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AND INFORMATION Lincoln Park Conservatory and Gardens Greeter Training

1) , “Lincoln Park Map” 2) Lincoln Park visitor information 3) Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum visitor information 4) visitor information 5) North Avenue Beach visitor information 6) n.a. “Attractions in Lincoln Park” 7) Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, “Welcome to Lincoln Park” 8) n.a. “Public Transit around Chicago”

Reading assignments supplement each week’s lectures. Please read before the lecture.

LINCOLN PARK MAP 1 of 4

North Pond “I WILL” MONUMENT

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GARDEN GRANDMOTHER’S LINCOLN D Grove (Permittable Space) PARK r ZOO Lagoon/Pond/Lake ELI BATES FOUNTAIN Monument/Statue

SCHILLER Nature Area MONUMENT ROWING LAGOON Webster Ave Parking Pedestrian Bridge/Path Pedestrian Underpass

C CUMMINGS Pier la PLAYLOT r k Playground S t Service-Related Concession Dickens Ave Soccer Field HANS 6 CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN Tennis Court LP MONUMENT CULTURAL CENTER Volleyball Court

HISTORIC CARLSON COTTAGE LP ZOO ADMIN- Armitage Ave SIBLINGS ISTRATION MONUMENT 4 Lin 5 coln A GRANT v La e MONUMENT k FARM e IN THE S ho ZOO South Pond r e

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Wisconsin St r SHOES 3

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C la 2 r NORTH AVE k 3 S SOUTH BEACH t FIELD HOUSE

La 4 1 SOUTH k BENJAMIN e FRANKLIN FIELD S ho MONUMENT ATHLETIC deLASALLE AREA r NORTH AVE MONUMENT e BEACH HOUSE Dr 5 D COUCH LINCOLN r Salle TOMB MEMORIAL La MONUMENT & GARDENS

LaSalle Dr CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

GREENE VARDIMAN BLACK MONUMENT

North Ave Rev 1/07

Address: 2001 N Clark St Chicago, IL 60614, USA Phone: 312-742-2000

HOURS Spring Hours Starting April 1 (Friday prior to Memorial Day) Buildings & Farm close at 5:00pm Gates close at 6:00pm

Summer Hours May (Memorial Day Weekend) – September (Labor Day Weekend) Buildings & Farm close at 5:00pm on weekdays, 6:30pm on weekends & holidays Gates close at 6:00pm on weekdays, 7:00pm on weekends & holidays

September–October 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Gates open 7 a.m.–6 p.m.)

November–March 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Gates open 7 a.m.–5 p.m.)

ADMISSION OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR & FREE

Searle Visitor Center The zoo’s guest and member services are located inside Searle Visitor Center at the zoo's East Gate entrance.

Searle Visitor Center provides the following services: • Information Desk • First Aid and Public Safety • Lost and Found • Strollers and Wheelchairs

Across from Searle Visitor Center at the Member Center, guests can: • Join the zoo, renew membership, or purchase a gift membership • ADOPT an • Purchase a gift for an animal from the zoo’s Wish List • Make a donation in any amount

https://www.lpzoo.org/ Lincoln Park Zoo

Discover member benefits like free parking, members-only events, and discounts at retail and on the zoo’s ticketed public events

DIRECTIONS Lincoln Park Zoo is located off Lake Shore Drive at the Fullerton Parkway exit, just minutes north of downtown Chicago. From I-94, exit at either Fullerton Parkway or North Avenue and go east.

BUSES #151 and #156 stop at the zoo’s West Gate (Stockton & Webster) and near the Farm-in-the-Zoo (Stockton & Armitage) #22 stops near the zoo’s West Gate (exit at Clark & Webster) and Café Brauer Gate (exit at Clark & Armitage) #36 stops near the zoo’s West Gate (exit at Clark & Webster) and Café Brauer Gate (exit at Clark & Armitage)

TRAINS The Brown line and Purple line stop at the , which is about one mile west of the zoo. Exit and walk east on Armitage, past Clark, to the Café Brauer Gate.

CABS Cab fare from downtown Chicago to Lincoln Park Zoo is about $10. Enter at the Café Brauer Gate or West Gate.

