there’s no better time to visit chicago
we promise there will be no snow*
*nic did not like the promise of no snow. classic insurance move.
Flights+Transportation
O’hare International Airport (ORD)
O-hare, located on the north-west side of the city, is the largest airport serving Chicago with 48 different airlines at its service. O’hare is conveniently located at the end of the Blue Line making for easy access to the city via the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). The venue for the baby shower is also conveniently located off the blue line, so if you are planning to stay near the shower location, O’hare would be an easy train ride to your accommodation. If your accommodation is not located near the blue line, taxi and rideshare are abundant! O’hare serves as a major hub for American Airlines and United Airlines (their headquarters are downtown!) so if you are a frequent flyer for either of those airlines, ORD is your winner.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Midway, located on the south-west side of the city, is Chicago’s smaller airport, but home to a large majority of Southwest Airlines flights. If you know us, you know we are Southwest loyalists (don’t talk to us about the updated policies coming soon - we’re just as upset), so Midway is affectionately our home airport despite being on the opposite side of the city. Midway is conveniently located at the end of the Orange Line making for easy access to downtown via the CTA. The Orange Line ride from the airport to downtown was just voted the most scenic CTA route (by TikTok) and some of the views as you come into downtown can’t be beat. If your accommodation is not located near the orange line, taxi and rideshare are abundant!
Transportation
Home of the nation’s second largest public transportation system, Chicago is well known for its connected public transit and is by far the easiest and most convenient way around the city. With 8 different lines and 145 stations, the “L” can get you from both airports to downtown, and many places in between. All trains (with the exception of the baby yellow line) meet up in the Loop downtown and can easily transfer to your line of choosing once there. You can easily tap-to-pay with your phone’s wallet or tap-ready credit card at any station without having to buy a physical pass. However, if you know you plan to ride it multiples times over the weekend, downloading the Ventra app and purchasing a 1-Day or 3-Day pass can provide a lot of savings!
Depending on where your accommodations are, parking can be extremely difficult or extremely expensive. Chicago is really special in that it’s one of the few cities where a car really isn’t necessary. It took Roxanne almost 6 months to refill her car with her first tank of gas after moving because her Ford spends most of its days basking in the sun or snow by the curb. So save the money on a rental car unless you plan on wandering off into the suburbs.
In the instances where the train or simply walking is not convenient, Uber/Lyft is extremely dependent and can be called upon at any time.
Accommodations
One of the most common questions we get asked when people say they are visiting Chicago is “so where should I stay?”
With over 77 unique and different neighborhoods, it’s hard to definitively suggest just one. Below is a map highlighting some of the neighborhoods most convenient to the shower location, to downtown and tourist attractions, or to the vibrant summer life at the lake. Learn more about each neighborhood at the links below!
