Monday, 25 July 2011

Chicago Airport Shuttle

Many Windy City travelers look to take shuttles to the Chicago airport of their choice, and there is good reason for this. For starters, the rates are friendly, and you won't have to rent a car and try to navigate the often-congested Chicago city streets. Instead, you'll be able to kick back and let someone else handle the driving. Chicago airport shuttle companies provide an array of vehicles, and many even offer private car service if you want to go in style. You might even secure a limousine transfer if you have room in the budget. For those who are thinking of getting a car rental, both of the main Chicago airports offer shuttle service to the rental car lots, and they also offer service to the main parking lots.

The O'Hare International Airport is the primary airport in Chicago, and as such, most Chicago-bound air travelers will arrive here. To find an O'Hare Airport shuttle, you can simply head to the ground floor of the airport's elevated parking garage. This main bus and shuttle center is easily accessed by way of tunnels from Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. Unless you have arranged a special hotel shuttle or another private Chicago Airport shuttle service, you can definitely depend on the Continental Airport Express shuttles at O'Hare. This O'Hare Airport shuttle service has shuttles that leave every five to ten minutes, so they are very convenient. In addition to offering shuttle service into the city, Continental Airport Express also offers shuttles that travel to some of the northern suburbs.

If for some reason you should need to travel from O'Hare International Airport to Midway International Airport, there is a special shuttle service that offers inter-airport routes. Midway International Airport is the smaller of the two main Chicago airports, and because it's a little closer to the Loop, a Midway Airport shuttle can usually get you into the city faster than an O'Hare Airport shuttle can. For those who are in need of a Midway Airport shuttle, the bus and shuttle center can be found right in front of the main terminal building. The Midway Airport shuttles run 24 hours a day, so you shouldn't have trouble securing one upon arrival. Continental Airport Express also offers Midway Airport shuttle service, and this company's shuttles run between 6 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Should you need shuttle service from Midway Airport to O'Hare Airport, the same inter-airport service is available. These inter-airport shuttles operate between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and travelers are picked up at Midway's door M1. While you can always rely on the more public-oriented Chicago airport shuttle services, you might also look to book your ground transportation through one of the other private companies. Booking a Chicago airport shuttle through one of the outside companies will usually cost more, but you'll enjoy an elevated level of service. More often than not, the Chicago shuttle companies will assess your individual needs and then create a ground transportation package that meets them.

Whether you need a Midway Airport shuttle or an O'Hare Airport shuttle, finding one shouldn't be an issue, and you can always book your airport shuttle service in advance to make it even easier once you arrive in Chicago. In addition to taking a shuttle to or from the Chicago airports, you can also take a taxi, ride the bus, rent a car, or take advantage of the cheap and easy Chicago Transit Authority trains that offer airport routes. The CTA Orange Line trains can get you from Midway to the Loop in about twenty to 30 minutes, while the CTA Blue Line trains that travel between O'Hare and the downtown area take around 40 minutes. Depending on the traffic conditions, taking the train can sometimes be the quickest way to go.

Chicago Midway Airport

The Chicago Midway Airport is only ten miles from the downtown area, or the Loop, as it is commonly known, so getting into the city won't very take long once your flight arrives. Helping to speed things up at the Midway International Airport is the expanded baggage claim area, and other expansions have also been made to the ticket counters and the terminal building. Some 17 million travelers pass through the Chicago Illinois Midway Airport every year, and thanks to the renovations, travelers will find the airport to be more user-friendly than ever.

The Midway International Airport is smaller than the O'Hare International Airport, and while it handles fewer airlines, these airlines are more discount-oriented. This means that those who are looking for deals on flights to Chicago will likely be better off turning to Midway first. The smaller size of the Midway International Airport will appeal to some travelers, as it's also easier to navigate than O'Hare, and since it's closer to the Loop, getting to a downtown hotel won't take as long. That's not to say that you shouldn't also look to O'Hare Airport when booking your Chicago flight; deals are often easy to come by at both, so it's always worth comparing rates to see what you can find.

Should you choose to arrive at the Chicago Illinois Midway Airport, it will be just a twenty-minute cab ride into town. You can also hop on a shuttle or rent a car to get to your next destination, though the train is the best way to go if you want to save some money. A trip on the Orange Line train will get you into the Loop within half an hour. While taking the train to or from the Chicago Illinois Midway Airport can be a great way to go, it is a relatively long walk from the terminal to the train/metro station. This is something that you will want to consider, especially if you have disability issues or are lugging a hefty load of luggage.

