Downtown Chicago

[Only me]

I live in the suburbs of Chicago but we never go downtown. We want to take the kids downtown on the train and then go look at the Christmas displays on State Street, etc. I think it is a pretty far walk from the train station to State street. My dh thought there was some kind of trolley that you could take but I can't find any information online. Has anyone done this or have any other suggestions? The walk wouldn't be too bad but it is supposed to be pretty cold this weekend.

[Harriet Vane]

I'll ask dh--he would know.

 

One thought that comes to mind, though, is that if you were coming in on the Union Pacific West line (the one that starts in Elburn), you could get off the Metra at Harlem and take the green line el (right at the Harlem stop) into downtown to a stop closer to the shops.

 

I'll send dh an email now and see what he says.

[Elisabeth in IL]

Here is the web site for the free trolley's downtown. http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalDeptCategoryAction.do?deptCategoryOID=-536896085&contentType=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&entityName=Transportation&deptMainCategoryOID=-536896085 Hopefully this will help you. I take the train downtown quite often with the kids. I've used the trolleys a couple of times but the bus system almost always works out best for us. The trip planner has helped me get around. http://www.transitchicago.com/

[Annie G]

Which train station will you come into? We came into the Ogilvie Station, having caught the train in Elgin. The closest L station is the Green Line's Clinton Street stop at Lake Street, which is several blocks north of the station.

We recently visited the Christkindlmarket just two blocks from the State Street Macy's (Marshall Field's) and it's well worth the trip. They have a nice website to show you what you'll see, and the attraction is free, small enough to do in an hour, and do much fun. The food was awesome!

Have fun!!!

[Only me]

We would come in from Aurora or from Elburn.

[Harriet Vane]

If you take the train from Elburn, you can get off the Metra at Harlem. Get on the el train going downtown (green line). It's all done in the same station and very easy. Take the green line to either Randolph or to the State/Lake stop--those will put you much closer than Clinton. If you need walking directions from there I can help with that too.

 

Here's what dh had to say about the trolley:

 

The below link will get her to the website with the information, unfortunately the link is long and will have to be copied and pasted into the address bar. But the answer is yes there should be trolley's running. And I think they should take the green one from the station. And get on whichever one comes first to go back.

 

Description of the service and the dates:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1496899601.1229610779@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadefmimiegicefecelldffhdfho.0&contentOID=537007456&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&blockName=Transportation%2FChicago%27s+Free+Trolleys%2FI+Want+To&context=dept&channelId=0&programId=0&entityName=Transportation&deptMainCategoryOID=-536896085

 

Map of the routes:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_EDITORIAL/trolleyfall_5.pdf

[Only me]

Thanks so much! :)

[claire up north]

I think it'd be easiest to just grab a cab. :)

[Krista in LA]

I used to take the train from Aurora to Union Station every day for work. From US, it's about a 30 minute walk to State Street depending on how fast you go ie. how cold it is. ;) I loved walking past all of the Christmas windows and probably miss that most about Chicago. I don't know about the trolley so I'm no help there. Enjoy your trip to the city. And stop by the Fannie Mae store and pick up some seconds of the mint meltaways for me.

[Annie G]

I think it'd be easiest to just grab a cab. :)

 

 

I totally agree. If I went to Chicago frequently and knew what I was doing, I'd be more inclined to skip the cab. But last summer we bought L day passes and were thrown for a loop when one of our stops was under construction and we couldn't get off there. I had a guidebook and all, but it was still a pain. And it wasn't 3 degrees outside like it is now.