Chicago Travel Guide

Since its humble beginnings -- in 1835 it was a group of cabins on the Chicago River --- Chicago has boomed with activity and received quite appropriately the name "The City That Works." By 1890 it had become the second largest city in the nation, although it never caught up with New York City. Then in 1871 what started as a small fire in a stable far to the west of the city center, became a blazing inferno that destroyed the whole inner city. This tragedy resulted in a golden opportunity for Chicagoans; the chance to rebuild their city from the ground up.  The result is a better street layout and safer sanitary conditions for its citizens (also aided by the flow reversal of the Chicago River, which took waste downriver to the Mississippi River instead of out into Lake Michigan, the city's water source).

Chicago is famous for its jazz and blues clubs, and for good reason.  If music isn't your thing, you can wine and dine in the greatest of restaurants... everything from ribs to exotic food, Chicago does it right.

Perhaps the greatest feature of Chicago is its beautiful architecture. While not as big as New York, downtown Chicago is unmatched in its sheer beauty because of the uniqueness in style of each building. Standing in the heart of Chicago is a memorable experience: standing on a bridge over the Chicago River, the Wrigley Building on one side and the great towers of downtown on the other; swarmed by the masses shopping along Michigan Ave. (The Magnificent Mile)... it'll take your breath away. The Chicago Architecture Foundation conducts tours of Chicago's buildings. We took the "Architectural Tour of the Historic Skyscrapers" which is a walking tour and it takes you inside some of these buildings that otherwise you would not see. These tours are a must when in Chicago. The Foundation store is located on Michigan Ave. from where these tours begin.

Some of Chicago's most obvious attractions include the Sears Tower (formerly the tallest skyscraper in the world), the Hancock Building (home of The Signature Room, a restaurant and bar at the top of the building), Navy Pier (where you can enjoy a dinner cruise or water tour of Chicago, a stained-glass museum, the incredibly fun Children's Museum for the toys, as well as tons of shopping, food, and art.  While you're there, get some cinnamon-roasted almonds and fresh-squeezed lemonade... highly recommended!), the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute, Adler Planetarium, and Field Museum.  You can also enjoy the Magnificent Mile, a line of top-notch shopping destinations right on Michigan Avenue.  Don't forget to take a stroll along the waterfront, where you can catch a glimpse of the famous Buckingham Fountain.  Also, new to the Chicago scene, is Millennium Park, home of a fantastic bandshell, breath-taking gardens, playful fountains, a relaxing promenade, the "Bean," and a myriad of shop and eateries, as well as other attractions.

If you come to visit, make sure to skip out on the taxis and walk around a bit.  There are a ton of fascinating little gems tucked away in every corner of this lively city, you just have to look for them!