Once you arrive at the Chicago Midway Airport, a comprehensive array of services and facilities will be available, which will help pass the time if you have some to spare. Finding something good to eat at one of the airport restaurants shouldn't be hard, and you can always stop by a cafe or browse at one of the gift shops if you're not hungry. In addition to a sufficient number of eateries and shops, the Chicago Midway Airport also boasts a business center, an interfaith chapel, police kiosks, and facilities for disabled travelers. Medical emergency facilities and services are also available.

The Chicago Illinois Midway Airport is located on the city's southwest side, and there are many airport hotels close by if you are looking for a convenient place to stay. Many Chicago visitors will be looking to stay in the Loop, which is understandable, as that neighborhood is home to a number of the top Chicago hotels. Don't forget to keep an eye out for vacation packages when booking your Chicago trip, as some combine your accommodations with your airfare, which adds convenience and can save you money on your trip overall.

Wrigley Field Stadium, Chicago

Since 1916, Wrigley Field Stadium has been the home of the Chicago Cubs. It was built in 1914 as a home for the Chicago Federal league baseball team, the Chicago Whales. From 1921 to 1970, it was also home to the Chicago Bears football team. Wrigley Field hotels are plentiful, and their location near the ballpark gives Cubs fans and anyone interested in Chicago history the chance to explore a historic landmark.
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History of Wrigley Field: The Early Years

If you read up on the history of Wrigley Field, you will discover that it was the first ballpark on Chicago's North Side. Wrigley Field cost $250,000 when it was built in 1914. Charlie Weeghman built the park as a home for his baseball team, the Chicago Federals. The Federals, also known as the Chicago Whales, were part of the new Federal league that was challenging the established major leagues.

Unfortunately, the Federal league folded after only two years, so Weeghman organized a ten-man syndicate, which included chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. to purchase the Cubs of the National League. The Chicago Cubs were moved from West Side Grounds to what was then known as Weeghman Park. In 1918, Wrigley took over Weeghman's share of the team and by the time the year 1919 rolled around, he had managed to buy out the shares that belonged to the other members of the syndicate. The name of the stadium was changed to Cubs Park in time for opening day, 1920. It was renamed Wrigley Field in his honor in 1926.

History of Wrigley Field: The Bleachers are Built

The outfield bleachers went up in 1937. In that same year, Bill Veeck constructed the scoreboard. To this day, the scoreboard is still manually operated. Amazingly, it has never been struck with a batted ball. However, Roberto Clemente and Bill Nicholson each hit home runs that came close.

Wrigley Field is also famous for initiating baseball's first permanent concession stand. Additionally, the custom of allowing fans to keep foul balls hit into the stands started at Wrigley Field, as well as the custom of throwing back home runs hit by opposing players.

Cubs Baseball

Like the Boston Red Sox, Cubs baseball games seem to attract people who love to cheer for the underdog. However, no major league team has continuously represented the same city longer than the Chicago Cubs baseball team and their predecessors, who date back to 1870. As such, attending a Cubs baseball game at Wrigley Field is a great way to take in a bit of Chicago culture.

You also might enjoy taking an organized tour of Wrigley Field, which includes;

Cubs Clubhouse
Press Box
Visitors Clubhouse
Bleachers
Dugouts
On deck circles
Mezzanine Suites
Security Headquarters

The $20 fee goes to Cubs Care, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation.

US Cellular Field, Chicago

U.S. Cellular Field, which is also known as "The Cell" is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the White Sox baseball team of the American League. The US Cellular Field has an interesting and inspiring history. It begins in 1988, when Jerry Reinsdorf, the chairman of the board of the Chicago White Sox, issued an ultimatum to Chicago: build the White Sox baseball team a new ballpark or the franchise would move to St. Petersburg, Florida. Thus, on May 7, 1989, ground was broken for the new stadium and park. It was the first new baseball-only stadium built in the American League since 1973. US Cellular Field was opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox baseball team had spent 81 years at Comiskey Park. The new White Sox baseball field was completed at a cost of $167 million. Although it opened with the Comiskey Park name, it became U.S. Cellular Field in 2003 after U.S. Cellular bought the naming rights.

