Chicago Vacations
Overview
Chicago is one of the fabled American cities. This city is as urbane as it is proudly mid-western friendly. This might be one of the prime reasons why the city attracts over 45 million visitors annually. The city has a spectacular skyline and is situated on the shore of Lake Michigan. The city has world-class art museums, science museums, and miles of sandy beaches. The city has huge parks and some of the finest modern architecture in the world. Chicago is a host to world-class entertainment, cultural and political events. It is the only American city that among the final four shortlisted candidates who have been chosen to host the 2016 Olympics.
There are iconic sights and neighborhoods, and many Frank Lloyd Wright buildings strewn throughout the greater metro area. Nicknames echo the historical and contemporary tone of the city. A few interesting ones are "Windy City", "Chi-town", "Second City", and "City of the Big shoulders" owing to its very many skyscrapers.
Activities & Attractions
The city had adopted the motto "Urbs in Horto," meaning "City in a Garden," way back when it was founded. True to its name, Chicago abounds in parks, wildlife, and bird gardens. The Lincoln Park in the area by itself attracts over 20 million visitors each year. A visitor to the place can think of visiting the 19th century pumping station, one of the few city landmarks to have survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. You can also catch hold of a glimpse of the city's spectacular skyline from one of the many skyscrapers' observation decks, such as the Sears Tower or the John Hancock Center. Those who are interested in upscale shopping can very well take a stroll along the State Street and the Magnificent Mile.
Enjoy a walk along the Navy Pier, the largest recreational pier in the United States. The pier has an open-air theater, botanical gardens, and Chicago's Children Museum. It also has a giant Ferris wheel, 15 storey's tall, which offers the best view of the city skyline.
Chicago also has a team in every major sports league in the US, and several universities. If you are a sports fan, you will have plenty to do in Chicago. The Chicago golf courses which work towards upholding conservation efforts are one among them. Owing to the landscape which is mostly flatland, Chicago has turned out to be an implausible town for bicycling. You can come upon bike paths even along the picturesque lakefront and vast parklands.
Lodging
Major conventions are held in the city, which normally take place around O'Hare airport, downtown, or the Near North. If you want to explore the city though, it would be best to stay in the downtown area. O'Hare is quite far-away from everything except the airport. Research well about the hotels as Chicago is infamous for some seedy hotels. The less expensive hotels tend to be far from the loop. The city is quite spread out, so keep that in mind when you choose a place of accommodation.
Transportation
The O'Hare airport is quite far from the city center but connects many places in Chicago with the US and other international cities. There are also smaller airports in the Chicago area.
Chicago is easy to navigate, with block numbers being consistent throughout the city. Avenues run north to south and streets run east to west, although there are quite a few exceptions. Some streets rove or exude diagonally from the city center, such as Clark St, Lincoln Ave, Milwaukee Ave, Ogden Ave and Archer Ave.
The Chicago public transportation system is excellent, and reasonably safe. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates trains and buses that cover the whole city.
