Finding the Sloop John B.

Location

The Sloop's summer residence is the Jackson Park Outer Harbor, located in the beautiful and historic neighborhood of South Shore. You'll find the harbor at the south end of Lake Shore Drive.

The address is 6400 S. Promontory Drive in case you don't like my directions and want to put it in Mapquest yourself.

Directions to Jackson Park Outer Harbor

Driving
CTA--"L" and bus
Metra
Self-propelling (biking/skating/walking . . . )

Driving

From the north:Get on Lake Shore Drive going south (you're on your own for that part!). You'll be taking Lake Shore Drive until it ends, about a mile south of the Museum of Science and Industry. Be sure to get and stay in the left hand lane once you pass the museum. There is actually a sign that says "Lake Shore Drive Ends," so you'll know when you get there.

Turn left, following the signs for US 41. You'll be curving around the harbor on your left. Stay in the left hand lane, which becomes a turning lane into the road to La Rabida Children's Hospital. There's actually a light there now, so when the powers that be grace you with the left-turn arrow, turn onto this road. When it forks, bear left and continue on the road straight past La Rabida (which will be on your right) and look for parking.

The harbor is on your left. There will be a gate that looks locked but it isn't; you can still open it. If you park closer to the parking lot entrance, walk down the parking lot ramp..

From the south: Get to 6700 South any way you can, including the Bishop Ford freeway north to the Stony Island exit and Stony Island north to 67th street, or the Dan Ryan north to whatever exit south of 67th street is open during construction and that street east to Stony Island and then north to 67th Street.

From 67th and Stony Island, head east to Jeffery Blvd. There is a park/golf course on the left, a gas station on the right, and a stoplight. Turn left at the light and get into the right lane immediately. Take the first right (US 41).

After the turn, you'll see the harbor on your left. Stay in the left hand lane, which becomes a turning lane into the road to La Rabida Children's Hospital. There's actually a light there now, so when the powers that be grace you with the left-turn arrow, turn onto this road. When it forks, bear left and continue on the road straight past La Rabida (which will be on your right) and look for parking.

The harbor is on your left. There will be a gate that looks locked but it isn't; you can still open it. If you park closer to the parking lot entrance, walk down the parking lot ramp.

CTA

Bus: Get downtown (you're on your own). Take the #6 bus (Jeffery Express it runs south down State Street between Lake and Congress, and then runs down Michigan to Balbo and turns at Balbo to get on Lake Shore Drive)--or better yet the #14 if it's at weekday rush hour (gotta call the CTA for this route but it's on State or Michigan for part of it's route) --to 67th and Jeffery. There is a golf course to the north and two gas stations on either side of the street to the south. From there you have two options: walk or another bus.

*Walk east across Jeffery, and then north across 67th street and the golf course to the end of Lake Shore Drive. You'll see the sailboat harbor on your right (there's a powerboat harbor on the left. You don't want to go there). Cross the street (I suggest with the light, here!) and you'll end up on the bike path. Take the path east (a right when you get across the street), and then turn left on the first street you come to. There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks locked, but it's not. Come on down!

-OR-

*Take the #67 bus east. *Every other* #67 goes to LaRabida, so ask the driver if he is going there. Take the bus to La Rabida, and you'll see the harbor on your left. Walk to the gate (which looks locked but isn't) and come on down!

"L" and bus: (if the red or green line is more convenient for you)

Take the Red Line (Dan Ryan/Howard) to 67th street or take the #67 (67th street) bus to the end of the line (every other 67th street bus goes to La Rabida and hence the harbor). If you don't want to wait for the La Rabida 67, take any 67 to 67th and Jeffery and follow the directions for walking from 67th and Jeffery above. From La Rabida you'll see the harbor on your left. Walk to the gate (which looks locked but isn't) and come on down!

ON WEEKENDS DURING THE SUMMER ONLY--Take the Green Line (the branch that turns *east* , not the one that turns west--it's every other train) to the end of the line at 63rd and University. Take the 63rd street bus east to the end of the line--that will be the beach at 63rd.

You'll see the harbor to the south. Walk along the bike path until turns to the left (at the end of Lake Shore Drive). Take the path east (the harbor will still be on your left) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left). There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks locked, but it's not. Come on down!

Metra

Take the "Metra Electric District South Shore Branch" (NOT the "South Shore Line", which is a different animal) train from either the Randolph, Van Buren, or 12th Street stop on Michigan Avenue stations. You have two choices. You can get off at the "Bryn Mawr" stop (at 71st and Jeffery, named after Bryn Mawr school--which was my grammar school (and which has since been renamed) -- just down the block) or the "South Shore" stop (71st and South Shore Drive, across from the South Shore Country Club). The Bryn Mawr stop is slightly closer, the South Shore stop is a nicer walk along the lake.

--From Bryn Mawr stop, walk north (the tracks run east/west at that point, so if you face the direction the train was headed in and turn 90 degrees to your left, that will be north) along the right hand side of the street through the next light (67th street) and along the park/golf course until you reach south end of Lake Shore Drive. You'll see the sailboat harbor on your right (there's a powerboat harbor on the left. You don't want to go there). Cross the street (I suggest with the light, here!) and you'll end up on the bike path. Take the path east (turn right when you get across the street) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left). There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks locked, but it's not. Come on down!

--From South Shore stop, cross the street to the north to reach the entrance of the country club. Follow the sidewalk/bike path north and west along the country club golf course and the lake and the park and parking lot until you reach the first street on your right. There will be a sign for La Rabida hospital. Turn right and head uphill (this is Chicago, so this uphill stuff is relative) and bear around to the left when it forks. Walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club (on the left hand side of the street). It looks locked, but it's not. Come on down!

Self-propelling

Take the bike path south. You'll know you're close when you pass the Museum of Science and Industry and then the large beach house for 63rd street beach. The harbor is just south and east of the beach house. Continue south, turn left with the path as it continues around the south end of the harbor until you reach the first street. There is a sign for La Rabida Children's hospital. Turn left onto the street. The road goes uphill (this is relative, it's Chicago) and at the fork bear left around the harbor. Take the road to the end and come down the parking lot ramp. Bring a cable lock if you have one; there is a bike rack to the left, beyond the small white icehouse, between the mast rack and the dinghy rack.