Trains, Boats and a Ferris Wheel
Chicago's Union Station is another grand downtown train station, completed in 1925 after ten years of construction. Since there is no direct cross-country train line in either central or northern United States, Chicago is the transfer hub for many transcontinental travelers and, as such, is the fourth busiest Amtrak station.
After a morning arrival in Chicago and a quick breakfast, we headed out to Navy Pier. In cooler weather we had walked the almost two miles from Union Station to Navy Pier, but in the warm weather the way to go is a Water Taxi. These boats travel the Chicago River, between Union Station, Sears Tower, Navy Pier and the Museum Campus, including the Field Museum (home of the recently reassembled dinosaur, "Sue"), the Aquarium and the Planetarium. There are steps right outside Union Station (on the river side) leading down to the dock, and tickets can be purchased there. There is also a day pass available, and on our next visit we plan on using that to tour around the city by river.
The Navy Pier boasts a 220 foot high Ferris wheel, which I ventured onto despite the fact that it looked pretty scary! However, the Ferris wheel is a slow-moving, seven minute ride, complete with a taped commentary on the various sites which can be seen while up in the air. The views are incredible and the movement is slow enough that you can take pictures.
Also on Navy Pier is the Chicago Children's Museum, always fun for those with kids, and the only museum dedicated solely to stained glass, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass. This museum includes both secular and religious stained glass, most of which is from the Chicago area, and all of which is breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely worth a visit.
The Three Rivers
The train left Union Station on time, but soon got significantly behind schedule due to freight situations. However, since the train left around 9:30 pm, we were lucky enough to be asleep for the stoppages.
The Three Rivers cars are among the older Amtrak cars, and the sleeper was a kind that I had not encountered for many years. There were the usual chairs that turned into bunk beds, but the sleeper also included a separate bathroom with toilet and sink, unlike the sleepers on other lines. There were also single sleepers available. The Three Rivers did not have a full dining car, only a snack bar. Although those traveling in the sleepers received a free breakfast and lunch, the choices were limited. Nonetheless, the ride was very pleasant, with some spectacular scenery, such as that at Horseshoe Curve, a 19-mile U-shaped marvel of modern engineering between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. If you are heading east, make sure you sit on the right side of the train for the best view.
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