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Discovering Chicago

Chicago is an exciting place to live and learn. Being just a short distance from downtown Chicago, Saint Xavier provides its students with rich cultural and entertainment opportunities through student programming efforts. Throughout the year, several events hosted downtown are available and include transportation for free or at a very low cost to students. We hope you enjoy and utilize our essential guide to Chicago's attractions.

Getting Downtown and Back again

Downtown from the campus is easy and there are two ways to do it:

Metra Rail Maps and Schedules

To travel downtown from SXU:
  • Take the CTA 103rd Street Bus Eastbound to the 103rd Street Metra Station.
  • Board Metra Train inbound for Downtown Chicago.
To travel to the SXU Campus from Downtown:
  • Board the Rock Island Suburban Line of Metra at the LaSalle Street Station (414 S. LaSalle).
  • Get off the train at the 103rd Street Station in the Beverly neighborhood.
  • Catch a Westbound CTA Bus #103 on 103rd Street and travel two miles.
  • Exit the bus at SXU.

Transit Chicago

To travel downtown from SXU:
  • Take the CTA Bus #53A Northbound from the corner of 103rd St and Pulaski Avenue.
  • Exit the bus at the Pulaski Orange Line Station and board a CTA train inbound for Downtown Chicago.  You can also use this route to get to Chicago Midway Airport. 
To travel to the SXU Campus from Downtown:
  • Board any CTA Orange Line train at any station of the Loop elevated tracks. Any Orange Line train you board will be going towards Midway Airport.
  • Ride the train to the Pulaski Station—the second to last stop on the line.
  • Upon leaving the train at Pulaski, board a Southbound CTA #53A bus and ride to 103rd Street.
  • SXU is two blocks east of Pulaski on 103rd Street.

Chicago Attractions

Airports

Midway International Airport

Directions:
  • Orange line away from the Loop toward Midway
  • Exit Orange Line Train at Midway

O'Hare International Airport

Directions:
  • Orange line toward the loop to Clark/Lake
  • Transfer to Blue Line Train toward O'Hare
  • Exit Blue Line Train at O'Hare

Landmarks

Chinatown

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward 95th/Dan Ryan
  • Exit Red Line Train at Cermak-Chinatown

Hard Rock Cafe

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Grand
  • Walk north a short distance on State
  • Walk west a short distance on Ontario
  • The Hard Rock Cafe is located on the corner of Clark and Ontario

John Hancock Center

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Chicago
  • Walk west on Chicago to Michigan
  • Walk north on Michigan to the John Hancock Center

Lincoln Park Zoo

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train at Clark/Division
  • Exit Red Line Train at Clark/Division
  • Walk west a short distance to Division and LaSalle
  • Take CTA Bus #156 LaSalle Northbound
  • Exit bus at Stockton and Webster
  • Walk east to Lincoln Park Zoo's main gate

Millennium Park

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Green Line Train toward Harlem/Lake
  • Exit Green line Train at Madison/Wabash
  • Walk east a short distance to Millennium Park

Navy Pier

Directions:
  • Orange line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Chicago
  • Take CTA Bus #66 Chicago Eastbound
  • Exit bus at Navy Pier Bus Terminal

Willis Tower

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Quincy
  • Walk north to Adams
  • Walk west on Adams to the Willis Tower

Government

Chicago City Hall

Directions:
  • Orange line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Washington/State
  • Walk west a short distance on Washington
  • Walk north a short distance on Clark to Chicago City Hall

Cook County Traffic Court

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Washington/State
  • Walk west a short distance on Washington

Museums

Adler Planetarium

Directions:
  • Orange line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Take CTA Bus #12 Roosevelt Eastbound
  • Exit bus at Solidarity and Linn White
  • Walk southeast on S. Linn White

Art Institute of Chicago

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Green Line Train toward Harlem/Lake
  • Exit Green Line Train at Adams/Wabash

Chicago Sports Hall of Fame

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Grand
  • Take CTA Bus #65 Grand Westbound
  • Exit bus at Grand and Wells
  • Walk north a short distance on Wells
  • Walk west a short distance on Ontario to Chicago Sports Hall of Fame

Field Museum

Directions:
  • Orange line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Take CTA Bus #12 Roosevelt Eastbound
  • Exit bus at Roosevelt and Michigan
  • Walk southeast a short distance on Michigan
  • Walk east a short distance on Roosevelt
  • Walk northeast on Lake Shore Dr. to the Field Museum

Museum of Contemporary Art

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Chicago
  • Take CTA Bus #66 Chicago Eastbound
  • Exit bus at Chicago and Mies van Der Rohe

Museum of Contemporary Photography

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Harrison
  • Walk north a short distance on State
  • Walk east a short distance on Harrison
  • Walk south a short distance on Michigan to the Museum of Contemporary Photography

Museum of Science and Industry

Directions:
  • Take CTA Bus #103 West 103rd Eastbound
  • Arrive 95th CTA Bus Terminal
  • Take CTA Red Line Train to Howard
  • Arrive Garfield CTA
  • Take CTA Bus #55 from Garfield Eastbound to Museum of Science and Industry

Shedd Aquarium

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the loop to Roosevelt
  • Take CTA Bus #12 Roosevelt Eastbound
  • Exit bus at Shedd Aquarium

Sports

Soldier Field (Home to the Chicago Bears)

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Take CTA Bus #12 Roosevelt Eastbound
  • Exit bus at McFetridge and Park District Building
  • Follow the crowds!

United Center (Home to the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks)

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Washington and State
  • Walk south a short distance on North State
  • Take CTA Bus #20 Madison Westbound
  • Exit bus at Madison/United Center
  • Just follow the crowds!

Guaranteed Rate Field (Home to the Chicago White Sox)

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward 95th/Dan Ryan
  • Exit Red Line Train at Sox-35th
  • Walk west to Guaranteed Rate Field or just follow the crowds!

Wrigley Field (Home to the Chicago Cubs)

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Addison
  • Walk west to Wrigley Field or just follow the crowds!

Theatre and Shows

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line Train at Chicago
  • Take CTA Bus at Navy Pier Bus Terminal
  • Walk east a short distance to Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Civic Opera House

Directions:
  • Orange line toward the Loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Red Line Train toward Howard
  • Exit Red Line train at Washington/State
  • Walk .1 mile south to Madison and State
  • Take CTA Bus #20 Madison Westbound
  • Exit bus at Madison and Walker
  • Walk north a short distance on Wacker to Civic Opera House

Second City

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the Loop to Clark/Lake
  • Transfer to Brown line Train toward Kimball
  • Exit Brown line Train at Sedgwick
  • Walk east a short distance to Second City

Symphony Center

Directions:
  • Orange Line toward the loop to Roosevelt
  • Transfer to Green Line Train toward Harlem
  • Exit Green Line Train at Adams/Wabash
  • Walk east a short distance to the Symphony Center

You can also learn more about Chicago attractions and getting around the city with the following:

Residents who have questions or suggestions about programs offered in the city, please contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@sxu.edu.