Lee Gunter writes:

> This is a great idea ... and I'd like to take this a step further.  If
>  any list lurkers from the Chicago area know the train system to and
>  from O'Hare and can advise those of us coming from the backwater how to
>  get from the airport to the Pier and area hotels via the system, I'm
>  sure your recommendations would be welcome.

There are two maps on the web that map using the CTA easy. The first is the
route map at:

     http://www.transitchicago.com/l-map.htm

The CTA station closest to the Navy Pier will be on the Red Line at East
Grand Avenue, just north of the downtown Loop.

The second is a city street map that can be obtained at:

     http://maps.yahoo.com/yahoo/

At the prompts, type in:

     E Grand Ave & N. Lake Shore Dr
     Chicago, IL

and when the map comes up, ask for the larger version to see a more complete
map. Because I have no idea of precisely where the convention center is on
the Navy Pier, nor do I remember precisely how far inland from Lake Shore
Drive the CTA is, I would anticipate a short walk of a half mile or so.

Wirt Atmar
(all of this advice is coming to directly from the heart of South Chicago --
south being defined here as 1500 miles from the city center)