Chicago is the third most populous city in the United States and the most populous city in the American Midwest, with approximately 2.7 million residents. Its metropolitan area (also called "Chicagoland"), which extends into Indiana and Wisconsin, is the third-largest in the United States, after New York City and Los Angeles, with an estimated 9.8 million people.
Chi-Town as many call her dearly, is a huge vibrant city and sprawling metropolitan area. It is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the first builder of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed. It is one of the world's great cities, and yet the metropolitan luxuries of theater, shopping, and fine dining have barely put a dent in real Midwestern friendliness. It's a city with a swagger, but without the surliness or even the fake smiles that can be found in other cities.
As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find; its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of huge Lake Michigan, a first impression that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks and public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of architecture in the world.
With a wealth of iconic sights and neighborhoods to explore, there's enough to fill a visit of weeks or even months without ever seeing the end. Prepare to cover a lot of ground: the meaning of Chicago is only found in movement, through its subways and archaic elevated tracks, and eyes raised to the sky.
Many visitors never make it past the attractions in Chicago's large central area, but there are also many attractions to be found in the city's other districts. The city consists of three large Sides (the North Side, the South Side, and the West Side) each named according to its direction from the downtown area, or the Loop as it is called. Citizens tend to identify strongly with their neighborhood within the city, reflecting real differences in culture and place. Rivalries between the North and South Sides sometimes run deep, while people from the West Side are usually free agents in critical issues like baseball loyalty.
Chicago is a vibrant metropolis teeming with art, culture, music and recreational activities. It's home to some of the most famous professional sports franchises in the country -- and some of the most ardent fans. First-time visitors to "Chi-Town" may be overwhelmed with the plethora of tourist attractions, especially if their time in town is limited. There are many ways to explore significant portions of the Windy City and discover off-the-beaten-track gems while doing so.
Here are some mini suggestions as what to do in this great, amazing city:
Suggestion 1
Take the "L." Chicago has an excellent transportation system, including the "L," or elevated train tracks that run throughout the city. Tourists can hop on a number of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses or trains to get to concerts, museums, sporting events, parks and popular attractions like the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. You can buy fare cards and passes from vending machines at some train stations, online at the CTA website or from certain currency exchanges, grocery stores and drugstores throughout the city and suburbs.
Suggestion 2
Cruise Chicago's waterways. Enjoy a boat ride on the Chicago River and admire the city's architecture. Shoreline Sightseeing offers one-hour cruises that pass by the Wrigley Building, Marina City, the Tribune Tower and dozens of historic Chicago buildings. A special St. Patrick's Day Luncheon Cruise gives tourists a chance to enjoy Irish food while getting a glimpse of the river dyed a bright green for St. Paddy's. The over-21 crowd can enjoy a special 90-minute Brew Cruise of Lake Michigan, featuring local beers, snacks and a cash bar. Wendella, a Chicago institution for 75 years, offers many boat tours of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Its romantic two-hour Chicago at Sunset Cruise glides along Lake Michigan at sunset and ends in Monroe Harbor for a viewing of the Buckingham Fountain Light Show.
Suggestion 3
Walk your way to culture -- and food. "The essential to budget travel is to prepare ahead. When it occurs to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved trips and/or going to see new destinations we have never been before, the truth of cost and budgeting is always in the back of our heads. Considering and expending our travel budget carefully is a main concern for most families. Minimizing consuming and expenses, while still enjoying your vacation to its fullest, is the key to certain achievements and fiscal responsibility. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thinking behind saving money while vacationing is simple: Even if your personal budget is highly small, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also recalling that while traveling, no matter whether on a finances or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a huge vacation or travel costs!..". Most travel experts, destination connoisseurs and Chicagoans will tell you, it is the most walkable city in the U.S. From the Loop business district to the shops of the Magnificent Mile, you can enjoy the sights while toning your body and getting some fresh air. There are dozens of guided walking tours in Chicago, covering every subject from architecture and theater to food and outdoor sculpture. Chicago Food Planet combines walking tours of Chinatown, Bucktown/Wicker Park and the Near North side with stops at favorite local restaurants and hot dog stands. Chicago Ghost Investigations leads participants to little-known haunted sites, while Chicago Savvy Tours offers a 90-minute trek through downtown Chicago.
Suggestion 4
Explore some of America's best museums. Within a few miles along Chicago's lakefront and Michigan Avenue, you can visit several of the most acclaimed cultural institutions in the country. Admire "A Sunday on La Grande" by Georges Seurat and other paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago. Afterwards, you can take a walk through nearby Millennium Park or some of the best stores in the world. The Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry are a short bus or taxi ride away, or you can take the Chicago Architecture Foundation Highlights by Bus tour, which covers such notable areas as the Loop, Hyde Park, the Gold Coast, the lakefront and historic neighbourhoods. The tour includes stops at works by such internationally renowned architects as Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Rem Koolhaas and others.
Suggestion 5
Look for freebies. The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events sponsors movie screenings and other free or donation-suggested events around the city. The Adler Planetarium, Field Museum and other cultural institutions have free admission a few times a year or more. Admission to the 49-acre Lincoln Park Zoo near the lakefront is always free. The Chicago Botanic Garden, in suburban Glencoe, has close to 30 specialized gardens, like the Japanese and English Oak Meadow, that tourists can explore for free.
Chicago holds a reputation in North America for being a city of culture, with opulent art, architecture and shopping venues that appeal to people from all walks of life. From enjoying an amazing and spectacular views of the city and Lake Michigan while dining in the Signature Room at the 95th on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue, a 100-storey building with a screened outdoor observatory to having an unforgettable lunch on a salad of tomato, mozzarella, basil and balsamic dressing in the Garden Restaurant courtyard at the Art Institute of Chicago, or simply enjoy a draft beer at the historic Berghoff restaurant, one of the city's oldest, on Adams Street in the Loop, or watch a spectacular fireworks display from the patio of Riva restaurant on Navy Pier, a cultural centre originally built as a municipal wharf and used for naval training in World War Two.
Tour architect Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio. Wright lived and worked in the structure from 1889 to 1909, developing his signature American Prairie Style architecture and raising six children with his first wife, or get a take away lunch at the Tasty Dog on Lake Street and eat in Scoville Park en route to Wright's Unity Temple. The temple was designed in 1905 as a place of worship for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and has since been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
It is endless you would need weeks and weeks to even make a dent in this multi-cultural and dynamic city! One of the best cities in the world
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