Next to the Great Hall is the Metropolitan Lounge where we waited for our next train. Shedd Aquarium is one of the attractions for children near Union Station. JavaScript is disabled. Up to 48% Off Drive-Through Safari at Safari Lake Geneva. Hop on board the Untouchable Tours Gangster Bus for the original Chicago gangster tour. Safety is not a big issue IMHO. I've not been to the museum, but the Wright homes are gorgeous. Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, gives children and their families the opportunity to take an elevator to the tower's 103rd floor and experience a bird's-eye view of the city. The inside of Union Station is absolutely beautiful, but the best part for my friend and I was the Metropolitan Lounge, which we had access to by virtue of being "sleeping car" customers on our AMTRAK trains, both coming and going. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. We did walk it once because we were dropped off at the wrong station. Do you need to book in advance to visit Union Station? Her articles have been published on sites such as Goodkin, Go Green Street and Living the Healthy Way. Go international with our nine tips for traveling Europe by rail. 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. Also Hemingway's house is there with a museum. 1 Ribs and a bevy of fast food chains. Dirty, dark & creepy. 520 W. Taylor Street, ~13-minute walk or 4-minute drive from Union Station. Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive, ~8-minute drive from Union Station. Intersection of Clark and Ohio, ~9-minute drive from Union Station. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. It's kind of a giant food court. 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. The Lincoln Park Zoo offers free daily admission to all visitors. The outside of the station was a little grayish but it was so much more impressive inside. Chicago is an ideal city for a family vacation, featuring many attractions for young visitors to enjoy in all types of weather. We will be arriving at about 3-4pm and leave at about 10pm. As a frequent train traveler located in Kansas City, I often pass through Chicago to get to my final destination. Kids of all ages and interests will find something exciting to do in Chicago, from the heights of the Willis Tower to the exotic fish of the Shedd Aquarium. Other Attractions in Chicago. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Union Station: journey begins with a visit to the Founders Room to collect our Golden Tickets. Good Morning! You could even bottle a few cases of their wine with your own custom-designed label. Photo Credit: Nagel Photography / Shutterstock, Tavarius / Shutterstock. Not bad for a layover activity! We live in La Crosse, Wi. Youll feel more confident when you detrain and will be able to focus on having fun during your time in Chicago. 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. 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? The train boards 1/2 hour before train time. The station is located at 225 S Canal St and the west side of the Chicago River between Adams Street and West Jackson Boulevard very close to the city center and just next to the Chicago Greyhound Bus station. Chicago Amtrak Station. Travel writer and publisher of Evolving Magazine, Jill Dutton caught the train travel bug when she spent three months in Europe with a Eurail pass. Open since 1925, Union Station remains Chicago's intercity rail terminal and the largest terminal for commuter trains. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest 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. You could go to the Sears tower or go to millennium park to see the bean or the magnificent mile. 255 South Canal StreetChicago, Illinois 60606, Open 7 days a weekUnion Station closes dailybetween 1am-5am. 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. Overall a nice place to visit or spend some extra time before or after your Amtrak or Metra train, the L or bus ride. Several sub-neighborhoods within West Loop make this a unique neighborhood to visit. I would recommend arriving 30 minutes early to Union Station at a minimum. Today, the transportation hub runs Amtrak and Metra trains in and out of the city. That space, which lives up to its name, boasts a 219-food-long barrel-vaulted skylight that acts as the ceiling for the room. Rmrmber to be back at the station one hour before train time to check in with the Conductor and get your Boarding Pass. Go to the Concourse level where youll find the baggage check. The architecture of the Great Hall is worth seeing. We found 1,458 things to do for you near Union Station Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower 17,713 Reviews 233 S Wacker Drive entrance on Jackson Blvd (south side of building), Chicago, IL 60606-7147 7 minutes from Union Station Experiences from 669 See 36 Experiences Chicago Riverwalk 3,055 Reviews Chicago, IL 60601 7 minutes from Union Station Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels in Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton Hotels in Chicago, Hotels with Military Discounts in Chicago, Hotels near Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower, Hotels near Museum of Science and Industry, Things to do near Columbia College Chicago, Things to do near Loyola University Chicago, Things to do near Chicago State University, Things to do near Northeastern Illinois University, Things to do near University of Illinois at Chicago, Things to do near Illinois Institute of Technology, 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, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Chicago, 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, Beginner Scuba Diving Adventure w/ Videos in Honolulu, London Eye River Cruise and Standard London Eye Ticket, Day trip to Chandor, the forgotten capital of Goa, with guide, Private Day out in Chennai by Auto-rickshaw, Private Mahabalipuram day trip from Chennai with lunch & guide, 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. Interested in train travel? Readers of her USA by Rail blog have come to expect an intimate look at authentic experiences. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Other child-friendly accommodations include family bathrooms and ramps designed for easy stroller maneuverability. The cruise, which lasts an hour and 30 minutes, will treat you to a view of the city from the water aboard Chicagos First Lady. Jill Dutton 5. 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. 94% of travelers recommend this experience. Then we just sat and enjoyed the beauty of the Great Hall right at the train station. It is about a 20 to 30 minute walk from Union Station depending how fast or slow you walk. Download a PDF of this The station is located a short walk from Downtown Chicago and several famous attractions, such as The Loop and Art Institute of Chicago Chicago Riverwalk: at an 8-minute drive from the Union Station, Chicago Riverwalk is the perfect place to make the most of your vacation. Millennium Park Inside the station, be sure to take in the Grand Staircases in the Great Hall, made famous by the movie The Untouchables. 4.6. Union Station. Would never recommend, terrible. 555 ratings. =). 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. The Great Hall with its soaring glass ceilings was quite spectacular. We went by Coach ride and were amazed at the leg room and comfortable atmosphere on the train. You could visit the Art Institute if that's an interest. Clean restrooms. Everything you need to know about visiting Union Station(225 S Canal St, Chicago IL 60606). This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. You can do more than merely catch a train at and near Chicago Union Station, such as: . Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. 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? We always travel business class, so there is a nice lounge to take advantage of with free snacks and soft drinks. As a Kansas City expert, Jills travel guide, The Best of Kansas City: 3-Day Itinerary, launched number one in its category on Amazon. 10Best Says. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41530204', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Wendella River/Lake tour. 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Travel + Trains. Also located on the north side of the city is the Lincoln Park Zoo. If you want to take a bus from Union Station you could probably get on one on either Jackson or Adams which border Union Station. There's a bunch of touristy stuff to do near that area. 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. I will check their website out more. 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Thanks so much!