| Why
Travel to Chicago?
It's the
all original skyscraper city with lots of attitude and an excellent live music scene, especially blues and Jazz.
Downside:
- It can be tough crime wise, with a gangster element since before
Capone.
- The weather may be extreme, grey wet and windy, freezing or boiling
the butt.
When
to Travel to Chicago:
Best: May-October.
Worst: November-April, though good for indoor culture.
Length
of stay not inc. flights:
Minimum worthwhile: one day for a view from Sears and a museum or
two.
Recommended: three days, add some shopping or museums and some music
at a festival.
Main Attractions:
The Loop*** the
center of the city has an elevated railway running round it, hence
the name.
Get a lofty view from the famous Sears Tower observation deck, and check out the displays at the Chicago Cultural
Center.
The money men will also allow you in to see the magnificently decorated
Chicago Board of Trade Building.
Try also the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Museum of Broadcast
Communications.
Central Lakeside Parks*** east of the loop are two parks, Grant Park with the impressive Buckingham
Fountain, and the new Millennium Park, containing the superb Art
Institute of Chicago.
Further south is the Museum Campus with the Shedd Aquarium, Adler
Planetarium and Astronomy museum, and the Field Museum of Natural
History.
Short
Trips:
Oak Park for
the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio plus buildings.
Arts
and Culture:
Classical Music and Dance - the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Symphony Center; the Lyric Opera
of Chicago at the Civic Opera House, and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.
Theater - several
excellent companies at the Auditorium Theater, Apollo Theater, Chicago
Theater, LaSalle Bank Theater, Cadillac Palace Theater and Oriental
Theater.
Cuisine:
The
city has hundreds of restaurants to suit all tastes throughout its
central districts and a reputation for good quality and reasonable
prices.
Nightlife
and Entertainment:
Live Music - in bars and
lounges throughout the city, superb for blues and jazz in particular.
Clubs
- there are dozens of clubs of all kinds, from loungey hangouts
to raveup venues.
Main
Festivals and Events:
17th
March, St Patrick's Day Parade.
June,
1st w/e, Blues Festival.
June, 2nd w/e, Gospel Festival.
June, last w/e, Country Music Festival.
4th July, Independence Day.
July, last w/e, Latin Music Festival.
September, first w/e, Jazz Festival.
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