The US Cellular Field Chicago is located in Armour Square, which is a neighborhood of Chicago. Some of the design features from Comiskey Park were retained. These include the "exploding scoreboard", which lights up in color when a White Sox player hits a home run and the Sox Shower where fans can cool off during games. To avoid obstructed viewing of a White Sox baseball game, the upper deck at US Cellular Field Chicago was set back over the lower deck. The lowest row of seats in the upper deck at the new stadium is actually farther from the field than the highest row of seats in the upper deck at the old stadium was.

Instead of playing in one of baseball's oldest parks, the White Sox now had one of the most high-tech stadiums in North America. The 1,300,000-square-foot US Cellular Field Chicago has 12 escalators, 11 elevators, three industrial-strength garbage compactors, a fireworks launching pad beyond center field, and six outdoor pet-check kennels. The retired uniform numbers of eight players are displayed at U.S. Cellular Field:

1. Nellie Fox
2. Harold Baines
3. Luke Appling
4. Minnie Minoso
5. Luis Aparicio
6. Ted Lyons
7. Billy Pierce
8. Carlton Fisk

A White Sox Baseball team Hall of Fame is located on the stadium's main concourse, behind home plate. The US Cellular Field Chicago contains 84 luxury suites located on two levels, along with thousands of club seats on a mezzanine between the lower deck and upper deck. Additionally, there is a fan deck that is located in the bleachers where you can discover your pitching speed and cool off under a fountain.

With Chicago White Sox Charities, you can enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of U.S. Cellular Field. These tours allow fans to visit the dugout, check out the field from a player's perspective, sit in the Press Box and view various ballpark entertainment areas. Proceeds from the Cellular Fields tours benefit Chicago White Sox Charities.

Even if you are not a White Sox baseball fan, the high-tech features of US Cellular Field Chicago make it well worth a visit.

United Center, Chicago

The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks, is a 900,000-square-foot indoor sports arena and entertainment facility. Located one mile west of Kennedy Expressway and the Loop in Chicago, the stadium is well-known for hosting entertainment such as World Wrestling Entertainment events and concerts, in addition to NBA and NHL games, and the Michael Jordan statue outside the facility is an attraction in its own right. U2, Bruce Springsteen, and the Rolling Stones have all performed here, and the United Center is a great venue for enjoying these concerts and other events of all kind. If an event here is the main reason for their trip to Chicago, visitors can book hotels near United Center to ensure they have no trouble reaching their seats on time.

Chicago is a great city for sports, and the United Center promises the same kind of fun and entertaining experience fans would find at famous venues such as Wrigley Field and Soldier Field. The construction of this privately-owned state-of-the-art indoor stadium began in April 1992, the facility was inaugurated on August 18, 1994. The aim was to build an indoor sports complex that would take entertainment and sports into the 21st century; the idea for a newly sophisticated indoor arena was first initiated by William Wirtz and Jerry Reinsdorf, the owners of Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls, respectively. Since its opening in 1994, United Center has hosted more than 200 sports and entertainment events each year, including more than 80 Bulls and Blackhawks games and events such as the men's NCAA basketball tournament, in addition to shows by music legends including Paul McCartney, Aerosmith, and Eric Clapton.

One of the most impressive features of the state-of-the-art United Center is its recently renovated concourse, which more than 140 flat-screen televisions. The United Center seating arrangement is equally impressive, with three different seating levels for spectators (lower, club, and upper) and areas close to the concession stands for easy access to food and beverages during events. For instance, the new concession stand and seating area in section 326 provides a wonderful backstage ambience for tourists and fans. In addition, Individuals who have purchased United Center tickets on the 100 level can also get a membership to the Ketel One Club for a more private viewing experience. The club is located in section 119 and offers a wide range of services, including dining options offering filet mignon. Fans of the Blackhawks and Bulls can also purchase exclusive team and player merchandise at the Fandemonium, the United Center's souvenir and gift shop.

Although the arena is large in overall area, the seating capacity is not the largest when compared to other venues. It seats around 20,000 for basketball, 23,000 for concerts, and 20,500 for the NHL tournaments. However, the quality of the views and new concession stands nearby mean that there isn't really a bad seat in the house. Fans can purchase United Center tickets in person at the Gate 4 box office at game time or ahead of time if you're concerned about the event selling out. There is no need to buy United Center tickets for kids who are less than 3 feet tall, and the arena can be easily accessible by the disabled. Guests with disabilities are also allowed to bring certified service animals into the United Center if they need to.

