Chicago Illinois

INTRODUCTION

If you like your pizza deep, your music cutting edge, your museums chalked 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), birthplace of improvisational comedy (The Second City), caretakers of one of the best Impressionist art collections on the planet (The Chicago Institute of Art), and 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 region of the Midwest. Nicknamed “The Windy City,” possibly because of its shady political past, Chicago’s only real detraction is that when it is literally windy, it’s so, so, cold.

HISTORY

The Chicago area was the home of several Native American tribes up until the early 1800’s when fur traders and the American Army took control of the area. In 1848 Chicago became an extremely important transportation hub when the Galena and Chicago Railway 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 populated cities in the United States. In fact, Chicago surprised the rest of the world when it beat out New York City as the home for the famous Columbian World 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 ashes of the fire. It wasn’t until the 1920’s 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 way too much 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.

ATTRACTIONS

The Magnificent Mile

Sears Tower

Chicago Institute of Art ?

Field Museum of Natural History ?

Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago ?