Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fascinating views inside downtown office buildings and North Side
homes as you zip past their windows).
BY BUS
Other than on foot or bicycle, the best way to get around
Chicago's warren of neighborhoods—the best way to actually see
what's around you—is by riding a public bus, especially if you're
staying near the lakefront, where the trains don't run. Look for the
blue-and-white signs to locate bus stops,
which are spaced about
2 blocks apart. Each bus route is identified by a number and the
name of the main street it runs along; the bus that follows Grand
Avenue, for example, is the no. 65 Grand.
A few buses that are particularly handy for many visitors are the
no. 146 Marine/Michigan,
an express bus from Belmont Avenue on
the North Side that cruises down North Lake Shore Drive (and
through Lincoln Park during nonpeak times) to North Michigan
Avenue, State Street, and the Grant Park museum campus; the
no.
151 Sheridan,
which passes through Lincoln Park en route to inner
Lake Shore Drive and then travels along Michigan Avenue as far
south as Adams Street, where it turns west into the Loop (and stops
at Union Station); and the
no. 156 LaSalle,
which goes through Lin-
coln Park and then into the Loop's financial district on LaSalle Street.
BY TAXI
Taxis are easy to hail in the Loop, on the Magnificent Mile and the
Gold Coast, in River North, and in Lincoln Park, but if you go far
beyond these key areas, you might need to call. Cab companies
include
Flash Cab
(
&
773/561-4444
),
Yellow Cab
(
&
312/TAXI-
CAB
), and
Checker Cab
(
&
312/CHECKER
).
The meter in Chicago cabs currently starts at $2.25 for the first
mile and costs $1.80 for each additional mile, with a $1 surcharge
for the first additional rider and 50¢ for each person after that.
BY CAR
PARKING
Parking regulations are vigorously enforced through-
out the city. Read signs carefully: The streets around Michigan
Avenue have parking restrictions during rush hour—and I know
from bitter firsthand experience that your car will be towed imme-
diately. Many neighborhoods have adopted resident-only parking
that prohibits others from parking on their streets, usually after 6pm
each day (even all day in a few areas, such as Old Town).
A safe bet is valet parking, which most restaurants provide for $7
to $10. Downtown you might also opt for a public garage, but you'll
