Home to some of the world's oldest skyscrapers as well as excellent museums, theatres, lively nightlife and modern architecture, Chicago is one of the largest cities in the US. A city of business, culture, and first class services, Chicago hosts also interesting historical sights, enjoyable city beaches and excellent shopping facilities, not to mention the spectator sports and entertainment scene of the Windy City. In other words, Chicago is a varied Midwestern metropolis with plenty of things to draw city people into its arms.
Museums. Chicago hosts some of the best museums of the United States. Most of the museums in Chicago are located in the Museum Campus, showing variable things from marine history to space exhibitions and Tyrannosaurus footprints. The city offers also plenty of interesting places for art lovers, not to mention the architectural highlights of Chicago which range from the early creations of Frank Lloyd Wright to some of the world's first skyscrapers. Also of interest, Chicago is a good place for exploring ethnic history. The city hosts not only one of the biggest black minorities of the US, but also several ethnic communities acting as a showroom of different cultures.
Activities. If you are looking for action, Chicago is the home of excellent possibilities for shopping in Chicago, as well as a place of lively nightlife in Chicago. During the daytime you might want to enjoy the parks of the city, such as Millennium Park and Grant Park, which offer plenty of facilities for activities such as skating, volleyball, tennis and golf. There are also excellent theatres in Chicago, as well as spectator sports, for example basketball and ice hockey, which are a highly popular way to spend an evening in Chicago.
Culture and Sports. You can visit regular concerts in Chicago's popular entertainment scene. The city also has some enjoyable beaches on the shores of Lake Michigan, offering facilities for not only sunbathing, but also for water sports such as surfing in Chicago. If you want to combine fresh air with touring in the Windy City, biking in Chicago is a popular sport, as is also golf in Chicago. After a busy day in the city you might want to enjoy the modern spas in Chicago.
Chicago, Windy city with historical, cultural and architectural sights
Located in Illinois in the northwestern part of the United States Midwest by the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is subject to prairie winds making it the Windy City, a nomination which also refers to politics. Chicago is a bustling metropolis with nearly nine million inhabitants in its urban area and with an astonishing variety of cultural and historical attractions around.Museums. Chicago hosts some of the best museums of the United States. Most of the museums in Chicago are located in the Museum Campus, showing variable things from marine history to space exhibitions and Tyrannosaurus footprints. The city offers also plenty of interesting places for art lovers, not to mention the architectural highlights of Chicago which range from the early creations of Frank Lloyd Wright to some of the world's first skyscrapers. Also of interest, Chicago is a good place for exploring ethnic history. The city hosts not only one of the biggest black minorities of the US, but also several ethnic communities acting as a showroom of different cultures.
Activities. If you are looking for action, Chicago is the home of excellent possibilities for shopping in Chicago, as well as a place of lively nightlife in Chicago. During the daytime you might want to enjoy the parks of the city, such as Millennium Park and Grant Park, which offer plenty of facilities for activities such as skating, volleyball, tennis and golf. There are also excellent theatres in Chicago, as well as spectator sports, for example basketball and ice hockey, which are a highly popular way to spend an evening in Chicago.
Culture and Sports. You can visit regular concerts in Chicago's popular entertainment scene. The city also has some enjoyable beaches on the shores of Lake Michigan, offering facilities for not only sunbathing, but also for water sports such as surfing in Chicago. If you want to combine fresh air with touring in the Windy City, biking in Chicago is a popular sport, as is also golf in Chicago. After a busy day in the city you might want to enjoy the modern spas in Chicago.
Practical information for your trip to Chicago
Climate in Chicago is familiar with big seasonal changes.
Photo: Ninjaboodles, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Summers in the city are hot, with high temperatures especially between June and August. Winters of Chicago on the other hand are cool, and near freezing temperatures are often met between December and February, which is also the period when Chicago occasionally meets snowfall. Overall, Chicago is at its best from April to October, but if you are coming for the indoor attractions, you can visit Chicago anytime.
The airport of Chicago is one of the world's busiest. Flights to Chicago are available from most countries of the world, in addition to which the city can also be reached by road or train. For moving around in the city, there is an efficient public transport system provided by Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), operating frequent trains and buses in the city area and to most of the suburbs around Chicago. The city blocks of Chicago are logically numbered throughout the city, so you will probably find your way around even with rental cars in Chicago. However, due to the heavy traffic in Chicago they are not a very popular choice.
Tourist services in Chicago are excellent both in amount and in quality. You can find numerous excellent hotels in Chicago, as well as pretty much everything you are prepared to hope for in the restaurants of Chicago. Discount cards, such as the CityPass and the Go Chicago Card offer free admission and discounts to some tourist attractions and restaurants in Chicago.
Safety. Although Chicago is a big city with big city problems such as crime, most of the crime occurs in few areas which are easy to avoid. Overall, the city has improved its safety image during the last few years and is today a quite safe travel destination, especially if you avoid walking alone after dark and stay away from suburbs with bad reputation. Loop, the central business area of Chicago, should also be avoided after dark.
