Jermys, or other near Chicagoans, a travel ?

[looseseal]

We want to take a weekend trip to Chicago this fall. In the past trips we've made, we've always stayed in a north suburb, closest to the northmost blue line CTA stop. We always used to drive to Chicago, so we wanted to make sure to have free parking, ha! This time we have a 2 y.o. and we're planning on taking Amtrak. He loves the train, and it means not having him in a carseat for 4 hours!
I'm curious about what you would do if you were to do this trip. Would you take Amtrak into Union station, and get a hotel downtown? Or would you take Amtrak to a suburb and take the commuter train into town? It looks like it stops at Naperville, Joliet, La Grange, and Summit.
I've got to run out for a bit, but I'll be back in about an hour. I'd appreciate any thoughts you have!

[Jermys]

It would be cheaper to stay in a suburb and take the Metra downtown than to stay downtown. And if you stay in Naperville, we could get coffee or something! And also, there's an awesome children's museum in Naperville that your kiddo would LOVE.

[looseseal]

We'd probably be getting on the train in Galesburg, IL. I don't think I'd mind a bus ride for a short part because my kid digs buses, too. Haha, mostly I just don't want to have to drive or park. I wish my town had public transportation, and it's only 25,000 people!

Jermys, I would love to meet you! You rank in my top MLers because in a post a long time ago you offered to teach me to drive stick shift. I get the impression that you totally would, too, even though you don' t know me. Thanks for the tips, off to look up Naperville hotels!

[Jermys]

I totally would!!

Also, my mother and my Gammy were born in Galesburg!