The Neoclassic exterior is dominated by the colonnades. Restaurants near Union Station 225 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606-5702 Read Reviews of Union Station Sponsored JoJo's Shake Bar - River North 27 reviews 23 W Hubbard St "JoJo's Doesn't Disappoint" 02/26/2023 "Best boozy milkshakes! Jill is currently writing the first of 12 train travel guides: Ride the Southwest Chief. If your timing is right, you can take part in neighborhood events like the West Loop Farmers Market, Craft Beer Fest, or the Randolph Street Market Festival. 555 ratings. We usually take Amtrak to Chicago from Jackson Mi. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The staff there are super helpful and can show you where to take luggage. Any restaurant recommendations or ideas on places to go (& best means of travel to get there) would be so appreciated. And since you have 6 hours, if you are into Architecture, you might want to take a taxi to Oak Park to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's homes and his house. If you are looking for a good place for a sit down dinner. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. They may serve their brunch menu on Saturdays as well, not sure. Dj vu! I found the lounge to be an oasis. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. If you want to take a bus from Union Station you could probably get on one on either Jackson or Adams which border Union Station. more. Hotels near Chicago Union Station The Shedd Aquarium puts kids face-to-face with more than 32,000 animals. Once I get to the station, where do I go? Kids of all ages and interests will find something exciting to do in Chicago, from the heights of the Willis Tower to the exotic fish of the Shedd Aquarium. Which places are best for bars & clubs near Union Station? Reddit - Dive into anything We went by Coach ride and were amazed at the leg room and comfortable atmosphere on the train. We already have this email. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Shallow: Great reminder. Millennium Park is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture, and landscape design. Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, gives children and their families the opportunity to take an elevator to the tower's 103rd floor and experience a bird's-eye view of the city. Also, we will be storing our luggage in a locker during the layover Just FYI, when I checked on the Sears Tower last summer for my family, it was pretty expensive. 1200 W. Randolph Street, ~7-minute drive from Union Station. Also located on the north side of the city is the Lincoln Park Zoo. Youll find restaurants and concessions during the summer months, plus benches and lookout points, boat rentals, and water tours. The Best Luggage Storage in Chicago | $5.90 / Day | Bounce Loading happens quickly and you should try to have luggage you can manage well and move quickly with. W1612 Litchfield Rd, Lake Geneva. I was faced with about the same situation and my Hotel was more than accommodating in holding my luggage for me and had their house keeping staff tend to my room first. Having a compartment allows entry. We will have about 6 hours to spend near Union Station. These are the best experiences near Union Station: These places are best for bars & clubs near Union Station: Which are the best experiences near Union Station? Complete Station Map | Chicago Union Station Millennium Park, The Art Institue and the Adler Planetarium are also on the trolley routes. You could visit the Art Institute if that's an interest. Our train arrives at 9am and cant check into the hotel until afternoon. Union Station and the Metropolitan Lounge. And then our sons went by train one time and had an easy and nice ride. 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I've not been to the museum, but the Wright homes are gorgeous. Kids' Activities Near Libertyville, Illinois. You can do more than merely catch a train at and near Chicago Union Station, such as: . 91% of travelers recommend this experience. Interested in train travel? Be sure to take a selfie at Anish Kapoors Cloud Gate sculpture, fondly referred to as The Bean because of its kidney bean-like shape. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. And Lou Mitchell's at 565 W. Jackson is walking distance. If you don't mind spending some money, the Willis Tower is right next door and would be interesting. People come from all over the world to take the train from Union Station. Do your job security your very poor at it .. We had purchased tickets weeks in advance, paid for a hotel room and made holiday plans for our 5 year old to ride the Polar Express. We will have about 6 hours to spend near Union Station. Amtrak allows two bags, a cooler, and a personal item per person, so I always have at least four pieces of luggage. Once youre comfortable getting around the station, its time to check your bags for your day in Chicago. We were shuttled to our train car at the appropiate time, and helped with our luggage. The station is located a short walk from Downtown Chicago and several famous attractions, such as The Loop and Art Institute of Chicago Chicago Riverwalk: at an 8-minute drive from the Union Station, Chicago Riverwalk is the perfect place to make the most of your vacation. The Station does have lockers that you can rent, or if you are eligible for Amtrak's Metropolitan Lounge they have an open storage area inside the lounge area. You can check your bags through to your next destination (if you didnt do so on the first leg of your trip) or leave them for the day, freeing you up to check out the city without lugging bags around. This is the 1st leg of a total relaxation vacation. Oops, forgot to tell you that the trip is in late December. I was blessed to be born in the 80s, and grown up in the 90s, as a kid one of my favorite books (there was only 3 I was obsessed with) was The Polar Express I was a teenager when the movie with Tom Hanks came out in 2004. My aunt had a similar layover a few years ago. