Chicago City Guide
Chicago is a huge city, covering 234 square miles and housing almost 3 million people, making it the third most populous city in the United States.
The Windy City, as it is often called, is recognised as the capital of the MidWest and despite its size and population density is a grand city with abundant elegant architecture, wide roads and open spaces, giving the city a more sedate feel than you might extpect from a city of its size. It is located on the shores of Lake Michigan. The city's waterfront includes a number of parks and over 20 public beaches, offering plenty of recreational opportunities.
Attractions of note in the city include Navy Pier which offers visitors traditional pier entertainment along its boardwalk with a giant ferris wheel, boat tours, plus shopping and dining. The Millennium Park offers an array of music, art and architecture set in landscaped grounds. The Skydeck Chicago on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the Hancock Observatory on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center will give you and yours plenty to talk about with astonishing views across the entire city and the vast Lake Michigan. As you'd find in any city of Chicago's size, there are zoos, museums, theaters, and excellent architecture, too.
Chicago has plenty to offer the sports fan, with two major league baseball teams, a national football team, and one of the best basketball teams in the world just for starters. The location of the city, right on the shores of one of the largest lakes in the world, means that watersports, boating, yachting are all popular, with many races scheduled throughout the milder months.
Chicago is very easy to get around, with a rigid grid system making your destination easy to find. A free trolley bus system makes it cheap for tourists, too, with clearly marked trolley bus stops dotted around the city.
If you need to transfer from Chicago Midway Airport to Chicago O'Hare Airport, many airlines provide express transfers and a number of private coach services run shuttle services. Contact your airline or the airport for more information.
Chicago has built up a reputation as a first-class business hub and there are a number of hotels providing conference facilities plus excellent convention centers in the city, including Midwest Conference Center near O'Hare, McCormick Place and Millennium Park on the Loop, and of course the chance to use famous venues or hire a boat for an unforgettable event out on the water.
Chicago may be known for its deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, but it also has plenty of sit-down dining opportunities right on your doorstep. Chicago cuisine was heavily influenced by its Italian population in the 1930s but nowadays there are pockets of Puerto Rican, Polish and Greek speciality restaurants and delicatessens. Famous chefs such as Charlie Trotter, Rick Tramonto, and Grant Achatz have fine-dining restaurants in Chicago.
