Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Street and Joffrey Ballet) and many smaller companies participate
in this month-long celebration of dance.
Christmas Tree Lighting,
Daley Center Plaza, in the Loop
(
&
312/744-3315
). The switch is flipped the day after Thanks-
giving, around dusk.
December
A Christmas Carol,
Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.
(
&
312/443-3800;
www.goodman-theatre.org). This seasonal
favorite, performed for more than 2 decades, runs from about
Thanksgiving to the end of December.
3 Getting There
BY PLANE
O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Chicago's
O'Hare International Airport
(
&
773/686-2200;
www.
flychicago.com; online airport code ORD) has long battled Atlanta's
Hartsfield for the title of the world's busiest airport. O'Hare is about 15
miles northwest of the Loop. Depending on traffic, the drive to or from
downtown can take anywhere from 30 minutes to more than an hour.
MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
On the opposite end of the city, the southwest side, is Chicago's
other major airport,
Midway International Airport
(
&
773/838-
0600;
www.flychicago.com; online airport code MDW). Although
it's smaller than O'Hare and handles fewer airlines, Midway is closer
to the Loop and attracts more discount airlines, so you may be able
to get a cheaper fare flying into here. (Always check fares to both air-
ports if you want to find the best deal.) A cab ride from Midway to
the Loop usually takes about 20 minutes. You can find the latest
information on both airports at the city's Department of Aviation
website: www.flychicago.com.
ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT
IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
International
visitors arriving by air, no matter what the port of entry, should cul-
tivate patience and resignation before setting foot on U.S. soil. U.S.
airports have considerably beefed up security clearances in the years
since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and clearing Customs and Immi-
gration can take as long as 2 hours.
People traveling by air from Canada, Bermuda, and certain
Caribbean countries can sometimes clear Customs and Immigration
at the point of departure, which is much faster.
