Southwest Rapid Rewards - Best day trip: STL, BNA, MDW, or BWI?

Hi all,

I have $50-some odd dollars in TTF that will expire in early October, and I have no upcoming travel plans. Rather than have that money go to waste, I thought I'd possibly take a cheap day trip out of my home airport (DTW). I'm a graduate student, so my time is flexible, I'm interested in seeing new cities, and I thought that this would be a cheap way to have fun and possibly score a VDB along the way (I know that this is unlikely, however).

Out of DTW, the relatively cheap non-stop flights are to MDW, BWI, BNA, and STL. What I'm wondering is: which of these airports are relatively close to downtown (i.e. won't require a $40 taxi ride each way), and which contain some interesting things to do if I fly in around 10am and fly out around 7pm? Mind you that I'll be flying when flights are cheapest -- so a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday (most likely).

Thanks!

Both MDW and STL have trains to downtown for about $2-3 each way.

If you're on a budget, most everything interesting in STL is free: Zoo, Museums, etc. Chicago obviously has more to see, but be prepared to pay for it. Also, you can pretty much see everything worthwhile in under 8 hours in STL via MetroLink train.

.....and BWI has light rail commuter train from airport to the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore.....there are free city buses from Inner Harbor which go to the scenic or touristy areas of the city

....also from BWI, there is a connection bus to the Amtrak/MARC train station at BWI (about a 10min ride) which would get you to trains to Wash., DC Union Station (abouta 30-45 min ride)......from there it's walkable to Capitol and Mall museums, or use the DC Metro subway.

My vote for least-time-flying, most-time-on-ground would be MDW......airport subway runs right to downtown "Loop" for museums and shopping.....and subways to trendy or historic neighborhoods....no need for car.

In St Louis, the airport rail line would take you to Forest Park for their art museum, the "Central West End" trendy/historic area and downtown for the riverfront, Arch and casinos.

Nashville generally requires a car to see its sights.....unless what you want to see is all downtown riverfront and Vanderbilt areas.

enjoy a day off from the grad skool grind......I remember it well.....

I'd go for MDW myself. With the hour time change, it adds an extra hour to see the city anhd the orange line takes less than a half hour to get from MDW to the loop.

Some of the museums and the adler and acquarium used to have one day midweek when admission was free. You could plan your day around which attractions are free to get into that day as well.

Also plenty of shopping to do. And if you like to bike you can rent a bike and bike along the lake michigan bike trail.

I'd pick MDW as well. Tons of stuff to do, much relatively close together, easy public transportation to max your usable time.

I understand money may be tight, but if you spend a night you could get a lot more sightseeing in. The youth hostel, which is decent, is only $30 a night for their cheapest option and is pretty close to an Orange Line stop.

The guest house in Greektown across from UIC is also decent. It's *very* basic accommodation but it's clean and the few times I stayed there in my college days my fellow guests were decent people (grad school types on a budget).

My vote is for MDW as well.

I'd pick MDW as well. Tons of stuff to do, much relatively close together, easy public transportation to max your usable time.

I understand money may be tight, but if you spend a night you could get a lot more sightseeing in. The youth hostel, which is decent, is only $30 a night for their cheapest option and is pretty close to an Orange Line stop.

And if the OP stays the night he can also buy attraction package to see all the main things at a pretty reasonable price and also get priority line treatment.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! It sounds like it's either MDW or STL, with MDW with more "votes". I've been to Chicago twice for conferences, but I've only explored the area of Michigan Ave near Millenium Park and the Art Institute. I'll look further into what I'd like to do in these two cities, and watch the fares for a couple weeks to see if I can snag a $49 OW fare...

Getting here late, but here is my $.02.

MDW, train to DT, hit the museums, walk Michigan Avenue, lunch at Navy Pier, ride to the top of either Sears (used to be) Tower or John Hancock Building.

STL OK but the AP is a haul to DT.

Forget BNA, my home AP. Lots to do DT, but the good stuff is at night. Not an easy way to get from AP to DT cheap.

MDW, train to DT, hit the museums, walk Michigan Avenue, lunch at Navy Pier, ride to the top of either Sears (used to be) Tower or John Hancock Building.


There's no better place to spend a day (or weekend) than Chicago. The Hancock Building is very easy to get to from Michigan Ave--it's right on it. It cost me about $20, IIRC.

I'd vote for lunch at Quartino up at State/Ontario. It is a fantastic place to have lunch, especially if the weather is nice and you can grab a seat outside.

You don't want to go to STL. No offense to anyone from STL, but there's a reason Missouri is called the State of Misery. :D I enjoy going St. Louis, but Chicago wins...hands down.

There's no better place to spend a day (or weekend) than Chicago. The Hancock Building is very easy to get to from Michigan Ave--it's right on it. It cost me about $20, IIRC.

I'd vote for lunch at Quartino up at State/Ontario. It is a fantastic place to have lunch, especially if the weather is nice and you can grab a seat outside.

You don't want to go to STL. No offense to anyone from STL, but there's a reason Missouri is called the State of Misery. :D I enjoy going St. Louis, but Chicago wins...hands down.

The last time I was in the Hancock Tower (A looooong time ago) you could take the express to the lounge, but you have to buy a drink. At that time, a drink was the same cost as the ride to the observation deck. Better yet, the lounge is a floor higher that the observation deck. Double check this info. As I said, it was a long time.

Sports fan? Consider team schedules depending on what season you are traveling!

Have done day trips (or overnight for night games) to all of those cities recently (except STL...so far) to see a baseball or hockey game.

The last time I was in the Hancock Tower (A looooong time ago) you could take the express to the lounge, but you have to buy a drink. At that time, a drink was the same cost as the ride to the observation deck. Better yet, the lounge is a floor higher that the observation deck. Double check this info. As I said, it was a long time.


