Travelling of Chicago City

Chicago

Introduction

Chicago is the United States' third main city although still called the Second City, a haven of art, architecture and jazz. It's home to elevated trains, Oprah, a wealth of museums, and wonderful places to eat, drink and be entertained. You can even laze on the beach in summer. 

Chicago was originally a small fort on the Chicago River, which was destroyed in a massacre. The city remained a small trading post until the lllionis and Michigan Canal and Galena and Chicago Union Railroad were opened in 1848, after which Chicago grew rapidly. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed most of downtown and the north side of town. After the fire, Chicago changed as skyscrapers started to sprout out of the Chicago's location on the banks of Lake Michigan ensures steamy hot summers and frigid cold winters, with frequent biting winds giving the city its nickname: The Windy City.

Neighborhoods

Chicago has over 75 different neighborhoods, which are actually very different. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the neighborhoods of Chicago were very divided and it was like crossing the borders of different countries. You can still get that feeling sometimes, but these days most of the neighborhoods blend together. Over time, neighborhoods have changed drastically, such as Pilson, which used to be an Eastern European neighborhood

Beaches

One of the great activities to be enjoyed during Chicago’s extreme summer is the beach. Chicago offers over 33 beaches with 29 located on Lake Michigan. The beaches in Chicago are a great way to spend a summer’s day escaping from the brutal heat.  

 Comedy Clubs

Being the home of improv funniness is another Chicago right to fame. It all started at the University of Chicago with a group of young undergrads in the early 1950s in a bar called Jimmies. Then they moved up north to create the famous Second City Theater. To this day Chicago is still an epicenter for many rising comedy stars.

Museums

The Museum in Chicago are some of the best in world. If you are interested in science and fun check out the Museum of Science and Industry on the south side of the city. Wanting a little of the dinosaur or Egyptian pyramid experience? Try the Field Museum of Natural History. If you want to have a great time with fish, dolphins and whales, go to the Shedd Aquarium. Prefer star-gazing to the denizens of the deep? Then a visit to the Adler Planetarium and Museum, which houses the world's first 360º sky theatre, is perfect. In need of some culture or just like medieval armor? The Art Institute of Chicago is an excellent place. 

If you're a little tired of the old paintings and want something new, take a trip up north Michigan Ave and go to the Museum of Contemporary Art to see what is cool in the current art world. At this point, if your kids or the inner kid inside you needs a little more attention go to the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier for some interactive learning.

There are also plenty of great smaller museums spread across the city such as the DuSauble Museum of African American History, The Oriental Institute of Chicago, The Smart Museum of Art, Robie House and The National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum.

Day Tours

There are several different day tours that are great. Most of the tours have different themes and play to different markets. The majority of tours are given by either boat or bus. The bus tours tend to run year round while the boat tours, which are better, run from the spring to the fall.

Zoos

• The Brookfield Zoo is located in the west suburbs and is fantastic zoo located on 216 acres. It features a fun and educational Ape habitat and the zoo participates in international preservation and breeding programs for endangered species. The only way to reach the zoo is by car.
• Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N. Clark Street) is the original zoo of Chicago, built in 1868. It has grown with the city. Located on the lake in Lincoln Park, the zoo has a very convenient inner city location. The zoo features many fascinating and exotic species along with a high quality Children's Zoo. One of the big perks is that the admission is free

Music

Chicago is known for having an amazing music scene. From jazz and blues to more modern styles of hip hop and punk there is something for everyone to listen to. Chicago is famous for its blues and jazz legacy and for more information on jazz and blues clubs read the Chicago Jazz and Blues Clubs article. If looking for something more traditional Chicago is also home to the world famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra and less known local orchestras.

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a world class symphony orchestra located right downtown on North Michigan Avenue and Adams. It is possible to get discount tickets on Friday afternoons and there are student deals.
• The Metro is an alternative music venue that has everything from rock, punk and hip hop to Brazilian pop. The venue is located near the Addison stop on the Redline.
• The Double Door is a great small music venue that the Rolling Stones love. Located at 1572 N Milwaukee it is very easy to check out amazing up and coming groups at this venue.

Parks

Chicago is home to several amazing city parks. Many of the most famous parks are located right in the loop, including the famous Millennium Park, which has doubled tourism in Chicago since its construction. Chicago is one of the few cities in the world where the entire lake front is park with bike, running and walk trails. For the traveler with more time exploring the parks out in the neighborhoods can be a great way to spend several days. For more information on parks look at the neighborhood articles.

