It's the time of the semester when stress on campus is palpable. Students' eyes are bleary from hours of study and brains are fried from exams and papers. After almost two months on the UW-Madison campus, a relaxing yet invigorating change of scenery is just a bus ride away for weary students.
For $32, students can purchase a round-trip Van Galder bus ticket to Chicago. Three different stops (O'Hare Airport, the Amtrak Station and the Best Western of Chicago) drop travelers near where they want to go. Tickets are available at Memorial Union's Travel Center, located on the second floor. The bus ride is a little more than four hours long, and though an early start is essential for a day trip, sleepy students can nap on the way to the city. The last bus leaves the downtown area at 8:30 p.m. from the Amtrak Station, meaning there's time to enjoy lit-up skyscrapers or to eat at one of the many restaurants in the area.
Chicago offers a variety activities for anyone looking to visit a 'real' city. Museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Dr., and The Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St. and Lake Shore Dr., are all easily accessible from downtown. So are other major attractions such as The Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., and Navy Pier.
Of course, in a city of almost 3 million people, there are things to do other than see museums and aquariums. Plenty of opportunities off the beaten track are available to the more 'adventurous' traveler.
Want to really experience the city? One Cardinal staffer suggested simply riding the 'El.' (elevated train) around the city for awhile. It gives students a chance to see more of the city and experience big-city public transportation.
Similarly, just walking around the downtown area can be fun. Wandering around can lead to interesting events. According to another Cardinal staffer, one of his favorite Chicago experiences was walking four miles down Milwaukee Avenue to catch a 'rinky-dink play [by] a bunch of students.' He described the event as 'the Pythagorean Theorem in action.'
Staring up at bonafide skyscrapers or getting a picture taken in front of the Sears Tower might make a tourist look like, well, a tourist, but seeing these huge building up close is rather awe-inspiring. For those who wish to actually learn something while looking at large buildings, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, http://www.architecture.org/tours.htm, offers walking tours of historic skyscrapers in the downtown area.
With Halloween coming up, perhaps a tour of haunted Chicago is the way to go. Tickets are free and available at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., on a first-come, first-serve basis. The tour is available on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Enjoy talk shows? 'The Jenny Jones Show,' 'The Jerry Springer Show' and 'Oprah' are all filmed in Chicago. One staffer says spending an afternoon yelling at people with hideously messed-up lives can make the most stressful semester seem like a cakewalk.
With such a plethora of activities to choose from, a traveler can be overwhelmed, but if Ferris Bueller can fit in a baseball game, the Art Institute of Chicago, lunch at a fancy restaurant, a bit of joyriding in a great car and still make it home by 6 p.m., it's clear a lot can be fit into a single day in the Windy City.