BICYCLE RACKS Bicycle racks are located near the East Gate, West Gate, Café Brauer and Lincoln Park Conservatory with additional racks along Cannon Drive and Stockton Drive.

TROLLEY AND DOUBLE DECKER SERVICE From November 23 through December 23, 208 visit Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Company for information on transportation to ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ.

Parking The zoo’s parking lot entrance is located at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive (2400 North Cannon Drive, Chicago IL 60614). Parking fees are typically collected at the lot exit. The parking lot opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. Parking rates range from $20-35 per day and include applicable parking taxes. Prices are subject to change based on day of the week, seasonality, special events, , and other factors. Zoo members receive discounted or free parking benefits during zoo hours.

https://www.lpzoo.org/ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an accessible and affordable family destination located in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Address: 2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago IL 60614 Phone: 773-755-5100

HOURS Monday through Friday: 9am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday: 10am - 5pm

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is open every day except the first Friday in May, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

The last admission ticket is sold at 4:30pm.

ADMISSION • $9 for adults • $7 for students and seniors (60+) • $6 for children ages 3 - 12 • Free for children under 3 Members are free every day

Thursdays are suggested donation days for residents.

Illinois teachers with a school ID can receive free admission for themselves when visiting alone or with friends and/or family. Teachers visiting as part of a field trip are charged a group rate or admitted for free based on the attendance policies of their registered trip.

Group visit discounts are available. Senior group visit discounts are also available.

Blue Star Families Active duty service members and their families can enjoy free admission year- round. Click here for additional details.

Museums for All We are pleased to offer a discounted admission fee of $1 to individuals and families presenting an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card. Museum visitors who display their EBT Card and a valid form of identification will receive a discounted admission rate of $1 per person, for up to six people in their party. Children under 3 are, as always, free. This admission rate is available during all normal operating hours.

http://www.naturemuseum.org/ Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Kids Museum Passports A Kids Museum Passport is good for free on-site admission for two adults and two children. They can be checked out at branches.

Amenities & Accessibility Coat Check Coat check is available for 50¢ per item. Guests may also check a stroller in coat check.

Strollers A limited number of strollers are available for $4 upon request with a picture ID. Strollers are allowed everywhere in the Museum except for the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, where stroller parking is available near the Butterfly Haven entrance.

Nursing Mothers are welcome to nurse wherever they are comfortable within the building.

Wheelchairs Wheelchairs are available to rent for no charge. We simply ask that a photo ID be left at the Front Desk upon rental.

Stairs/Elevators Our passenger elevator goes to all levels of the building, including the third floor Micole Birdwalk.

Restrooms All restrooms on all levels are stroller and wheelchair accessible. Two all-gender, single-stall restrooms are located on the third floor near the entrance to the Micole Birdwalk. There are also single-stall family restrooms located on the first floor across from coat check, and on the second floor across from the Extreme Green House.

TRANSPORTATION The Nature Museum is located near several CTA stops. Directions to the Nature Museum can be found on the Getting to the Museum page.

Additional Resources A social narrative is available to prepare children for their visits and show what it's like to visit the Nature Museum. Please click here to download it as a pdf.

Events & Programs Many events and programs are included with the price of admission. To explore daily events, or register for a special class, program or event, visit the Event Calendar page.

© 2019 Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

http://www.naturemuseum.org/ Chicago History Museum

Address: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614 Phone: (312) 642-4600

HOURS Monday: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday: 9:30 am - 9:00 pm Wednesday – Saturday: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sunday: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sunday: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

RESEARCH CENTER HOURS Tuesday – Friday: 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Saturday: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

CAFÉ: Monday – Saturday: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

ADMISSION (Prices subject to change.) ADULTS: $19.00 SENIORS (Ages 65+): $17.00 STUDENTS (19-22): $17.00 CHILDREN (18 & under if Illinois Residents): FREE *Non-Illinois Resident Children 12 and under are FREE

City of Chicago residents receive a $2 discount (with valid I.D.)

It pays to be a member. Admission is free for members of the Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum, National Museum of Mexican Art, and National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.

