Taking off Travel blog

About 17 million people pass through Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) each year. If you are on a layover, you won’t even have to worry about Midway Airport parking; just stash your bags somewhere and start seeing the sights. The airport is only ten miles from downtown Chicago. That means there’s plenty to see and do that’s not too far away. Here are some places where you can start your Chicago sightseeing tour.

Five Miles Or Less From MDW

If all you need to do is get some fresh air, then there are plenty of parks where you can sit outside while you wait for your connecting flight. Pasteur Park, Archer Park, Minuteman Park and West Lawn Park are all a mile or less away, so a brisk walk will take you away from airport congestion and into a pleasant green space.

Those with an interest in Eastern Europe will enjoy a visit to the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, less than two miles from the airport on South Pulaski Road. It’s got the largest collection of Lithuanian material outside that country and is open daily from 10 till 4. A few miles further, you can explore the history of a different group at the DuSable Museum of African American History, located less than 5 miles from the airport. It’s got several exhibits and is well worth a visit.

Five To Ten Miles From MDW

If you’ve got a layover of four hours or more, than travel eight miles to pick up a Chicago Trolley Tour. Get a Hop On Hop Off Ticket for the two hour guided tour, which covers 13 miles of downtown Chicago. When you need a break, hop off to visit a shp, restaurant or attraction, then rejoin the tour when you’re ready to continue. It’s a great way to view the city when time is short.

Want to be on Oprah? Then tie in your layover with a visit to Harpo Studios, where the show is taped daily. It’s almost ten miles from Chicago Midway Airport, but it’s sure to be a unique experience. Or check out Chinatown, a similar distance away on Wentworth Avenue. It’s not the biggest Chinatown you’ll ever see, but it’s still worth a look.

More Than Ten Miles From MDW

OK, you won’t want to spend your layover traveling, but we promise that these attractions just over ten miles away are worth your time. The Sears Tower, once the world’s tallest building, still offers stunning views of Chicago and Lake Michigan from its Skydeck. You’ll be standing 1454 feet in the air, and if the weather is right, you will be able to see as far as Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin.

The John G Shedd Aquarium is almost 11 miles away, but it has hundreds of species of marine life. You can explore mangrove forests and coral reefs - and even see sharks up close. It will be an unforgettable end to your layover in Midway Airport.

(Photo: dieraecherin)

Tags: Airport Parking, chicago, layover, mdw, midway airport, parking

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 4:43 am and is filed under Attractions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.