INTRODUCTION
If you like your pizza deep, your music cutting-edge, your museums chock full of interesting artifacts, and your sports inescapable, Chicago is an excellent place to be. It is home to the largest building in the United States (Sears Tower), the birthplace of improvisational comedy (The Second City), and the keeper of one of the best Impressionist art collections on the planet (The Chicago Institute of Art). It is truly one of the most overlooked vacation destinations in the world.
Located southeast of Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States and the largest city in the Midwest. Nicknamed “The Windy City” (possibly because of its shady political past), Chicago’s only real detraction is that when it is windy, it's freezing.
HISTORY
The Chicago area was the home of several Native American tribes up until the early 1800s, when fur traders and the American Army took control of the area. In 1848, Chicago became an extremely important transportation hub. The Galena and Chicago Railways and the Illinois and Michigan canals were opened.
After the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, the city was propelled into a pivotal rebuilding period, which contributed to it becoming one of the most populous cities in the United States. In fact, Chicago surprised the rest of the world when it beat New York City as the home for the famous Columbian World's Fair in 1893. The great exposition brought together famous architects from around the world to create the magical "White City." This was significant because at the time, most Americans felt that the board of directors had made a poor choice as Chicago still lay in the ashes of the fire.
It wasn’t until the 1920s Prohibition era that Chicago gained international attention, when gangsters like Al Capone made headlines worldwide for rum smuggling and other dirty deeds. Chicago was also home to the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention, which was filled with protesters, police, politicians, and the press.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
- A section of Michigan Avenue known as “The Magnificent Mile” is one of the most important streets to know for any vacationer in the “Chicagoland” area.
- Located on “The Mag Mile” are heaps of high-end restaurants, boutiques, and hotels. But more importantly, located in the vicinity of “The Mag Mile” are some of Chicago’s greatest offerings like The Chicago Institute of Art, The Field Museum of Natural History, Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, and Soldier Field.
- Whether living in or visiting Chicago, many people stay in shape by running, walking, biking, or rollerblading on the paths of Lakeshore Drive, which overlooks Lake Michigan.
- Chicago is the home to Harpo Productions, which was created by Oprah Winfrey. Her famous television show, The Oprah Show, was filmed in Chicago.
- While the Magnificent Mile is an important place to visit in Chicago, it should by no means define your image of the city. Chicago has many distinct neighborhoods and in order to get a true understanding of what life is like in this glorious city, explore neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Hyde Park, and Pilsen.
ATTRACTIONS
The Magnificent Mile
Sears Tower
Chicago Institute of Art?
Field Museum of Natural History?
Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago?
Shedd Aquarium?
Adler Planetarium?
Millennium Park
Navy Pier
The Second City?
Wrigley Field
Soldier Field?
RESTAURANTS
Alinea
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
(312)867-0110
No other recent Chicago restaurant premiere has excited more interest than the debut of Grant Achatz's Alinea on North Halsted. The 24-course tasting menu (which takes five hours to complete) has quickly become legendary.
http://www.alinearestaurant.com/
Ann Sather
5207 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
(773)271-6677
An Old World café that reflects the city's substantial Scandinavian population, the longstanding diner became famous for the sort of Swedish meatballs that could have bounced straight out of Aunt Inge's kitchen. If you aren't a fan of meatballs, the cinnamon rolls aren't to be passed up!
http://annsather.com/
Moto
945 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
(312)491-0058
It's hard to ignore Moto, if only because chef Homaro Cantu has become the poster child of the mad-scientist conceptual-cooking fad in America. In fact, Cantu spent a year researching his Moto menu in a test kitchen chemistry lab before opening the surprisingly small, modern dining room.
http://www.motorestaurant.com/
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
1520 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773)395-2400
There is really no way around it. If you're eating out in Chicago, you're obliged to try the hometown favorite deep-dish pizza, and for die-hard deep-dish fans, Lou’s is the gold standard.
http://www.loumalnatis.com/
Gene and Georgetti
500 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312)527-3718
This venerable steakhouse, which opened in 1941, aged as well as its prime beef. The scene is like stepping back in time: wood-paneled walls surround tables of local power brokers guzzling Martinis and pondering the menu packed with red-sauce Italian classics and affordable wines.
http://www.geneandgeorgetti.com/
Hot Doug’s
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
(773)279-9550
This funky spot, with its black-and-white checkered floor and bright yellow walls crammed with frank-focused kitsch, draws in a never-ending line of customers snaking out the door to savor the city's wildest wieners.
http://www.hotdougs.com/
LODGING
The Drake Hotel
140 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611
(312)787-2200
Commanding sweeping views of Lake Michigan, this handsome hotel is a historic landmark that was built in 1920. It has hosted princes, politicians, film stars, and financiers during its distinguished history.
http://www.thedrakehotel.com/
Hotel Allegro
171 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
(312)236-0123
This is a lively and original hotel, full of bold, bright colors and good-looking furnishings. It is nestled in the theater district and includes its own Broadway-musical-sized performance space, the Palace Theater.
http://www.allegrochicago.com/
Elysian
11 E Walton St, Chicago, IL 60611
(312)646-1300
Just a few blocks from Chicago’s Gold Coast, this modernly lavish hotel stands tall with views overlooking downtown and Lake Michigan. The 188 spacious guest rooms are equipped with fireplaces, furnished terraces, and dual vanities with inset LCD televisions.
http://www.elysianhotels.com/
Hotel Burnham
1 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60601
(312)782-1111
Erected in 1895, this hotel is now a National Historic Landmark. It strives for a rich, masculine look that brings to mind the Chicago of the roaring 1920s.
http://www.burnhamhotel.com/
The Talbott Hotel
20 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
(312)944-4970
This quaint hotel provides a B&B feel without the cramped, often too personalized, B&B experience. Situated on a pleasant tree-lined street, it’s conveniently close to popular attractions such as Buckingham Fountain, Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, and Shedd Aquarium.
https://www.talbotthotel.com/
Chicago Getaway Hostel
616 West Arlington Place, Chicago, IL 60614-2682
(773)929-5380
Situated in a trendy university area with dozens of bars, clubs, pubs, and music venues, the Arlington House Hostel offers a fun and social atmosphere.
http://www.getawayhostel.com/
PERSONAL STORIES
Wrigley Field
