Chicago Travel Guide

Are you searching for the Chicago Travel Guide? You have reached on the right place. Chicago is a major city that’s not quite as packed and frenetic as New York, but it still has more things to do than you’ll have time for even if it isn’t quite as hectic as the Big Apple.

With a population of more than 2.7 million people, Chicago is the most populous metropolis in the Midwest as well as the third biggest city in the United States. It is famous for being the city where the modern skyscraper was invented and is surrounded by urban beaches that are situated along Lake Michigan.

In 1871, a catastrophic fire engulfed most of the city centre, reducing it to a handful of buildings and opening the way for Chicago to build one of the highest and most magnificent skylines in the United States.

A city that offers professional teams in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer, as well as other sports, Chicago is a sports fan’s ideal location. Attend a game at Soldier Field to see the Chicago Bears in action. If you don’t like football, you may watch a game of baseball featuring the Cubs or the White Sox, a game of soccer featuring the Chicago Fire, a game of basketball featuring the Bulls, or a game of hockey featuring the Blackhawks.

 

However, the city of Chicago is about much more than simply sports. In addition to being a gastronomic paradise, it is home to some of the finest museums and architectural landmarks in the world, as well as a large list of comedy clubs and live music venues. It is the kind of spot where you can be sure to find a good number of things to do, as well as number of places to eat.

 

Time Zone of Chicago

The Central Time Zone’s Standard Time

 

The Best Time to Visit to Chicago

Even while Chicago has very cold winters, the “Windy City” more than makes up for it with balmy summers that are packed with outdoor concerts, community celebrations, and clear blue sky. The months of June through September are the ideal time to plan a trip to Chicago since this is when the city’s urban beaches are at their peak. It is recommended that runners hold off until October, when the city of Chicago will stage its annual marathon.

In June, the world-famous Chicago Blues Festival takes place, and in July, the city hosts the Taste of Chicago, an outdoor cuisine festival that features a variety of dishes that are popular in the Chicago area.

Lollapalooza, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Chicago Air and Water Show are three annual events that take place in Chicago during the month of August. For tourists who are hardy enough to endure frigid temperatures in December.

 

Important Information of Chicago Travel Guide

More than 200 distinct communities make up the city of Chicago, each of which have its own allure and personality. The metropolitan region that includes Chicago and its suburbs is often referred to as Chicagoland.

 

Yellow mustard, sliced white onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato, pickled sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt are the traditional toppings for Chicago-style hot dogs. Do not, under any circumstances, inquire about the ketchup.

 

Things to do in Chicago

Saint Patrick’s Day

The next best location in Chicago to be on March 17, which is followed closely by Ireland. The city celebrates St. Patrick’s Day by turning its river green, throwing a massive parade, and partying until the sun comes up in order to pay tribute to its sizable Irish-American community (complete with copious amounts of green beer).

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The first Irish parade in the city was conducted in 1843, which is considered to be the beginning of the custom. However, the dyeing of the Chicago River did not begin until 1962, and it was launched at the proposal of a local plumber’s union.

This union is still responsible for the green river each year, despite the fact that they refuse to reveal their trade secrets on the dye that is used (although it is safe for the environment). Enjoy the scenery by going on a river boat along the green waterways or taking pictures from the sides. This is without a doubt one of the most important days of the year for this place!

 

Michigan Avenue

Michigan Avenue, which runs from the Chicago River to Oak Street and is also referred to as the “Mag Mile,” is famous for the high-end designer stores that can be found there. The average monthly rent in this city is third highest in the United States (after Fifth Avenue in New York City and Rodeo Drive in Beverley Hills).

Michigan Avenue Chicago Travel Guide

Relax at Grant and Millennium Park

These enormous parks, which are located in the centre of the city, are a wonderful spot to hang out, have a picnic, or go for a run. People come to this location to play chess when the weather is beautiful, and during the summer there are many free concerts held here.

