The Venue: South Shore Cultural Center

WindyCityRails 2013 will be held at the historic South Shore Cultural Center, located at 71st and South Shore Drive along the shores of Lake Michigan. Opened in 1905 as a luxurious private club, the South Shore Cultural Center is now owned by the Chicago Park District and sits on a 65-acre park complete with a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a beach.

Address

South Shore Cultural Center
7059 S South Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60649

Hotel Recommendations

Coming from out-of-town? Grab a downtown hotel near the Loop in downtown Chicago for convenient access to WindyCityRails via the Metra Electric District train or the #6 Jackson Park Express bus. Here a few conveniently located hotels:

• Hard Rock Hotel (near Millenium Station, two blocks from express bus)
• theWit (near Millenium Station, adjacent to express bus)
• Hotel Burnham (near Millenium Station, adjacent to express bus)
• Silversmith Hotel & Suites (near Millenium Station, one block from express bus)

Directions

Getting to the South Shore Cultural Center from downtown is quick and easy. Several options are available.

Join us on the Metra Electric District Train!

All aboard the WindyCityRails Train! Join WindyCityRails organizers and your fellow attendees at Millennium Station in downtown Chicago on each morning of the conference. Enter on the southwest corner of Randolph and Michigan. We’ll take the 7:35AM Metra Electric District Train to the conference venue.

One-way fares between downtown and South Shore Station are $3. Credit cards are accepted at Millennium Station, but only cash is accepted at South Shore Station. If paying with credit card, please purchase an additional ticket at Millennium Station for your return trip.

CTA Express Bus

Chicago Transit Authority’s #6 Jackson Park Express also provides convenient and frequent service between downtown and South Shore Cultural Center. Southbound bus stops downtown are located on every other block along State Street. The trip to South Shore Cultural Center takes about 40 minutes. Exit at 71st Street. One way fares are $2.25 for cash, or $2 when paid with a transit card.

Drive

By car, the South Shore Cultural Center is just minutes away from downtown via Lake Shore Drive. Get driving directions. Parking is available for $1 per hour.

Bike

Prefer to get around on two wheels? Ride your bike to WindyCityRails while observing the breathtaking scenery on Chicago’s Lakefront Trail. It’s about a 45 minute ride from downtown.