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Chicago
Introduction
Chicago is a vibrant and exciting city set in the heart of the American Midwest, boasting one of the most spectacular skylines, paying tribute to its modern architectural renaissance. It is from some of these very skyscrapers that visitors can take-in the incredible panoramic view of the citys full splendor. Chicago has won a first class reputation around the world for its affinity with arts the theater and especially the Jazz scene. If Jazz , the theater and the arts do not wet your palette, dont worry, Chicago has got something for everyone. Chicago has world‐famous steak houses, luxury hotels, family-friendly lodgings, and low‐key neighborhood restaurants.
Gallery
Attractions
There is so much to see and do and experience while you are in Chicago. To get a good overview of the size of the city should be the first item on your travel agenda. Seeing Chicago from 300 meters (1000 feet) is a must from the John Hancock Observatory, or from the imposing and awesome Sears Tower Sky deck.
Top 5 Chicago attractions:
1. Time Escape at Navy Pier
2. Sears Tower Sky deck
3. Amazing Chicago Funhouse Maze
4. Navy Pier
5. Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
Restaurants
Considering its size, it isnt surprising to learn that there are well over 6,000 restaurants, cafes and eateries in Chicago. These range from Thai restaurants, to pizza and burger "joints" and steakhouses serving the most succulent pieces of meat you are likely to find in any of the fifty states. Steakhouses and Italian restaurants, where the pizzas are legendary, are the "windy citys" specialties. If neither culinary category gets your taste buds watering, the choice of Thai, Chinese and other styles of restaurants, will ensure you wont end the evening with an empty stomach. To have the widest range of restaurants to choose from go to the Loop area in the city centre. Everything from all‐American restaurants to German restaurants are in this suburb. Other suburbs which provide a good range of eateries are Near North and the River North Districts and, of course, Chinatown.
Shopping
Be prepared for the Chicago Shopping Scene, warm‐up that credit card and grab your walking shoes because there is a lot of ground to cover! Michigan Avenue and State Street should be top of your list as must‐shop destinations. This is the hub for large retailers, department stores and luxury labels; it is possible to find everything from furniture to frescos to childrens clothing to baseball apparel, electronic goods to earmuffs, leather pants to popcorn and everything in‐between.
If the explorer is itching to get out and you are inclined to venture to your hearts desire you will be rewarded for your effort. The well known neighborhoods of Bucktown, Wicker Park & Lincoln Park have some of the finest shopping in the world! These boutiques carry established and aspiring designers, handcrafts, jewelry, cosmetics, rare art, and antiques. While these shops maybe small in stature they are big in attitude.
Weather
Perhaps one reason Chicagoans have a sense of humour is the weather. Though they complain that the citys four seasons are "winter, winter, winter, and the Fourth of July", at least on a winter day, when the snow is blowing horizontally across the Michigan Avenue Bridge, Chicagoans can duck into popular clubs like Andys, where theres hot jazz, even at noon.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -4° | 0° | 4° | 11° | 16° | 22° | 24° | 23° | 20° | 13° | 6° | 0° |
Average Monthly Temperatures
