

I'm arriving in Chicago on the Capitol Ltd New Years Day and leaving on the Empire Builder that afternoon. Anyone have suggestions for sightseeing activities during the layover on a holiday?

Thanks

It would require a taxi ride but the Museum of Science and Industry is definitely worth a visit:

http://www.msichicago.org/

rfprr

rfprr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It would require a taxi ride but the Museum of
> Science and Industry is definitely worth a visit:
>
> http://www.msichicago.org/
>
> rfprr

Not a taxi ride; go to Van Buren St. Station and take the Metra Electric to 55-56-57 St.

If by sightseeing you mean "trains," I'd suggest sticking around close to Union Station and shooting the Metra and Amtrak trains. Roosevelt Road, a popular spot with the Chicago skyline as a backdrop, is a few blocks' walk south of Union Station. With just a few hours' layover, it will consume a lot of your time to travel anywhere else, and freight traffic is likely to be off significantly because of the holiday.

Dress warmly. Roosevelt Road is exposed to a pretty good fetch of wind.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/13 13:11 by toledopatch.

Ptolemy Wrote:
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> rfprr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It would require a taxi ride but the Museum of
> > Science and Industry is definitely worth a
> visit:
> >
> > http://www.msichicago.org/
> >
> > rfprr
>
> Not a taxi ride; go to Van Buren St. Station and
> take the Metra Electric to 55-56-57 St. You can see the original Burlington Zephyr

You probably do not have enough time for Museum of Science and Industry. I would use the time to explore the Loop if you ave never done so. Riding around the Loop a few times is always interesting particularly when passenger loads are low. Also, take a look at the other stations and Millennium Park.

Ptolemy Wrote:
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> Not a taxi ride; go to Van Buren St. Station and
> take the Metra Electric to 55-56-57 St.

True, but using mass transit would eat up a significant amount of time, especially on a Holiday schedule.
Plus, the inconvenience of being exposed to the elements.

rfprr

rfprr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> True, but using mass transit would eat up a
> significant amount of time, especially on a
> Holiday schedule.
> Plus, the inconvenience of being exposed to the
> elements.
>
> rfprr


And the elements will be a concern next week as they are forecasting single digit highs for New Years Day here in Chicago. If you are not dressed for it, the three block walk from CUS to the CTA L will be BRUTAL.

Given the limited time and the arctic chill, I suggest taking a taxi across the Loop to the Art Institute.

You may be overly optimistic about your arrival time. If I recall you have a 5 or so hour cushion between the 2 trains. You may have just enough time to get a bite to eat and hit a clean can
Have a good trip.
Rich S

I would second the strong recommendation to stay put
in the station. The Capitol Limited could well be so late
that you might have trouble making the Builder. 5 hours
is not all that much time between trains. Too bad you didn't
plan for an overnight stay in Chi-town -- you then could easily
have had time to visit that great Museum of Science and
Industry, as well as other great places.

(I know I'm gonna sound like your mother, but -- please do
dress warmly if you intend it venture outside the station for more
than a very short time. The National Weather Service says the
forecast for New Year's Day in Chicago is: "A chance of snow.
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17" I don't see single-digit high
forecast for New Year's Day there. But that is still plenty cold!)

If you are one who embraces very cold weather and have the right clothing, then get out for a bit and see Chicago. At a minimum, you can walk a couple of blocks to the Willis Tower and ride to the top for a great view of Chicago:

http://www.theskydeck.com/

Ordinarily, the suggestion to visit the Art Institute would be a good one, but it's closed New Year's Day. However, the Shedd Aquarium is open at 10:00 am.

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

You may also want to try a ride on the L. I'd recommend the Brown or Orange lines. The latter follows active railroad lines.

Ride the "L" around the Loop, go east from CUS. It is railroad, it is historic as it gets, you can fit it in time wise, it is cheap, you see Chicago and the cars are kinda heated, you won't freeze..
You have to watch the trains you are on and probably transfer at State and Lake. The signs are good.
Google CTA. If there is time go to Ronnie's Steak House if you want a treat, been there forever, reasonable price and quick. It is kinda cafateria style.

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/ronnys-original-steakhouse/

You can get off the "L" and get back on. The only downside is they had the easy to use transit card and now some funky replacement.

Forget any museums, you don't have time to make it worthwhile.

Bob Jordan