The interior of the building is a classic, with the iconic stairway, the Great Hall and the glass ceilings. If you don't mind spending some money, the Willis Tower is right next door and would be interesting. Here's a map to help guide you through this historic Beaux-Arts beauty. First time I opened this book I remembered it, looking at the beautiful artwork, I wanted to be one of the kids on the Polar Express. It's well worth a trip to Chicago. Take a brisk walk to Portillos Hot Dogs for a classic Chicago hot dog. In any case, the interior is really a work of art, the big halls are especially beautiful and try to check out the smaller halls. As beautiful as our little town is driving 5 hours by car and paying for the parking hundreds of dollars or having someone to drive us and go back the same day results in 10 hours of driving in one day. This classic Chicago landmark opened in 1925 as a replacement for an 1881 train station. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Polar Express journey begins with a visit to the Founders Room to collect our Golden Tickets. You are using an out of date browser. Amtrak; Metra Commuter Rail; Transfer Options. The Neoclassic exterior is dominated by the colonnades. Based in Florida, Mandi Titus has been writing since 2002. The staff there are super helpful and can show you where to take luggage. Chicago Union Station is the size of nearly 10 city blocks, is the third-busiest rail terminal in the United States, and is Amtraks overall fourth busiest station, serving about 140,000 passengers on an average weekday. This is the 1st leg of a total relaxation vacation. We went by Coach ride and were amazed at the leg room and comfortable atmosphere on the train. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. And then our sons went by train one time and had an easy and nice ride. They have free snacks, TV's, and comfy chairs. We found 1,458 things to do for you near Union Station Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower 17,712 Reviews 233 S Wacker Drive entrance on Jackson Blvd (south side of building), Chicago, IL 60606-7147 7 minutes from Union Station Experiences from 439 See 35 Experiences Chicago Riverwalk 3,055 Reviews Chicago, IL 60601 7 minutes from Union Station The attraction is open March to September from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and October to February from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. All products featured on TravelAwaits are independently selected by our writers and editors. And Lou Mitchell's at 565 W. Jackson is walking distance. The architecture of the Great Hall is worth seeing. Go international with our nine tips for traveling Europe by rail. lol. =). Child-sized attractions and interactive floor displays keep kids entertained before they arrive on the 103rd floor, and the tower's website provides a printable scavenger hunt to help kids find Chicago monuments and attractions from the tower's deck. Now, she enjoys travelingand writing aboutthe U.S. and Canada by train. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Not bad for a layover activity! This will be our 1st trip without kids in too many years to count, so we don't mind some splurges. Heres amap to help guide you through this historic Beaux-Arts beauty.Download aPDF of this map [link opens in anew window]. More adventurous foodies will want to pad their schedules with time to explore the surrounding neighborhood for light bites and boozy drinks. Dave148: We were thinking of breakfast. We found 1,474 things to do for you near Union Station Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower 17,721 Reviews 233 S Wacker Drive entrance on Jackson Blvd (south side of building), Chicago, IL 60606-7147 7 minutes from Union Station Experiences from RM 36 See 38 Experiences Chicago Riverwalk 3,057 Reviews Chicago, IL 60601 7 minutes from Union Station 98% of travelers recommend this experience. Uber ride came in no time and Asan from Bulgaria was friendly and professional. Divvy, Chicago's bike-share program, offers over 580 stations and 5,800 bikes across the city, available for rent 24/7. What day of the week and what time of day is your layover? Inside the station, be sure to take in the Grand Staircases in the Great Hall, made famous by the movie The Untouchables. One of the most beautiful stations in the United Stations, it opened in 1925 next to the Chicago Loop. Try another? I'll probably be nervous we'll miss boarding and will be way early. Devastated our child, who was already dressed in his Polar Express pajamas and ready to go. 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. Chicago was most recently updated with new tips on June 28, 2017. On the Mezzanine level there were some fast food options like Starbucks, Jersey Mikes. Thank you so much for all the great suggestions & tips. You have the Sears Tower couple of blocks away. Millennium Park The station is huge and has many gorgeous areas. We arrived early enough so I could wander around the Grand Hall and study everything. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Stetson University. Fulton Market, Randolph Market, Jackson Boulevard and Greek Town make up the West Loop. 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. Is the Metropolitan Lounge in full operation, that is, as it was before Covid reductions? 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. The tour guides are actors who take on the personas of 1920s gangsters. i need to know is there any place some one can wait if there lay over is after 12am? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41527197', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Chicago. The neighborhood is best known as the location of Oprah Winfreys Harpo Studios, but this downtown neighborhood is also an up-and-coming spot for Chicagos trendsetters. the two floored amtrak club accommodations are also nice. Lou Mitchell's looks fun. 97% of travelers recommend this experience. Union Station. They may serve their brunch menu on Saturdays as well, not sure. While killing time before heading to Ohare we decided to stop by and see the historical Union Station. Good Morning! Yes, red caps service and handicapped transportation (wheel chairs or Tram carts) are available in the station. Just grab a RTA Visitior Transit Map and its all at your finger tips. I use it always. 