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The title of this article could be “What to do 45,000 Tourists are in your way.” Unfortunately, that isn’t an exaggeration. A too crowded Chicago is a reality over Marathon weekend. If you are a runner, or supporting a runner, it will be a great weekend for you. If you are a traveler who just happened to have a day off of work or school, well, it’s a different story.
I don’t know of a worse time to visit Chicago than Marathon weekend. Yes, Obama’s visits are a cluster of security, and yes, the bi-annual Stanley Cup parade closes down the Loop. None of this compares to Marathon weekend. For those of you who classify yourselves as suffering from an anxiety disorder, prepare for a lot of intentional breathing. And if you’ve already bought your ticket and somehow scored a hotel room? Arm yourself with a strategy. With seemingly endless road closures and scores of people at every tourist attraction, you’ve got no time to “wing it.”
1) Travel By Boat
Anyone who has been to Chicago knows that the ultimate Chicago activity is an architectural boat tour. When 29 neighborhoods fully or partially shut down street traffic, there is no better way to see the city than to schedule such a tour. With various tour operators like the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Shoreline, boats will be running every hour or half hour. Between just these two companies, there are 43 available tours on the Sunday of the marathon.
If you’d rather skip the tour and the marathon closures, the Chicago Water Taxi is an excellent way to get across the city in great time. While running a shortened route, stops will be available at Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie station, and Chinatown from 9:45 AM until 6:30 PM.
2) Make your Saturday Dinner Reservations after 8 PM
Yes, these runners will engage in “carbo-loading” the night before the race, but with a 5:30 AM check-in, these speedsters will be in bed early. Take advantage of the many open tables at great restaurants by calling to see what is available. Just last week, Topolobampo had a table for five available at 8:30 PM on Saturday night.
3)Get in Line at Attractions Prior to Opening
If you must get to the Art Institute or any attractions in Museum Campus, grab a book and get in line an hour before it opens. It won’t be pretty, but at least you’ll have a chance of visiting without stumbling over other tourists. Even better, get a Chicago CityPass to skip the lines.
4) Add 45-60 minutes to Every Excursion on Marathon Sunday (Before 3 PM)
Even on foot, getting around during the marathon will be challenging. For hours, many roads will be closed for the safety of competitors as well as bystanders. This means that even if all you want to do is cross the street, you will have to wait for the explicit authorization of a police officer or race official. Nothing will be easy to access, so anticipate delays and consider listening to a few podcasts while you wait.
5)Forget about that Spa Appointment
If you don’t think that every runner has already booked a post-race rub down for Monday, you’re in for a shock. Look into an afternoon tea instead at Chicago institutions like Russian Tea Time or the Drake Hotel.
If you aren’t able to get to certain attractions due to closures or crowding, embrace the race and cheer on the runners. It is a great way to see the very best of people, coming together to encourage and cheer for one another. With the first 25 miles of the course completely flat, the last mile is the most challenging. It includes an uphill race on Roosevelt Road onto Columbus. To avoid the finish line masses, try to find a spot leading up to the last mile. I like Michigan Avenue in the South Loop or Chinatown off of Archer.
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