How do I get to major tourist sites from Union Station?|131956

I live in the western suburbs and take the Metra-BNSF line into Chicago, which ends at Union Station. I want to know what buses/El trains I should take to get me to these places:

Lincon Park Zoo
Museum of Science and Industry
Museum Campus
Chinatown
Navy Pier
North Michigan Ave. (Magnificent Mile)

Some places I haven_t been to and would like to know how to get there. Others I have been to, but may be taking a longer route than neccesary. I_m also not planning to visit all of these places at once. Just over a few weekends in the summer. I have a CTA _Chicago card,_ so i don_t have to worry about the upcoming fare increases.

Check out the RTA_s online trip planner:

http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/


Also go to the CTA_s webpage for information, instructions and route maps. Here is the URL:
http://www.transitchicago.com/


You can take the Red Line L train south to Chinatown and get off at 22nd/Cermak. From Union Station, exit the west side and walk south 2-3 blocks on Clinton to Blue Line L stop (under the Congress/I-290 overpass) and board train toward O_Hare. Go three stops to Jackson and transfer to the Red Line train towards Dan Ryan/95th. Cermak/Chinatown will be 3rd stop to the south. Follow your nose to Chinatown from there--it_s right there. Exit the L to the WEST-avoid going east of the tracks--trust me on this.

For Mag Mile, Navy Pier and the Museum Campus (Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium _ Soldier Field) you are within about 2-2.5 miles from all of them at Union Station. It_s not a bad walk on a nice day. You can exit Union Station towards the East, cross the river and look up. The Sears Tower will be right there. Take a left on Wacker Drive as it snakes alongside the Chicago River. Once you cross Lake Street (Green Line L tracks overhead) Wacker will curve right (East) and you_ll see some of Chicago_s best architecture. Go East along Wacker and you_ll hit the Mag Mile where the river and Michigan Avenue intersect. Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower are the first buildings you_ll see. Follow that north. To get to Navy Pier, take Michigan Avenue north just a couple blocks to Grand Ave--just north of Tribune Tower on your right. Head down the stairs to Grand Avenue and walk East until you are at Navy Pier.

A cab ride is the quickest to any of these places in my opinion--you might end up spending $10 max per leg.

If you want to keep on a budget and still get around efficiently, CTA (includes city buses and the L train) is the best. Get yourself a CTA Visitor pass for $5/day and you_ll be good to go:

http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/fares��


Have a blast!