The bigger of the two parks, Grant Park, is situated along the lakefront of Chicago and is known as the “Chicago Bean.” Millennium Park is the portion of Grant Park that is home to the world-famous sculpture. This famous piece of public art in Chicago is known by its official name, “Cloud Gate,” and it is an absolute must-see for anybody who is in the city.

 

Try Deep Dish Pizza

Both the deep-dish pizza and the filled crust pizza were invented in Chicago, and no vacation to the city would be complete without sampling both varieties. Pizzeria Uno, which is now a network of restaurants throughout the country, is credited with inventing the deep-dish pizza in 1943. If you’re looking for something with a more Chicago flavour, Lou Malnati’s is the place to go.

If you truly want to splurge, you should go on one of the pizza tours that Chicago Pizza Tours has to offer. On this trip, you will get to try all of the many kinds of pizza that are available in this city. Prices for tours begin at $49 USD.

 

Chicago Cultural Center

This historic monument was formerly the location of the Chicago Public Library and is well-known for the stunning Tiffany mosaics that can be seen throughout the building, particularly in the Preston Bradley Hall concert space. The architecture of the Acropolis in Athens, the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, and the Palazzo in Florence served as inspirations for its interiors.

It offers free guided tours of the historic structure, as well as a variety of events, concerts, and rotating art exhibitions.

 

Visit the City History Museum while you’re in town.

This museum offers a comprehensive introduction to the history of Chicago, with a particular emphasis on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which was responsible for the destruction of the majority of the city and was responsible for the deaths of 300 people and the displacement of 100,000 more.

The final manuscript of the Emancipation Proclamation that Abraham Lincoln had written was also destroyed in the fire. The museum is home to almost 22 million artefacts, some of which include President Abraham Lincoln’s deathbed and the clothes that he and his wife were wearing on the day that he was killed. The entry fee is $19 (US Dollars).

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Travel to Chicago to see the Art Institute.

The Art Institute of Chicago is not only the most well-known museum in Chicago but also ranks among the world’s oldest and biggest art institutions. It is home to a collection that spans fields such as photography, architecture, and textiles, and it has pieces by artists such as Eva Hesse, David Hockney, and Ellsworth Kelly.

The museum was established in 1879, and now it houses more over 300,000 objects in its permanent collection. Additionally, it holds around 30 special exhibitions each year. The entry fee is $25 (US Dollars).

 

Visit the Willis Tower if you can.

For a quarter of a century, the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, was recognised as the highest skyscraper in the world. At this time, it is the 23rd highest structure in the world and the third tallest skyscraper in the United States. Visitors may take an elevator up to the SkyDeck, which is the tallest observation platform in the United States and stands at a height of 1,450 feet (110 floors).

From there, they will have panoramic views over the city of Chicago. The Ledge at SkyDeck is a glass cage that extends more than 4 feet above the city and offers heart-pounding views of the metropolitan environment below. Those who don’t have a fear of heights may enjoy the Ledge at SkyDeck. There is a $35 USD admission fee.

 

Best Hotels in Chicago Travel Guide

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

the location is 11 E. Walton Street.

Phone: (312) 646-1300

Booking

The Waldorf Astoria in Chicago is an excellent location to locate luxury, so if that’s what you’re want, look no further. This hotel and condominium skyscraper is just ten years old and is situated in the centre of the Gold Coast in Chicago. It has sixty stories. It pays tribute to the magnificent hotels that were prevalent in Paris during the 1920s and has elements such as colonnades, a cobblestone courtyard, and superb service. The rooms are generous in size, and the bathrooms provide plenty of area for relaxing in a warm bath with a good book.

Waldorf Astoria Hotel Chicago Travel Guide

Drake Hotel

the location is 140 E. Walton Place

Phone: (312) 787-2200

Booking

The Drake Hotel is an opulent historic monument that can be found at the very top of the Magnificent Mile. It is just a few of streets away from the 360 Chicago observation deck, and it is only one block south of Oak Street Beach.

The hotel first opened in 1920, and throughout the years, it has had the pleasure of hosting royalty such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as well as celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Winston Churchill, Herbert Hoover, and Walt Disney.

The initials that Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe cut into the wood bar of the hotel’s Cape Cod Room are still visible to this day. Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe both stayed at the hotel.

 

Peninsula

the location is 108 East Superior Street

Phone: (312) 337-2888

Booking

The Peninsula is the place to stay if you want a room that is much bigger than the standard fare offered by hotels. The interior design takes its cues from Lake Michigan, and the technology provided in each room caters to your every want.

The hotel lobby is much more than what it would seem to be at first glance, and guests are invited to bring their pets along for a discounted rate of just $50 per night. Additionally, it is a restaurant that has been awarded a Michelin star. The hotel includes a rooftop pool where guests may swim while taking in the scenery.

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Loews Hotel in Chicago

The location is 455 North Park Drive.

Phone: (888) 342-1569

Booking

This opulent hotel is situated only two blocks east of Michigan Avenue and within walking distance of the Chicago River, which is just one block away. It has 400 comfortable guest rooms, an indoor pool, a fitness centre, and of course a bar on the rooftop. The rooms are perfect for those who need to work while they are on vacation since they include roomy workstations and seats that are easy to relax in.

 

Robey Hotel

The location is 2018 West North Avenue

Phone: (872) 315-3050

Booking

The Robey Hotel can be found inside of an art deco masterpiece that is 203 feet tall and is located in Wicker Park. The hotel is conveniently located only a few short feet from the train station that provides access to O’Hare International Airport. It has a rooftop cocktail lounge with happy hours that are only available to hotel guests and breathtaking views of the Chicago city. The Robey provides the use of bicycles and fills guest rooms with regional brews.

 

Best Restaurants in Chicago Travel Guide

Au Cheval

The location is 800 West Randolph Street

Phone: (312) 929-4580

The Au Cheval is not your typical eatery. On the menu, you’ll find chicken liver, roasted marrow bones, and a cheeseburger that’s unlike any other you’ve had before. The Au Cheval burger is a straightforward sandwich that consists of prime beef cut into four-ounce patties and covered with American cheese made from Kraft. You have the option to add a fried egg, thick-cut peppered bacon, or foie gras to this dish, in addition to the handmade pickles that top it.

 

Gene and Georgetti’s

The location is Address: 500 N Franklin Street

Phone: (312) 527-3718

You won’t get a better steak anywhere else in Chicago than at this restaurant. One of the oldest steakhouses in Chicago, Gene & Georgetti was established in 1941 by a couple of Italian immigrants and is known for its traditional Italian cuisine. The likes of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Keanu Reeves, and Will Ferrell are among the celebrities who have dined on the restaurant’s enormous portions of steaks, chops, and traditional Italian main courses such as Chicken Marsala, Eggplant Parmesan, and Veal Scaloppine.

 

 

The Billy Goat Tavern

The location is 1535 West Madison Street

Phone: (312) 733-9132

The Billy Goat Tavern has been a staple in the Chicago community since it first opened in 1934. William Sianis, a Greek immigrant, first purchased his bar, which was once known as the Lincoln Tavern, with a check for $205 that was returned unpaid.

According to the story that Sianis narrated, the name of the pub was changed when a goat went inside after falling off of a passing truck and encouraging Sianis to do so. The menu at Billy Goat Tavern is simple and easy to understand; it even contains the now-iconic “Cheezeborgers,” which were made famous by “Saturday Night Live.”

 

Weather in Chicago Travel Guide

The summers in Chicago may be gorgeous, but the humidity can be oppressive, and the lengthy winters can be bitterly windy, snowy, and cold. The fall season is known for its beautiful weather and abundance of vibrant foliage. The below values are in Fahrenheit.

January 18 and 32

February 20 and 34

March 29 to 43

April 40 and 55

May 50 to 65

June 60 to 75

July 66 to 81

August 65 to 79

September 58 to 73

October 47 and 61

November 34 and 47

December 23 and 36.

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