They may serve their brunch menu on Saturdays as well, not sure. What day of the week and what time of day is your layover? While killing time before heading to Ohare we decided to stop by and see the historical Union Station. You have to walk slowly and just feel the history of the building seep into you. 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. These cruises sell out quickly, so consider purchasing tickets in advance. Would definitely want to wait in the Metropolitan again if given the opportunity. If you have a roomette or sleeper car,you can hang out in the Metrpolitan Lounge while you wait. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Our train arrives at 9am and cant check into the hotel until afternoon. 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. We will have about 6 hours to spend near Union Station. Would never recommend, terrible. Is the Metropolitan Lounge in full operation, that is, as it was before Covid reductions? @2023 Chicago Union Station. Specialties: We are proud to bring together a unique collection of local vendors that were hand selected for their individual passions and high-quality products. The actual book was published a year before I was born. As a frequent train traveler located in Kansas City, I often pass through Chicago to get to my final destination. THE 10 BEST Things to Do Near Union Station, Chicago, IL You could even bottle a few cases of their wine with your own custom-designed label. Chicagos Union Station is the third-busiest rail station in the U.S., with about 140,000 passengers passing through each day. Amtrak; Metra Commuter Rail; Transfer Options. The main attraction Whether you're waiting on a train or passing through. Union Station (Chicago) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go - Tripadvisor Taxis; Rideshare; Bike Share; If you are really into architecture, and Chicago is world famous for its, I would recommend perusing this site for all kinds of tours and other info. We who live in Chicago wouldn't dream of calling it Willisor Willie. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. W1612 Litchfield Rd, Lake Geneva. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. 100% of travelers recommend this experience. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. You may have to clomb narrow stairs to board the train. Daily activities, such as the opportunity to meet a zoo animal and ape training sessions, teach children about the zoo's many residents. There is also the free trolley to some of the shopping areas such as State Street and Navy Pier. I use it always. Belmont, Cta, or CTA - Chicago can be used for nearby transit. Union Station is an iconic building and a marvel of modern transportation for nearly a century. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! I would recommend arriving 30 minutes early to Union Station at a minimum. There are cool boat tours up and down the Chicago River. Just grab a RTA Visitior Transit Map and its all at your finger tips. 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. Founded by Michael Dorf, City Winery is a unique facility that combines a fully functioning winery with intimate concerts, food and wine classes, and private events in their working winery. You are using an out of date browser. Hi, just want to check if the luggage storage is still available currently. Complete Station Map | Chicago Union Station 10Best Says. The Lincoln Park Zoo offers free daily admission to all visitors. Symphony Center - Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 90-Minute Chicago River Architecture Tour, 45-Minute Chicago River Architecture Tour from Magnificent Mile, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck Admission (Hancock Center), See more experiences near Union Station on Tripadvisor, See more bars & clubs near Union Station on Tripadvisor, Discover over 1,000 restaurants near Union Station, Discover over 613 hotels near Union Station, Discover over 1,000 things to do near Union Station, Curio Collection by Hilton Hotels in Chicago, Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Chicago, Hotels with Military Discounts in Chicago, Hotels near Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower, Hotels near Museum of Science and Industry, The Art Institute of Chicago: Tickets & Tours, Museum of Science and Industry: Tickets & Tours, 360 Chicago Observation Deck: Tickets & Tours, Chicago Cultural Center: Tickets & Tours, Garfield Park Conservatory: Tickets & Tours, Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Chicago, Conference & Convention Centres in Chicago, Things to do near Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop, Things to do near La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chicago Downtown, Things to do near Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown, an IHG Hotel, Things to do near Residence Inn by Marriott Chicago Downtown/Loop, Things to do near Hyatt Place Chicago / Downtown - The Loop, Things to do near Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop, Skip the Line: Show of Salon Bullfighting + Tour of the Bullring, Kuala Lumpur Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive), Krabi To Kuala Lumpur(Malaysia) by AC Van and VIP Bus, Mangrove Forest Canoeing - Limpaki Wetland, Pulau Kapas Snorkeling Trip from Kuala Terenganu, Full Day Guided Roundtrip From Bergen To Sognefjord With Flam Railway, Dubai Honeymoon Package 4 Days / 3 Nights. It is about a 20 to 30 minute walk from Union Station depending how fast or slow you walk. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. The last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing. Interested in Chicagos diverse and iconic architecture? We live in La Crosse, Wi. Grab a seat at the bar and order the "Fire-Bird" chicken sandwich, which is stacked with . Any restaurant recommendations or ideas on places to go (& best means of travel to get there) would be so appreciated. We already have this email. Showers were available, but I never saw them, we didn't even go upstairs, we just settled into a comfortable spot. Download a PDF of this Things to Do at and near Union Station. Loading happens quickly and you should try to have luggage you can manage well and move quickly with. You can do more than merely catch a train at and near Chicago Union Station, such as: . I had the tickets and about to hang out for 6hours before ridding up to the train. Users simply pick up a bike from a self-service docking station and return it to a station near their destination. Kids' Activities Near Libertyville, Illinois. Its well worth the $10-per-bag charge to check my bags during a layover as it ensures the ease of getting around town hands-free. The interior of the building is a classic, with the iconic stairway, the Great Hall and the glass ceilings. http://explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium.html - a quick cab or bus ride. Second City one of the world's premier improv comedy theatres has been delighting audiences for more than 50 years. In the downtown area (The Loop) the pizza place listed in The Thousand Places To See Before You Die book is the Exchequer: http://www.exchequerpub.com/ (The name comes from the fact that it is next door to a law school.). This classic Chicago landmark opened in 1925 as a replacement for an 1881 train station. Is there wheelchair assistance available at Union Station? There's a lot of good food to be had there, quite a few of the stands are outposts of good restaurants in the city. 