1. I vote for MDW / Chicago as well but I'm biased :)

2. Yes, that is correct - don't waste your money paying to go to the Hancock Observation Deck. Just say you want to go to "Signature Lounge" (96th floor) which is actually 2 floors above the observation deck (94th floor) and get a drink/snack/dessert - pricey but still cheaper than the observation deck. The only advantage of the observation deck is that you can "walk outside" and experience the wind. Some French company just bought the observation deck and are planning to make it a lot spiffier but for now, just go to Signature Lounge.

3. A cab from MDW to the Magnificent Mile (N Michigan Avenue) area will be about $32 - $35 with tip.

Have fun!

1. I vote for MDW / Chicago as well but I'm biased :)

2. Yes, that is correct - don't waste your money paying to go to the Hancock Observation Deck. Just say you want to go to "Signature Lounge" (96th floor) which is actually 2 floors above the observation deck (94th floor) and get a drink/snack/dessert - pricey but still cheaper than the observation deck. The only advantage of the observation deck is that you can "walk outside" and experience the wind. Some French company just bought the observation deck and are planning to make it a lot spiffier but for now, just go to Signature Lounge.

3. A cab from MDW to the Magnificent Mile (N Michigan Avenue) area will be about $32 - $35 with tip.

Have fun!

I agree with the signature room unless the OP wants to on the outside area. A drink in the signature room last time i was at handcock was about the same price as going to the observation deck and you get a free drink without the wait if there is one. I prefer the hancock tower to the Sears tower and it is in a more convenient location.

I would skip suggestion #3 of a cab though and just take the train. It's only $2 or $2.50 each way and depending on traffic it can be faster than a taxi

Sports fan? Consider team schedules depending on what season you are traveling!

Have done day trips (or overnight for night games) to all of those cities recently (except STL...so far) to see a baseball or hockey game.

Chicago Fire run a shuttle bus ($1.75 fare each way) from MDW (the end of the orange line) to the stadium on gamedays. Show up early and tailgate with Section 8 in the (north?) parking lot. Party in the stadium during the match. Stumble back to the shuttle afterwards. Go back to the terminal and find a nice chair to sleep in waiting for the morning flight home.

/cheap grad student

I would skip suggestion #3 of a cab though and just take the train. It's only $2 or $2.50 each way and depending on traffic it can be faster than a taxi

Only issue with the train is the very "rough" neighborhoods it runs through. I wouldn't do a train to MDW very late at night.

Thanks for the tips on the lounge/bar. I'll have to remember that.

I am a college student living in St. Louis right now and being from New York, I would have to say its quite dreary. Having been to Chicago several times, I would definitely go there over STL for a day visit.

Since you haven't been to either before, the only advantage I can think of to see STL over Chicago is that one day might not be enough to satisfy you for Chicago :p St. Louis is more manageable in one day. Maybe go up the arch, have lunch in Central West End, take a walk through Forest Park or the botanical gardens.

STL is no slacker when it comes to sports though (Cardinals, Rams, Blues). Not sure I would take a day trip to a new city for the first time just to see a sports game though. But that's just me.

If you're on a budget, most everything interesting in STL is free: Zoo, Museums, etc. Chicago obviously has more to see, but be prepared to pay for it. Also, you can pretty much see everything worthwhile in under 8 hours in STL via MetroLink train.

Depending on the day of the week, some of Chicago's museums are free.

Depending on the day of the week, some of Chicago's museums are free.

Here are a couple good webstes for that info:
http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/events___special_events/special_events/tourism/Museum_Free_Days.html

http://www.chicagoparent.com/picks/museum-free-days

Looks like you have to be an IL for most of the museums now though. It didn't use to be the case.

Another good source is mr cheaps guide to chicago. A friend of mine used that book when he was in chicago and it gave out a lot of tips to enjoying the city for free or cheap.

Only issue with the train is the very "rough" neighborhoods it runs through. I wouldn't do a train to MDW very late at night.

Thanks for the tips on the lounge/bar. I'll have to remember that.

Hogwash. The Orange Line is fine. I've ridden it at many different hours of the day and night (it doesn't run "very late" because the last train is either midnight or 1 am, unlike the Blue Line to O'Hare which is 24 hours, and nonetheless, the OP initially said he was planning a 7-ish pm flight back anyway). Never encountered any problems on the Orange Line.

Hogwash. The Orange Line is fine. I've ridden it at many different hours of the day and night (it doesn't run "very late" because the last train is either midnight or 1 am, unlike the Blue Line to O'Hare which is 24 hours, and nonetheless, the OP initially said he was planning a 7-ish pm flight back anyway). Never encountered any problems on the Orange Line.

Agree never had a problem on the Orange line at night to the airport

I vote you go off the board and take the extra time and head to Boston. When you land, you're a subway stop away from the heart of the city. Hit the North End, Fanuel Hall, Walk the Freedon Trail, hit Old North Church, walk Back Bay, tour Fenway and Harvard. It all right there... You wont even need a cab.

Yea, you may need a connection but cities like Boston and NYC are walking cities. You've got it all right there and you'll probably make up a good chunk of the connection time as you're in downtown when you land.

I vote you go off the board and take the extra time and head to Boston. When you land, you're a subway stop away from the heart of the city. Hit the North End, Fanuel Hall, Walk the Freedon Trail, hit Old North Church, walk Back Bay, tour Fenway and Harvard. It all right there... You wont even need a cab.

Yea, you may need a connection but cities like Boston and NYC are walking cities. You've got it all right there and you'll probably make up a good chunk of the connection time as you're in downtown when you land.

The OP said they wanted to use funds to take a CHEAP trip from DTW. I agree with your views on boston, but boston is pretty expensive to fly to from DTW for some reason.