Great Lakes - Eastern USA - page 1049

Go Chicago Card ( www.gochicagocard.com ) Allows you to visit an unlimited number
of attractions for a flat fee; good for one, two, three, five or seven consecutive days.
CityPass ( www.citypass.com ) Gives access to five of the city's top draws, including
Shedd Aquarium and Willis Tower, over nine days; a better option if you prefer a
more leisurely sightseeing pace.
Getting Around
TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
Chicago Midway Airport Eleven miles southwest of the Loop, connected via the CTA
Orange Line ($3). Trains depart every 10 minutes or so; they reach downtown in 30
minutes. Shuttle vans cost $27, taxis cost $30 to $40.
O'Hare International Airport Seventeen miles northwest of the Loop. The CTA Blue
Line train ($5) runs 24/7. Trains depart every 10 minutes or so; they reach downtown in
40 minutes. Airport Express shuttle vans cost $32, taxis around $50. They can take as
long as the train, depending on traffic.
BICYCLE
Chicago is a cycling-savvy city with 200 miles of bike lanes and a bike-share program
called Divvy ( www.divvybikes.com ) . The Department of Transportation
( www.chicagocompletestreets.org ) provides free maps. Bike racks are plentiful; the biggest
facility, with showers, is at the McDonalds Cycle Center ( www.chicagobikestation.com ; 239
E Randolph St) in Millennium Park.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Be warned: street and garage/lot parking is expensive. If you must, try Millennium Park
Garage ( www.millenniumgarages.com ; 5 S Columbus Dr; per 3/24hr $23/30) . Chicago's rush-
hour traffic is abysmal.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA; www.transitchicago.com ) operates the city's buses and
the elevated/subway train system (aka the El).
» Two of the eight color-coded train lines - the Red Line, and the Blue Line to O'Hare
airport - operate 24 hours a day. The other lines run from 4am to 1am daily. During the
day, you shouldn't have to wait more than 15 minutes for a train. Get free maps at any
station.