Free admission is granted to the following audiences: • US Armed Services: All active duty military and all veterans (with valid ID) • Chicago Police Department: All active duty (with valid ID) • Chicago Fire Department: All active duty (with valid ID) • Illinois Teachers (with valid ID) • Pre-Registered School Field Trips • Park Voyagers (Must show pass) • Kids Museum Passport Holders (Must show pass)

https://www.chicagohistory.org/ Chicago History Museum

Illinois Resident Discount Days The Museum is free to Illinois residents every Tuesday* from 12:30 to 9:00 p.m. and on Commemorative Days: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, March 4, and July 4. *Excludes December 17, December 24 and December 31.

Museums for All. The Chicago History Museum is pleased to offer a discounted admission fee of $3 to individuals and families presenting an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and a valid form of photo ID. A maximum of four adults is allowed per EBT card.

Blue Star Museums. The Chicago History Museum is proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program. Blue Star Museums offer free admission to active duty military, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Guard, Marines, National Guard, and Reserve members, with up to five family members. The program runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

WIC. The Chicago History Museum offers a discounted admission fee of $3 with verification of participation.

DIRECTIONS FROM THE NORTH Take the Kennedy (1-90/94) to the North Avenue exit. Travel east on North Avenue two miles to Clark Street.

FROM THE WEST Take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to the Kennedy (I- 90/94). Take the Kennedy to the North Avenue exit. Travel east on North Avenue two miles to Clark Street.

FROM THE SOUTH Take I-90/94W to the North Avenue exit. Go east on North Avenue to Clark Street. Alternatively, take the 1-90/94 W to 1- 55N, and follow I- 55N to Lake Shore Drive. Continue north to the North Avenue exit. Then go west two blocks to Clark Street.

Parking Public parking is conveniently located one block north of the Museum at Clark and LaSalle Streets; enter on Stockton Drive. Cost: $10 with Museum validation. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards are accepted. Specially located spots are reserved for persons using mobility devices. Call 312-642-4600 for more information.

CTA The Museum is easy to reach via public transportation. CTA buses 22, 36, 72, 73, 151, and 156 stop nearby. The Brown Line Sedgwick station and Red Line Clark/Division station are approximately one half-mile from the Museum. https://www.chicagohistory.org/ North Avenue Beach

Address: 1601 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: 312-74-BEACH (Location Notes: at North Ave. and Lake Michigan)

PARK HOURS: Every Day (Sunday-Saturday): 11:00 am-7:00 pm

The beach is open from 6 am to 11 pm, but swimming is only permitted when lifeguards are on duty, from 11 am to 7 pm daily.

Rules • Swim only when lifeguards are on duty. • Follow lifeguards’ instructions. • Only Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Person- children wearing PFDs should have adult present. • No smoking. • No alcohol. • No dogs on the beach. • Do not feed birds or wildlife. • Dispose of trash and recycling in appropriate containers. • Grill in designated areas only and dispose of coals in red barrels. • Keep accessible beach walks clear. No bicycling, skateboarding or rollerblading is permitted in these areas. • Access to the Lake Michigan Water Trail for sports such as kayaking, canoeing and other non-motorized board or paddle sports is allowed at North Avenue Beach inside the "hook" at the southern end of the beach. • Kiteboarding is not permitted at North Avenue Beach; kiteboarding is ONLY permitted at Montrose Beach.

Description As one of Chicago's most popular beaches, the beach features a unique and popular beach house that contains 22,000 square feet of space that features something for everyone and is permanently docked along this popular beach. This sleek, ocean liner-inspired building, decked out in a crisp blue and white, boasts one of the best views in the city. The beach house has upper decks and portholes for looking at the magnificent horizon or the multitudes of bikers, runners, walkers and rollerbladers streaming down the lakefront trail. In May 2000, Mayor Richard M. Daley dedicated the North Avenue Beach House during a grand opening event for the public that included games for kids, free sand pails, refreshments and a jazz band.