376 N. Michigan Avenue, ~8-minute drive from Union Station. It seemed like I had the whole place to myself. Familiarize yourself with the Grand Hall and its location as this is where youll wait to board your connecting train. Any restaurant recommendations or ideas on places to go (& best means of travel to get there) would be so appreciated. We went out to purchase our meals, and brought them back and ate them in comfort, while watching a huge TV. What else is there to do near Union Station? Up to 48% Off Drive-Through Safari at Safari Lake Geneva. 2) You MUST walk over to Millennium Park and see the Bean and the Fountains. You could visit the Art Institute if that's an interest. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41530204', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Wendella River/Lake tour. Grab some Giordino's Pizza and you won't need to eat on the train for a week! Youll feel more confident when you detrain and will be able to focus on having fun during your time in Chicago. We found 1,736 things to do for you near Union Station Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower 17,721 Reviews 233 S Wacker Drive entrance on Jackson Blvd (south side of building), Chicago, IL 60606-7147 5 minutes from Union Station Experiences from $8 See 38 Experiences Chicago Riverwalk 3,057 Reviews Chicago, IL 60601 5 minutes from Union Station I saw a sign that said the escalator would take me to the street, so I loaded my bounty of luggage onto the escalator, walked outside the door to the street, turned around, walked back in, and went down the escalator again. Trains board quickly. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. Here you can be involved in the winemaking process from the crush and fermentation to the blend. If it were me, being the kind of person that doesn't like to spend a lot of money and enjoys walking, I would head east towards (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Get the Divvy app: Android and iOS. When its time to board, an Amtrak attendant will make the announcement for passengers to form a line, then youll follow the attendant to the correct boarding track. Metra services areas like Wheaton, Barrington, Winnetka and Homewood, while Amtrak connects passengers to Denver, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, New York and othercities across the country. We got there at the 30 minute mark and over 200 people were in line for our train. A couple blocks away is the French market. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Is this where you should park for an eleven day Amtrak trip? It's kind of a giant food court. We usually take Amtrak to Chicago from Jackson Mi. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 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? By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Children and their families are able to see dolphins and beluga whales perform during daily shows, learn about animals living in ocean reefs during narrated dives, pet animals such as snakes, turtles and tarantulas during scheduled animal encounters and spend time observing animals, including otters, penguins and whales. Having a compartment allows entry. The tunnel from Union Station to Northwestern Station. We may earn commission when you click on or make a purchase via our links. 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 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. That first layover wasnt my proudest moment as a solo traveler. Readers of her USA by Rail blog have come to expect an intimate look at authentic experiences. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. You can do more than merely catch a train at and near Chicago Union Station, such as: . After grabbing my luggage from the train, my first course of action was obvious: Follow the hoard of passengers from the tracks to the station. The last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing. 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. Intersection of Clark and Ohio, ~9-minute drive from Union Station. Hop on board the Untouchable Tours Gangster Bus for the original Chicago gangster tour. Kids of all ages and. 3. W1612 Litchfield Rd, Lake Geneva. We will have about 6 hours to spend near Union Station. What else is there to do near Union Station? 28% discount_off. If you are looking for a good place for a sit down dinner. Safety is not a big issue IMHO. 93% of travelers recommend this experience. Traveling to San Francisco via Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago will take you through two mountain ranges; along the way, you can relax and watch bald eagles soar over . 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This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Grab a seat at the bar and order the "Fire-Bird" chicken sandwich, which is stacked with . Chicago Transit Authority ('L' Trains & Buses) Greyhound; Other Transportation. Once youre comfortable getting around the station, its time to check your bags for your day in Chicago. I too sometimes call it the Sears Tower in a weak moment. Kids are able to observe a wide range of animals, including antelopes, lions, seals, tigers, wallabies and zebras. Does the train station provide any baggage storage lockers so that we could visit Willis tower without toting our bags? Besides, Chicago is such a vibrant city; it would be a shame to pass through without taking in any of the sights and activities. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. 201 E. Randolph Street, ~8-minute drive from Union Station. Interested in Chicagos diverse and iconic architecture? This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher.