It's about a 1/2 mile (1 KM) walk or a 1.5 mile drive from the IBSP campground to the Metra station.
It takes about 45 minutes to get from IBSP to Great America if you take the "offical" route. I know the short cut; it takes about 20 minutes. Actually it is about one mile farther but you go around a lot of traffic.
We are going to mail in our reservation request and hope for the best.
Thanks for all the info on the trains, I've been looking at the metra web site and it seems fairly straight forward(always a little intimidating going somewhere for the first time).
Camperpaul you mentioned Great America, I assume you are talking about the Six Flags area? If so could we not drive from IBSP to Six Flags?
We will be in the area for 3-4 days then heading back home through the dells area, other than a Cubs game(if we can get tickets?) we hope to visit the Water Tower area and the Magnificient mile area for some shopping, any other ideas on what to do or see in the Chicago area would be helpful.
Thanks
Sparky, you didn't specify how old your daughter is, but I wouldn't recommend walking all the way to the museum campus, that's pretty far there and back.
The metra site and CTA site I gave can tell you which train and bus routes you need to take and where you can pick them up. Once you get off the train and buy your return ticket, ask a security officer or police man (plenty around) for directions to your pick up spot. Getting to Water Tower via the el/bus is super easy, it's a 2+ mile walk and Michigan Avenue in the Summer is a nice walk if you like. Getting tickets to the cubs could be a challenge. There's always an online broker route?
Six flags used to be called Great America. Now it's Six Flags-Great America. Take the short cut! Nearby there is the Gurnee Mills outlet mall. I don't know where the Jellybean factory is, that's a new one for me. Oh, daughter! If she's in the age range across from Water Tower place is the American Girl Place Store.
Go see The Bean. It's really cool. Lincoln Park Zoo is free, you can get there by bus.
ISBP is probably your best bet, I can't think of any privates that are closer.
If I think of anything else I'll post it. Approx. When is your trip? I can advise you of weather conditions.
The "Bean" is located in Millenium Park. It is really a cool thing to see. Very close walking distance from the Art Institute. There's lots of restaurants around that area as well.
We also enjoy the Wendella architecture boat tour that leaves from the Chicago river, goes down the river, through the locks and out on Lake Michigan. Its a great way to see and learn about the city.
I am pretty sure that the 151 Sheridan line bus has stops at many of these places - Boat Tour, Millenium Park, Mag. Mile....speaking of Mag. Mile, the Hancock Building is right across the street from Water Tower place. They have a cool observation floor - great for kids. I'd take a pass on the restaurant at the top though, - expensive and food isn't so hot. The buffet was terrible when we went a few months ago.
Also the city has a free trolley system for many of the attractions, but it gets crowded and can take a while to get from one place to the next. Don't try to do too many things in one day.
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