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/north-avenue-beach North Avenue Beach

North Avenue Beach offers an array of amenities and recreational opportunities for beach goers to enjoy that include:

• Castaways Bar and Grill is the best location on North Avenue Beach for great food and ice cold drinks. The first level features an ice cream café and beachside burgers with casual walk-up stands. The rooftop features tasty appetizers, sandwiches, fresh salads and refreshing desserts. • Rent, repair or buy a bike from Lakeshore Bike 'n Tune right at North Avenue Beach! • NAB Sports offers one of a kind open-air sports facility at North Avenue Beach offering roller hockey, dodgeball, fitness classes, hockey and dodgeball tournaments, and exciting special events. • Sun and Moon Beach Yoga offers outdoor beach yoga seven days a week at North Avenue Beach for all levels during sun-rise, late morning and during the sunset. • Boucher Brothers offering top of the line luxury lounge chairs and large umbrellas. • Food concessions from Pronto Pups offering beverages and hotdogs on a stick, Stefani's Restaurant next to hockey rink and cotton candy. • Great Lakes Board Company offers beach goers a chance to hit the waves with wakeboard and paddle board rentals. • Kayak Chicago, the premier full service outfitter in Chicago, offers kayak rentals at North Avenue Beach. • Rent jetskis from Windy City Watersports! • Retail vendor selling Havaianas Sandals. • Retail vendors selling clothes, sundries, souveniers and beverages. • Rent volleyball courts and equipment by calling (312) 742-3776. Courts rent for $10 per hour. Equipment rental is $10 with valid ID. Reserve up to six days in advance.

There is an ADA accessible beach walk and restrooms available. Three ATM machines located at the beach house. Distance swimming is available at beaches 3 & 4 (north of boathouse), parallel to shore. Paid parking lot is also available with limited parking; therefore, public transportation is highly encouraged.

History Lincoln Park began as a public cemetery in the 1830s. Recognizing that the lakeside burial ground posed a public health threat, early citizens rallied to transform the site into parkland. A sixty acre unused part of the burial ground was first designated as Lake Park in 1860, and five years later the city renamed the site as Lincoln Park, providing a substantial budget for improvements. Over the years, Lincoln Park has grown to a landscape of over 1200 acres, particularly through many landfill extensions. In the late 1930s, a major landfill addition that stretched from Fullerton Avenue to North Avenue accounts for most of what is now the North Avenue Beach. Decades earlier, there was only a narrow paved beach that edged Lake Shore Drive in this area.

In 1934, the Lincoln Park Commission became part of the newly consolidated Chicago Park District and the new agency received substantial funding through President Franklin Delano

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/north-avenue-beach North Avenue Beach

Roosevelt’s New Deal. The completion of North Avenue Beach was one of many projects in Lincoln Park funded through the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Construction began in 1939 and the $1,250,000 project included a major improvement to Lake Shore Drive with grade separation providing a new overpass at North Avenue. The new North Avenue Beach, totaled more than 875,000 square feet of new parkland and extended all the way to Fullerton Avenue. Chicago Park District architect Emanuel V. Buchsbaum designed the new Art Moderne style North Avenue Beach House to emulate a lake ship. The North Avenue Beach and Beach House were dedicated in July of 1940. Over the years, the frame beach house had become so deteriorated that it had to be demolished. The original building inspired the design of a similar although somewhat large building composed of cast-in-place concrete. Designed by Wheeler Kearns Architects, the new structure was built in 1999.

DIRECTIONS Parking Directions: Parking lot with pay gate

Public Transit: CTA Bus Routes: 22, 36, 72, 73, 151, 156,

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/north-avenue-beach Attractions in Lincoln Park

The best attractions in Lincoln Park Upscale Lincoln Park offers more than swanky shops and well-reviewed restaurants; these destinations attract tourists and locals alike

Attractions in Lincoln Park

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool (Photograph: Wikimedia Commons) This secretive spot just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo is a quaint, calm hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. No matter the season, the canopy of trees and chirping birds will provide a peaceful place to take a mental hiatus. If you don't have time to sit under the shaded pavillion and take in the scenery, at least pass through to the zoo via the gate at the northeast end of the garden.

Chicago History Museum See “Chicago's history unfold” at one of the city's most notable attractions. Exhibits like “Race: Are We So Different?” and “Facing Freedom in America” focus on more serious social history, while fun exhibitions like “Sensing Chicago” offer interactive activities for the kids. For a steep ticket price of $16, a visit is worth it— but may not require a whole day of wandering through the halls.

DePaul Art Museum Hop off the train at Fullerton and you'll find yourself at the front door of this underrated art museum on the DePaul campus. The curators of the DePaul Art Museum have made a habit of hosting exciting exhibitions culled from the school's personal collection, including photographs taken by Andy Warhol and Jeff Carter's sculptures made from IKEA furniture.

