Chicago Hotel - Links

Most visitors should be able to use the El for almost all their transit needs the exception being those going to Hyde Park certain areas of Lincoln Park near the lake and the area east of North Michigan Avenue that includes Navy Pier. CTA buses go almost everywhere but they do so on erratic schedules. A web of commuter trains running under the Metra banner serve the suburbs surrounding Chicago. Try Evanston for vegetarian restaurants, coffee, Ten Thousand Villages on Main Street for fair trade products and walks along the lake. In Chicago, try Andersonville(North Clark Street between Foster and Berwyn) for art galleries, feminist bookshop, gourmet foods and what's left of the Swedish community. Restuarants of all flavours exist. Kopi Traveller's Cafe is a great hangout and offers snacks and coffee and atmosphere.

While CTA buses are known for arriving in 'bunches'(say two arrive at the same stop simultaneously), there is a fixed schedule for BOTH buses and trains. Check schedules at www.transitchicago.com and download maps and timetables as well. Despite the little boxes that CTA personnel seem to live in at the el platforms -most will be friendly and give directions!