Travel

Flight

ORD & MDW

Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) & Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) Both airports provide easy access to the city by taxi, ride share, or public transit. CTA is our public transit system and it's definitely the cheapest option. Ride shares have gone up in price recently; if your Lyft/Uber is >$45, a cab will probably be the cheaper option (look for signs to cab line). From Midway, you can take the orange line into the city for ~$2.50. It's a relatively safe line, especially during normal business hours. From O'Hare, you can take the blue line into the city for ~$2.50. It's also pretty well-traveled by commuters during the day and I've always felt safe. Our recommended hotels are just a few (short) blocks off the orange and blue lines so you shouldn't need to worry about transferring.

Train

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)

You can buy tickets for the CTA at kiosks inside the el stations. Most trains are above elevated (above ground) which is why we call it the "el", however portions of the red and blue lines are underground in the loop (downtown, it's called the loop because the elevated trains loop around the downtown). Tickets work for both trains and buses. There's sometimes a transfer fee when changing buses or trains, so I recommend putting an extra dollar on your ticket just in case. Email elyeager@gmail.com if you have questions about getting around Chicago! Garfield Park Conservatory is off the green line. Our recommended hotels are accessible by multiple lines (all of the lines EXCEPT the pink line). Wrigley Field and Cellular Field are off the red line in different directions. We live about 4 blocks off the brown line. The link below to the Transit App will greatly assist you!

Travel Note

Getting to Garfield Park Conservatory

We will have a return shuttle service from Garfield Park to Kimpton Monaco and Chicago Athletic Hotel between 8-11pm. There are three options to get to Garfield Park: - Drive - there's parking - Train - it's off the green line, see note below - Grab a ride share - we recommend Curb, Lyft, or Uber The hotels listed are a straight shot to the wedding venue via the green line. We recommend taking the el to the venue, but don't particularly recommend riding the green line back to your hotel after dark. Here's a sweet video about the Desert Room Caretaker & an Americana Agave. Credit to Ellen for introducing Emily to all things GPC.

Travel Note

Venue Vaccination Requirements

As of January 7th, the Garfield Park Conservatory requires all visitors (ages 5 and up) to show proof of vaccination to enter. Proof can include a physical vaccine card, a photocopy of the card, a digital record or app on your phone, or a printed record from a vaccine provider. Those 16 and over must also show a photo ID. Masks are also still required to be worn over your mouth and nose unless eating/drinking.

Hotel

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago

We have a small block of rooms for guests set aside at this pretty downtown hotel. If you're able to book a north-facing room, you might see the Chicago River and its draw bridges from your window. The Kimpton is just south of the Magnificent Mile, around the corner from the Chicago Theater, & a 5-minute walk from Magnolia Bakery, the New York-based cupcakery made famous 20+ years ago by Sex in the City. We recommend you order their cupcakes with a side of banana pudding. You may book the following rates until FEBRUARY 16th: King Room – $139.00 Queen/Queen – $159.00 River–View Suite – $239.00 You may reserve through the link below (make sure to specify room type and date). Or call 1-800-KIMPTON (1-800-546-7866) and ask for the GROUP RATE under the “YEAGER-SORRELS Wedding Room Block” OR the Block Code “A23”. If you require nights before March 18 or after March 20, please reserve by telephone.

Discount Code - Block Code A23

Hotel

Chicago Athletic Hotel

The Chicago Athletic Hotel is a chef's kiss to vintage Chicago style (post-fire). This "painstakingly-restored 1893 Venetian Gothic hotel" is deemed "undeniably cool" by hotel critics. (It's name is a nod to its former life as a private men's athletic club before the hotel conversion.) Just steps from the Art Institute, the CAH it looks out onto Millennium Park: home of The Bean (Cloud Gate), Buckingham Fountain, Maggie Daley Park, and Lurie Garden. It's an easy walk to Magnificent Mile, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, and more. Call: (844) 312-2221 to book a reservation. Reference the Yeager and Sorrels Wedding Block for group rate. You may book the following rates for the nights of March 19 & 20 until 30 DAYS from arrival: Classic King - $199 Classic Two Double-Beds - $219 Click the link below to reserve or call (844) 312-2221. Reference the Yeager and Sorrels Wedding Block for group rate. (CAH is in the Hyatt Hotel collection.)

Travel Note

SpotHero

One of the two largest parking apps in Chicago. They'll save you money if you park downtown, but they don't offer in/out options.

Travel Note

ParkingWhiz

One of the two largest parking apps in Chicago. They'll save you money if you park downtown, but they don't offer in/out options.

Rental Car

To Drive or not to drive?

Chicago is a drivable city, depending on your destination. It's NOT advisable to rent a car if you're staying downtown. In fact, if you're driving to Chicago and staying at one of our selected hotels, we recommend downloading and using a parking app (see recommendations above) to find lower overnight parking rates. (Hotels are $50+.) If you're spending more than 2-3 days in the Windy City, you may want to divide your trip between downtown hotels and an AirBNB in one of Chicago's fun neighborhoods. We can recommend the neighborhood based on what you want to see. Lincoln Park, Lakeview (includes Wrigleyville), West Loop/Fulton Market, West Town/Ukranian Village, Wicker Park, Bucktown, South Loop, Pilson, and Andersonville are all great neighborhoods to visit. As long as you can parallel park, you'll be able to drive and park in all but South Loop, and West Loop (a few of the others may be tricky for legal overnight parking, look into Spot Hero / Parking Whiz).