Attractions in Lincoln Park

DePaul University (Photo: Max Herman) With more than 25,000 students, DePaul University is one of the nation's ten largest private universities. Its campus is spread throughout Lincoln Park, allowing visitors to stroll through the beautiful fall trees and gothic architecture on the way to area attractions.

Lincoln Park Conservatory The conversatory hosts more than 40,000 plants representing around 200 species under a glass dome and in greenhouse rooms just northwest of the zoo. Specific sights include an extensive fern collection, a room full of dozens of orchid varieties and a 100-year- old, 50-foot rubber tree. Flower shows change with the seasons so check the website for latest updates.

Lincoln Park Cultural Center (Lincoln Park Zoo) Wondering how there are always wedding photos being taken at this iconic spot? Us too. If you feel like making a little culture of your own, it’s worth looking into the woodshop, stained glass, ceramics and dance classes here. If you're not looking to hang around for too long, at least take in the breathtaking views of the downtown skyline—just like a number of newlyweds.

Lincoln Park Zoo See some 1,200 , from to zebras, at one of the only few free left in the country. It's pretty small—only 35 acres—but attractions like the Kovler House and the Regenstein Center for African Apes pack a big punch. Best part is, each season brings a little bit of special flair to the exhibits.

Attractions in Lincoln Park

Oz Park Located right behind Lincoln Park High School, is just what you think: a park dedicated to The Wizard of Oz. Sculptures of the popular characters are scattered around the huge property, while the small- ish playground has a fun wooden castle/maze structure filled with windows to look through, things to climb, bridges to run across, etc. The playground even has equipment for the littlest ones—with a separate slide, rocking animals and a wooden train to climb on.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum This museum was established in 1857 and has since become a home of sights, sounds and smells of nature amidst Chicago's urban landscape. From prairie and river to the biology of Ice Age , nature and its conservation is vast and varied. Hands- on interactive displays on marsh and river ecosystems engage kids, while the thousand fluttering beauties of the 2,700-square-foot Judy Istock Butterfly Haven appeal to all ages.

Public Transit around Chicago

Public Transportation in Chicago https://freetoursbyfoot.com/public-transportation-chicago/

Getting around Chicago on public transit is easy for visitors and tourists, and can really save you money as you explore the Windy City. Be a good trip planner and take the time to learn how the public transit works. Then read about Things to do in Chicago to plan the rest of your trip.

This guide makes it easy to use the subway "EL" trains and buses, and gives you all the information on how to buy and use the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and how to read the maps.

Go directly to the CTA site: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

FARE INFORMATION All transit (subway trains, buses, Metra Trains) operate through one payment method, called a Ventra Card. These cards can be purchased at all subway stations for a single ride, or re- loadable pass (see below for information on the free Ventra app).

All train stations have a Ventra machine for purchasing these passes located just beside the entrance gates.

WHAT YOU PAY You have several options when it comes to buying a Ventra Card. Below are the base fare costs, meaning a one-way, one-time ride. It's important to compare a base fare/single ride cost to the cost of the passes, to determine which option is right for you.

Base Fare "L" Train: $2.50 Bus Ride: $2.25 Transfer (within 2 hours): 25 cents

Passes CTA 1 Day Pass $10 CTA 3 Day Pass $20 CTA 7-Day Pass $28 CTA/Pace 7-Day Pass $33 Public Transit around Chicago

Cash vs Credit: While buses will take cash (exact change needed), in order to ride a train/subway you will need a Ventra ticket. The Ventra machines are located at all train stations, and accept cash or credit card.

Pro Tip: The cost of a reloadable card is $5, but you can register that card to receive $5 free ride credit, which gives you your money back!

CTA MAP The map can be intimidating, but if we look at it one step at a time, it is actually pretty easy to track:

Chicago uses a color-coded Rail ('L') train system that operates on street-level, underground, and on an elevated track. Each color track on the map represents a different subway route:

• Red Line • Blue Line • Orange Line • Brown Line • Pink Line • Green Line • Purple Line • Yellow Line

It's best to first figure out which of the above lines you are taking, and then look at which stop on that line is closest to your destination.