If you are looking for hotels near United Center, there are plenty of options. For instance, the Chicago Marriott Hotel in Harrison Street is less than a mile away from the facility. There are also budget hotels within a few miles, including the TraveLodge, which was built in 1928 and is one of the city's older hotels. The hotel is strategically located to give easy access to McCormick Place, Millennium Park, Grant Park, and Navy Pier in addition to the United Center, making it easy to see the city's major attractions in addition to attending your sporting event or concert. The array of hotels near United Center also means that whether you're seeking budget or luxury accommodations, you should have no trouble finding options to suit you.

Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company is one of the most highly regarded companies in the country, and it has come a long way since its founding in 1974. Founders Gary Sinise, Terry Kinney, and Jeff Perry hatched the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in the basement of a Highland Park, Illinois, church, taking the name from the Herman Hesse novel. By 1980, the founders had taken their company to Chicago's Broadway Avenue, where they set up shop in the Jane Addams Hull House Center. Only two years later, they moved their operation from Little Italy to Lincoln Park, taking up residence in a 211-seat venue at 2851 N. Halsted Street. In 1991, the Chicago Steppenwolf theater finally relocated to its current location at 1650 N. Halsted Street. The current theater is state-of-the-art, and thanks to a relatively large budget, the productions that are held here are of high quality.

The Chicago Steppenwolf theater has earned numerous accolades for its work over the years, and it's safe to say that it has also launched a fair amount of careers. In addition to founder Gary Sinise, such personalities as John Malkovich, John Mahoney, Joan Allen, and Laurie Metcalf got their starts at Steppenwolf in Chicago. It's impressive to note that the Steppenwolf Theatre has been in business for more than 30 years, and one can imagine that more rising stars will appear on its stage in the years to come. Getting tickets to see a show at the Steppenwolf in Chicago is a great idea for any Windy City visitor who enjoys the performing arts, and there are plenty of other great Chicago theaters that you'll also do well to consider.

Some might argue that the Chicago Steppenwolf theater has lost some of its indie appeal in recent years, due in part to its big time status, but that's hardly the case. From time to time, some of the more notable actors who have passed through the Steppenwolf in Chicago come back to perform, which is a real treat if you happen to catch one of them. These special performances are relatively rare, but you might still keep an eye on them when planning your Chicago vacation. Stage plays are the most common type of performances you'll see at the Steppenwolf Theatre, and you might also check out the schedules at Chicago theaters like the Oriental Theater and the Chicago Theatre if you are interested in seeing similar performances.

Chicago Oriental Theater

The Loop is a good place to look if you are trying to find some good Chicago theaters, thanks in large part to the revitalized Loop Theatre District. Among the renowned downtown Chicago theaters here is the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, also known as the Chicago Oriental Theater. You might also hear this theater referred to simply as the Ford Center. The Oriental Theater in Chicago mostly offers Broadway-style productions, so if you're a fan of such performances, you'll want to check the schedule out on your next Chicago vacation. You can find the Ford Center Chicago theater at 4 West Randolph Street. Its marquee sign, which reads "Oriental," is hard to miss, and like the building's interior, the sign's design was inspired by the architecture of India.

The Oriental Theater in Chicago opened in 1926, and its early days saw it serving as both a movie palace and a host for vaudeville acts. Various concerts and other live performances were known to take place here as well in the early days; for instance, Duke Ellington and his orchestra often played here. Other famous stars who performed at the Ford Center Chicago theater in its earlier days include Al Jolson, The Three Stooges, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, and George Burns, among others. In other words, this place has a lot of history to it, as does the city of Chicago itself. There are 3,250 seats at the Chicago Oriental Theater, and you can bet they go fast when big name acts are in town. From 2005 to 2009, for example, the production of Wicked was a huge hit and became the city's most popular stage production of all time.

Today, the Ford Center Chicago Theater is owned by the Nederlander Organization, which is one of the country's largest and most highly experienced live music and theater operators. The Nederlander Organization runs the theater with the help of Broadway in Chicago, which is an organization that has a lot to do with the revitalized Loop Theatre District. In addition to putting on shows at the Oriental Theater in Chicago, both the Nederlander Organization and Broadway in Chicago also present shows at the Bank of America Theatre and the Cadillac Palace Theatre, both of which can also be found in the Loop. It's an exciting time for the performing arts in Chicago, and places like the Ford Center/Oriental Theater have a lot to do with that. So grab some show tickets in Chicago the next time you're in town, whether you're on your own or looking for things to do with kids, and treat yourself to a performance that should prove to be among the highlights of your trip.