I hope to go to a baseball game tour of 5 Midwest cities this summer.
I want to get in Chicago a day early, rent a car and see things that are driving distance from the airport. I have already visited downtown Chicago before and want to see other attractions in the area for a day.
We will get a Wrigley Field tour on the trip.
Thanks.
Depending on your interests you might look at going to one or more of these:
Frank Lloyd Wright sights in Oak Park
Cantigny with the First Division Museum
Morton Arboretum
Naper Settlement
Brookfield Zoo
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Try a Chicago dog at Gene & Judes
Thanks for all the ideas. The suggestions given sound great, especially the Frank Lloyd Wright sight. The Arboretum may take too much time, if I try the others. The dog sounds like a good one too.
It's 100 miles away, but Starved Rock State Park is worth a visit if you like hiking.
Osk park frank Lloyd Wright is accessible by the commuter train if you are on the fence about renting a car. It's paying for parking that grinds my gears. 😁
Navy pier is another option, art museum and the Bean all on the lake front
You should get a toll reader with the car. You will end up on a toll road at some point almost for sure. If you don't have one and you miss paying a toll, there is usually a sign after the toll booth with a url where you can pay and avoid a hefty fine - compounded by the rental company's fees.
Driving early in Chicago on a week day means driving in traffic. Parking is often hard to find in neighborhoods. Traffic around the ball parks gets pretty bad before and after games. Allow enough time. I haven't been to Oak Park for 2-3 years, but I remember finding street parking. Watch the signs - some is for residents only. There are several options for a Wright visit. Book a guided tour of the home and studio in advance. I've done neighborhood tours thru the Trust, both guided and self-tour (with map and audio guide). There are a number of Wright homes in Oak Park and a church too.
Won't his rental have plate pass? You're testing my memory, but I don't think you need to rent an iPass unit.
The big Frank Lloyd Wright housewalk is in May. If you're a FLW geek, it's pretty great because you get to see a lot of interiors. But other weekends have offerings as well. The FLW Trust is a good starting place for info.
As others have stated, FLW in Oak Park is a solid option. You can occupy yourself w/ the self-guided tours. The surrounding blocks have many magnificent homes. Oak Park also gets you in the neighborhood of the #1 Italian Beef (Johnnies in Elmwood Park) and hot dog (Gene and Jude's in River Grove) in Chicago. Yes, both are the best. Do not challenge me on this. All these places are easy to get to without having to deal with highways or tollroads. Just take River Road from the airport.
If you're interested in minor league ball, the Chicago Dogs play in Rosemont, which is right next door to the airport.
Oak park also features the Ernest Hemingway birth place and lots of other fun stuff