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. Go to the Concourse level where youll find the baggage check. Then we just sat and enjoyed the beauty of the Great Hall right at the train station. 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. 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. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. If it were me, being the kind of person that doesn't like to spend a lot of money and enjoys walking, I would head east towards (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Open since 1925, Union Station remains Chicago's intercity rail terminal and the largest terminal for commuter trains. Its a massive train station nearly the size of 10 city blocks and I felt lost. As a Kansas City expert, Jills travel guide, The Best of Kansas City: 3-Day Itinerary, launched number one in its category on Amazon. 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. A family-friendly museum highlight tour is given daily, and hands-on learning activities are offered on the weekends. Here is what I would do: if you want to eat right away, breakfast at Lou Mitchell's is a good choice. We were here to take the amtrak Texas Eagle for first time but this building is worth a visit either way. Train Trips To Experience In 2023, My 9 Favorite Experiences On A Relaxing Weekend Train Trip From Denver To Moab, For details on Quillt's privacy and cookie policies, please visit our, McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum, Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise. We will have about 6 hours to spend near Union Station. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41530204', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Wendella River/Lake tour. The Skydeck entrance is located on Franklin Street (the east side of the building). Take a brisk walk to Portillos Hot Dogs for a classic Chicago hot dog. 201 E. Randolph Street, ~8-minute drive from Union Station. You could go to the Sears tower or go to millennium park to see the bean or the magnificent mile. Luggage storage Union Station $6 / day | Bag Storage & Lockers Then, like now, the station was a major transfer point between passenger trains. =). Kids are able to observe a wide range of animals, including antelopes, lions, seals, tigers, wallabies and zebras. The Top 10 Things to Do Near Union Station, Chicago - Tripadvisor Reddit - Dive into anything Multiple ziplines, climbing walls, a mountain bike course, hiking trails and more await you at The Forge: Lemont Quarries, a 300-acre recreation area stocked with just about every outdoor activity. Chicago Attractions | Amtrak 3. We got there at the 30 minute mark and over 200 people were in line for our train. Bellemore's lunch menu is wildly underrated, which is great news for you, weary traveler. Getting Around Chicago | Trains, Parking, Taxis & Bike Sharing Does the train station provide any baggage storage lockers so that we could visit Willis tower without toting our bags? I do wish they had clear marked parking for the facility. Is this where you should park for an eleven day Amtrak trip? Whetheryou're waiting on a train or passing through the building,you can't miss Union Station's crown jewel, the Great Hall. 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. It was beautiful. http://explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium.html, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/19923. Millennium Park is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture, and landscape design. But myself, I'd walk south on Michigan a few blocks to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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? They even texted me when the room was ready and allowed me to check in at noon with no additional charge. Thanks for subscribing! 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. Hotels near Chicago Union Station Yes, red caps service and handicapped transportation (wheel chairs or Tram carts) are available in the station. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Also Hemingway's house is there with a museum. I did pass by a number of plaques (National Historic Railroad Landmarks, Great Public Spaces and American Institute of Architecture) recognizing the importance of this Station. Open 7 days a week Union Station closes daily between 1am-5am. Union Station and the Metropolitan Lounge. 1200 W. Randolph Street, ~7-minute drive from Union Station. But as folks have stated there are great dining options only a few block away-take advantage of one of them-bundle up and enjoy! Youll meet at the Southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. 2020 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. 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. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. It's well worth a trip to Chicago. The tour guides are actors who take on the personas of 1920s gangsters. $$ - $$$ Mediterranean Greek Vegetarian Friendly, $$ - $$$ International Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, $$$$ American Vegetarian Friendly Vegan Options, Historic Sites Points of Interest & Landmarks, Points of Interest & Landmarks Monuments & Statues. The staff there are super helpful and can show you where to take luggage. 2) You MUST walk over to Millennium Park and see the Bean and the Fountains. Indoor activities, like the city's many museums, ensure a respite from the windy winters while outdoor sights, like the Lincoln Park Zoo, offer a good reason to get outside. Older children, taller than 55 inches, are also able to participate in the aquarium's behind-the-scenes tour for an additional fee. Intersection of Clark and Ohio, ~9-minute drive from Union Station. Dining, Retail & Amenities | Chicago Union Station Uber ride came in no time and Asan from Bulgaria was friendly and professional. The Best Luggage Storage in Chicago | $5.90 / Day | Bounce 225 S Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606-5702 Neighbourhood: West Loop Fulton Market, Randolph Market, Jackson Boulevard and Greek Town make up the West Loop. Photo Credit: Nagel Photography / Shutterstock, Tavarius / Shutterstock. Having a compartment allows entry. The Art Institute of Chicago 111 S. Michigan Avenue, ~8-minute drive from Union Station Founded in 1879, the Art Institute is one of the oldest art museums in the U.S. and boasts the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art outside the Louvre. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Film buffs will recognize the Great Hall from its appearances in movies like The Untouchables, My Best Friend's Weddingand Flags of Our Fathers, among others. Here's a map to help guide you through this historic Beaux-Arts beauty. Any restaurant recommendations or ideas on places to go (& best means of travel to get there) would be so appreciated. We did walk it once because we were dropped off at the wrong station. I found the lounge to be an oasis. the two floored amtrak club accommodations are also nice. Walk from the Gold Coast neighborhood to Old Town with a guided tour of the local architecture while sampling mom and pop specialty food items along the way.