"The Loop" You'll notice a magnified portion of the map called The Loop. Trains coming from outside the city enter Downtown Chicago's "Loop", and then circle back out to cover the rest of the city (they do a loop, get it?). This makes it easy and fast to go anywhere in Chicago from hotels to popular attractions from Downtown! The Loop is the busiest and most exciting part of the city, and we offer a pay what you like Loop Tour all year long!

Public Transit around Chicago

GETTING AROUND BY TRAIN The Red Line train is one of the most popular and frequent trains, as it runs North and South through Downtown along the coast and stops at the most popular attractions and busiest neighborhoods of Chicago. The Red Line operates at all times, every day.

The Blue Line travels West to popular neighborhoods such as Wicker Park/Bucktown, and North to O'Hare Airport. The Blue Line operates at all times, every day.

The 'L' First, Chicago-people call their train the 'L', not the subway or the tube or the metra. We call it the 'L'because it is short for "elevated". The majority of our train system is elevated above ground which means it is great to ride to enjoy the view of the city.

Taking the 'L'is really handy especially to get to certain destinations like the famous Al Capone's hangout "The Green Mill"jazz club (Red line; Lawrence Stop) or to check out Wrigely Field (Red line; Addison Stop). You definitely need the 'L'to enjoy Frank Lloyd Wright's famous work (Green Line; Oak Park Stop) or if you are actually a Sox fan and want to cheer for them (Red Line; 35th Stop).

From O'Hare International Airport The Blue Line arrives/departs from O'Hare Airport and enters "the Loop", making it the most convenient way to get to your Downtown Hotel without needing to transfer. Luggage is allowed on trains with you.

From Midway International Airport The Orange Line arrives/departs from Midway Airport and enters "the Loop", making it the most convenient way to get to your Downtown Hotel without needing to transfer. Luggage is allowed on trains with you.

Public Transit around Chicago

GETTING AROUND BY BUS Sometimes the fastest way from one destination to another is by bus. Here's what you need to know about CTA buses:

• Every Bus is Accessible • Every Bus has a Timetable Schedule available here. • Buses run daily every 10-20 minutes (holiday hours vary), stopping every 2 blocks. • Buses that run late night will have an "Owl" symbol at their bus stop.

Remember payment for bus fare in Chicago can be done through a Ventra ticket or cash only (exact change needed). NO credit card payment on the bus, and NO change from the driver.

GETTING AROUND BY BIKE

Divvy Bike Share System This is separate from the CTA and your Ventra card, but well worth mentioning when discussing how to get around the city. If the weather is nice, you may consider using the convenient bike share system, Divvy. A 24 Hour Pass costs just $9.95 and offers unlimited 30 minute trips. There are hundreds of stations in Chicago, and you'll find many riders on our streets!

HELPFUL APPS Here is a list of free apps we recommend you download during your stay in Chicago to help you get around the city easily. Public Transit around Chicago

Google Maps We recommend downloading the Google Maps app on your smartphone. Unlike some map applications, this one tells you which bus or train line to get on, as well as the arrival/departure times and the name of your stop. You can watch in real time as you move toward your destination. Useful!

Ventra App The Ventra App is free, and gives you fast/easy access to "Transit Tracker" to see the up to the minute schedule of CTA subway "L" trains, buses, and Metra Trains. You can also re-load your registered Ventra Card or buy Metra tickets directly from the app.

Metra Commuter Rails The high-speed Metra commuter train can take you from the downtown area to any of the surrounding suburbs quickly and safely. For tourists visiting the city the 495 miles of commuter rails servicing 241 different stations throughout the city can take you to all sorts of attractions Chicago has to offer. From your seat on the train you can see the beautiful lakefront, ride pass the many museums, zoos, and sporting events and even stop along the way to take in some of the cultural sites of the city including concerts, theaters, orchestras and art exhibits.

Fun Facts: • Cable Car service began in Chicago January 28, 1882. • The 'L'opened October 12, 1897. • There are 35.8 miles of elevated structure. • There are 9,961 CTA Employee positions. • 159,781 miles are traveled per day by CTA buses. • There is an Illinois Railway Museum! (http://www.irm.org/) • There is a special HOLIDAY TRAIN during December. This train is all decked out for the holiday season with lots of lights, elves, candy canes and the Big Guy in Red. Some locals have never seen it.