With its picturesque skyline, interesting neighborhoods and plethora of landmarks, Chicago is a truly unique city not just in the United States, but the entire world. The “Windy City” offers plenty of culture, history and swagger, all rolled into one. Navigating the third largest city in the U.S. can certainly be intimidating, but with some knowledge of Chicago, your visit will be a breeze.
The basics
For starters, Chicago is located in the state of Illinois on the edge of Lake Michigan. It boasts excellent transportation infrastructure, including O’Hare International Airport and the famed Chicago “El,” the elevated rapid transit train network that rumbles through the city. Chicago has four distinct seasons and is infamous for its winter cold and snowstorms. As in any major city, keep an eye out for crime. Visitors who stick close to tourist friendly areas such as The Loop should be fairly safe, but always take precautions.
English is the dominant language in the city, but being a cosmopolitan metropolis, visitors can expect to hear everything from Spanish to Chinese to Vietnamese and much more. Lastly, the city is divided roughly into four sections: the downtown Loop, the North Side, the South Side and the West Side. Each boasts many unique and fascinating neighborhoods worth exploring.
The Loop and downtown
The Loop is Chicago’s downtown. It is the economic, cultural and social heart of the city. The district gets its name from the looping routes that streetcars took early in the city’s mass transit development, though today it is better known for the looping routes of the Chicago “El” trains. It is here that many visitors begin their journey. The Loop boasts an exceptional number of attractions to explore.
For starters, head up to the observation decks of the Willis Tower (formerly known as, and still commonly called, the Sears Tower) or the John Hancock Center. Both locations offer stunning views of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
The Loop boasts many world class museums and galleries, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Photography and the Spertus Institute, a Jewish cultural museum.
Also located in The Loop are many of Chicago’s world renowned theaters and performing arts institutions. These include the Chicago Theater, the Auditorium Theater, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera.
To relax and escape the urban chaos of Chicago, head over to one of The Loop’s top notch parks. Grant Park, affectionately referred to as “Chicago’s front yard,” is home to many walking trails, festivals and excellent views of the lake. Be sure to check out the stunning Buckingham Fountain in it as well. Bordering Grant Park is Chicago’s newest park, Millennium Park. Millennium Park offers plenty of open space with many interesting sculptures and landmarks scattered around it.
Shopper will find plenty of outlets just north of The Loop along the Magnificent Mile. This stretch of Michigan Avenue offers tons of upscale shopping stores, including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Chanel.
Bordering The Loop is the Near North Side. Here, be sure to pay a visit to the Loyola University Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Navy Pier, which boasts more than 50 acres of shops, restaurants and amusement rides and attractions.
On the Near South Side, be sure to see the Museum Campus which holds several world class museums, including the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. Also on the Near South Side is historic Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.
The North Side
The North Side boats some of Chicago’s most prestigious neighborhoods and landmarks. Head over to the beautiful Lincoln Park, which boasts more than 1200 acres of lakeside green space and recreational opportunities as well as the Lincoln Park Zoo. Nearby, visitors can view the historic and stunning architecture of Old Town. Old Town is also home to two of Chicago’s world renowned theaters, Steppenwolf and Second City.
The South Side
The South Side, the center of Chicago’s influential African-American community, also boasts many attractions and landmarks. Visitors can check out the brilliant architecture of the University of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood and in nearby Kenwood can see the home of U.S. President Barack Obama.
The South Side also is home to Chicago’s Chinatown and many blues clubs.
The West Side
The West Side offers many eclectic and interesting neighborhoods to visit. For nightlife, check out Wicker Park and Logan Square, both of which are home to many restaurants, bars and clubs. Visitors to the West Side can also sample authentic Greek and Mexican cuisine in Greektown and Pilsen, respectively.
Visit Chicago!
With so many world class attractions, visiting Chicago can certainly be overwhelming. But getting to know the city’s culture and neighborhoods better is a great first step. While many tourists forget to leave The Loop when visiting, remember that there’s much more to Chicago. Why not check out a Cubs or White Sox game, visit the historic Pullman District in the Fare Southeast Side or grab a drink at an authentic Irish pub or lunch at a Polish deli? Only in the great city of Chicago can you do all that— and even more!
Sources
- cityofchicago.org
- choosechicago.com
- explorechicago.org
Steve Longo - I am a writer and filmmaker living in New York City. My interests include film, politics, world affairs, sports and government issues.
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