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. You can't help but look up and around. These are the best experiences near Union Station: These places are best for bars & clubs near Union Station: Which are the best experiences near Union Station? The outside of the station was a little grayish but it was so much more impressive inside. Here's a map to help guide you through this historic Beaux-Arts beauty. Dotted with factories and warehouses, West Loop is packed with various types of dining and nightlife options. For a thrilling view of the city, head to The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago to take in the cityscape from inside a glass box that extends 4.3 feet out from the Skydeck on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Field Museum is home to Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex and a range of other child-friendly exhibits, including the Underground Adventure, where children get the opportunity to experience life as a bug, and the Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit, focusing on Egyptian life, including mummies and tombs.The museum's Crown Family PlayLab gives young children the opportunity to explore their own exhibit, featuring hands-on attractions designed just for them. Chicago Transit Authority (L Trains & Buses). Bringing together the best-of-the-best from Chicago neighborhoods and outlying areas, Chicago French Market is largely comprised of entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses and accomplished purveyors and established in 2009. =). Bellemore. 10Best Says. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. But myself, I'd walk south on Michigan a few blocks to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Chicagos Union Station is the third-busiest rail station in the U.S., with about 140,000 passengers passing through each day. There's a bunch of touristy stuff to do near that area. Top 10 Hotels Near Chicago Union Station from $76 | Expedia A couple blocks away is the French market. Showers were available, but I never saw them, we didn't even go upstairs, we just settled into a comfortable spot. There is Metra train service from Union Station to "O'Hare Transfer" but it's (1) weekday only, (2) fairly infrequent, and (3) the "transfer" in the name means that you're a shuttle bus and airport tram . You have to walk slowly and just feel the history of the building seep into you. Chicago Attractions | Amtrak more. It's less than half a mile from Union Station. During my first train trip from Kansas City to Washington, D.C., I arrived in Chicagos Union Station on my first layover with several hours to fill before departing. As for chow, if you are not in a Pizza or Diner mood, Al's Beef just around the corner on Adams tosses out an excellent Italian Beef Sandwich. Familiarize yourself with the Grand Hall and its location as this is where youll wait to board your connecting train. Next to the Great Hall is the Metropolitan Lounge where we waited for our next train. Daily activities, such as the opportunity to meet a zoo animal and ape training sessions, teach children about the zoo's many residents. Thanks for subscribing! The Chicago Riverwalk runs along historic Wacker Drive from Lake Michigan west to Lake Street, with access at street level from each major intersection. The attached garage is best and less cost than hotel areas. What day of the week and what time of day is your layover? Hi, just want to check if the luggage storage is still available currently. Children and their families are able to see dolphins and beluga whales perform during daily shows, learn about animals living in ocean reefs during narrated dives, pet animals such as snakes, turtles and tarantulas during scheduled animal encounters and spend time observing animals, including otters, penguins and whales. First time I opened this book I remembered it, looking at the beautiful artwork, I wanted to be one of the kids on the Polar Express. Once inside, I stood for a few minutes taking in the enormity of the station as other passengers moved past me, not knowing where to go next. The Clinton station is two blocks south of Union Station, and the northwest terminal of the Blue Line is under the O'Hare Airport main garage. Wendella water taxi to Michigan Avenue and then a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Alternatively, you may use, Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown / Magnificent Mile, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, an IHG Hotel, Best Western Chicago Downtown-River North, http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g1-i12483-Train_Travel.html. The Great Hall with its soaring glass ceilings was quite spectacular. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41527197', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago. Which places are best for bars & clubs near Union Station? $16.77 $12.00. Inside the station, be sure to take in the Grand Staircases in the Great Hall, made famous by the movie The Untouchables. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Stetson University. 233 S. Wacker Drive, ~5-minute walk or 2-minute drive from Union Station. Youll meet at the Southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. Any restaurant recommendations or ideas on places to go (& best means of travel to get there) would be so appreciated. The interior of the building is a classic, with the iconic stairway, the Great Hall and the glass ceilings. If you have a business class ticket you can store your luggage for free in the Metropolitan Lounge - if not go near the Greyhound bus desk and across from there they have the baggage check. Would definitely want to wait in the Metropolitan again if given the opportunity.