Getting to Know the Windy City - Chicago 2005 - page 73

BY BOAT
During the summer, boat traffic booms along the Lake Michigan shoreline and
the Chicago River. The water taxi service offered by Shoreline Sightseeing
( & 312/222-9328 ) ferries passengers on the lake between Navy Pier and the
Shedd Aquarium, and on the Chicago River between Navy Pier and the Sears
Tower (Adams St. and the river). The boats run daily from Memorial Day to
Labor Day every half-hour from 10am to 6pm and cost $6 for adults, $5 for sen-
iors, and $3 for children.
The “RiverBus” operated by Wendella Commuter Boats ( & 312/337-
1446 ) floats daily April through October between a dock below the Wrigley
Building (the northwest side of the Michigan Ave. bridge) and North Western
Station, a commuter train station across the river from the Loop (near the Sears
Tower). The ride, which costs $2 each way (or $3 round-trip) and takes about 8
minutes, is popular with both visitors and commuters. The service operates
every 10 minutes from 7am to 7pm.
BY BICYCLE
The city of Chicago has earned kudos for its efforts to improve conditions for
bicycling (designated bike lanes have been installed on stretches of Wells St.,
Roosevelt Rd., Elston Ave., and Halsted St.), but it can still be a tough prospect
trying to compete with cars and their drivers, who aren't always so willing to

How to Get to McCormick Place Conference Center

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Although many trade shows at
McCormick Place, 23rd Street and Lake Shore Drive ( & 312/791-7000;
www.mccormickplace.com), arrange transportation from hotels down-
town and along North Michigan Avenue, you can also get there from
Michigan Avenue by taking the no. 3 King Drive bus, which deposits pas-
sengers at the foot of McCormick Place's South Building, at 23rd Street
and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The no. 3 runs from early morning to
about 11pm.
You can also take a Metra Electric commuter train directly to
McCormick Place North. Catch the train in the Loop at the Randolph
Street Station at Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue. For more
information, call the RTA/CTA Travel Information hot line at & 312/
836-7000.
BY CAR

From the Loop and North Michigan Avenue Take Lake

Shore Drive South and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
From O'Hare Airport Take the Northwest Tollway (I-90) to the
Kennedy/Dan Ryan Expressway (I-94) to the Stevenson Expressway
North (I-55). Take the Stevenson Expressway north to Lake Shore Drive,
and follow the signs to McCormick Place.
From Midway Airport Take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) north to
Lake Shore Drive South. Follow the signs to McCormick Place.
PARKING There are two main parking lots, one at 31st Street and
Lake Shore Drive, and the other across the street from the South Build-
ing, at 2215 S. Prairie Ave.