<p>O'Hare is the closest I have ever been to Chicago so I have very little knowledge about the city of Chicago. I looked at the map but all I can figure out is that there is a subway line going near the University of Chicago and it is couple miles south of downtown. Is the University located in crowded area of the city or on the outer boundary of the city?</p>
<p>Crowded area can mean many things. It is 8 miles south of the loop and very close to Lake Michigan. The Hyde Park neighborhood has no towering buildings, but it is a real and active part of the city. It does have the Museum of Science & Industry, which draws tens of thousands of visitors a year. One thing that is fun, is to download Google Earth and take a look from above.</p>