How to spend 4 hours at ORD?
 

Do anyone have suggestions how to spend 4 hours at ORD when you do not have lounge access?

I am asking on behalf of friends flying in from Europe. This is their first visit to the US.

I have asked them to see if they can catch an earlier flightwhen they arrive at ORD. If that does not work, should I recommend them to take the train to the loop, inhale the atmosphere, and return to ORD?

I don't know about going downtown - they have to allow about 45 minutes each way and assuming that they have 4 hours and they want to be at the gate for boarding about 30 minutes before the next flight, it really only leaves them about an hour in the city. That is not even enough time to go to the top of the Sears tower.

I have done that before. I took the train to downtown, ate breakfast at McDonald's, walked around for about 15 minutes, and then took the train back. I had 4.5 hours between flights (I like to be at the gate an hour before departure). It's more interesting than being at ORD for 4 hours.

I agree: In 4 hours, you have time to go downtown, and spend half and hour or so on the river, or on Michigan avenue.
The only problem could be the lugages.

Unfortunately, you'd spend most of your time on an unpleasant El train viewing an unpleasant aspect of Chicago: the forever clogged Kennedy Expressway.

Somewhat related: for travelers with young kids there is a Chicago Children's Museum play area that is excellent for at least 30 minutes of time-killing; sorry, can't remember which terminal it's in.

There are some shops in T1 that are ok.

But seeing as it is post 911 since your thread posted, you can understand that 4 hrs is really not much time to do anything at ORD anymore.

Kiddie area is in Terminal 2. Fun to look at for big kids too.

Also in T1 the Berghoff (c-concourse) offers german food and beer. Old downtown Chicago restaurant.