 

 Other Sights and Activities

• Navy Pier was once an industrial pier and is now one of the most popular tourist sights in Chicago. This long pier juts out into Lake Michigan and is home to several shops, restaurants, bars and an amazing ferris wheel! There are weekly fireworks on Saturday and Wednesday. Navy Pier comes off of the east terminus of Grand.
• The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, is currently the tallest building in North America. It was also the tallest building in the world until 1998 when the title went to the Petrotans Twin  Tower in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia . Completed in 1973, it has 108 floors and measures 1450 feet (442 metres) from the ground to the roof. The Skydeck is Chicago's highest observatory and was remodeled this last year with two clear glass floor balconies that hang out over the side of the building. Located on the 103rd floor or 1353 feet (412 metres) above street level, it gives visitors an amazing bird's eye view over Chicago. Visibility on a clear day can reach as far as 50 miles (80 kilometres) and one can see Michigan, Indiana, lllinois and Wisconsin just by walking around the Skydeck. The best time to visit the Skydeck is after 5:00pm to avoid the crowds and also for great sunset and twinkling night-scape views.
• The Jhon Hancock Building is one of the tallest buildings in Chicago and located on the north end of North Michigan Avenue. The Observation Deck offers great views of the city, some even argue better views than the Willis Tower. If looking to getting around paying the entrance fee to the observation deck it is possible to go to the Signature Room, which is bar on the floor below. The cost of one drink is cheaper than the ticket to the observation deck.
• Buckingham Fountain is one of the main symbols of Chicago and located in Grant Park. This large fountain was built in 1927 and has more than 1,500,000 U.S. gallons (5,700,000 litres) going in its system. Every hour on the hour the main water cannon at the center of the fountain launches a stream of water vertically 150 feet (46 metres) into the air for 20 minutes. The fountain runs everyday from 8:00am to 11:00pm from mid-April to mid-October depending on the weather.

Outside of Chicago

House of Worship is a wonderful temple built as a house of worship for the Bahá'í Faith, which believes that religion has universal similarities and people should follow the beliefs among the prophets and not the religion. It is a place open to any faith to worship so it is possible to see many different prayers happen in the temple at the same time. This temple is one of 8 around, this includes the one in Turkmanistan that was destroyed. Another temple is currently under construction in Chile. The site was bought in 1912 and construction began on the temple in 1921 although no completed ontil 1953. It is 138 feet tall (42 metres) and features an amazing dome. The inside and outside is craved and the architecture is stunning. The temple is located in Wilmette, a suburb north of Chicago at 100 Linden Ave, phone 847-853-2300. Admission is free and the fall is open daily 6:00am to 10:00pm, official website : Indiana Dunes National lakeshore· Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is run by the USA Park Service and is a nice wilderness and beach area near Chicago in North Eastern Indiana. These large sand dunes drastically enter the lake and can be great fun for the whole family. It is possible to reach the park by rail by taking the South Shore Line from Millennium Station in downtown Chicago.

·  Six Flags Great America & Hurricana Harbor is a pretty large amusement park and water park that is about 50 miles (80 kilometres) from downtown Chicago. There are some amazing roller coasters and the occasional concert during the summer. During the weekends it can get very crowded, but people can rent a fast pass that allows them to skip the lines for extra money. The only way to get to the Six Flags at the present time is by driving. The park is open from 10:00am to 10:00pm all summer long, and during the weekends in May and September. The entrance fee is $54, but there is always deals if you buy tickets from the website. There is also an additional charge for parking.

·  John Dillinger Museun is located in Hammond Indiana a suburb south and east of Chicago. This small museum features many artifacts from John Dillinger and is a good family visit. Admission is only $4 for adults and $2 for children

Weather

 On a typical Chicago mid-summer day, humidity is usually moderately high and temperatures ordinarily reach anywhere between 78 °F and 92 °F. Overnight temperatures in summer usually drop to around 65 °F, but can sometimes remain well above 70 °F. Yearly precipitation comes in at an average of about 36 inches (920 mm). Summer in Chicago is prone to thunderstorms, and summer rain arises from short-lived hit-or-miss storms rather than a prolonged rainfalls. In a normal summer, temperatures exceed 90 °F on 24 days. Contrary to what one might think, summer is actually the rainiest season in Chicago.

Winter in Chicago proves variable and fickle, but even in mild winters one will experience bouts of cold weather. The average Chicago winter produces 37.0 inches (94 centimetres) of snow. This number can prove unreliable, as Chicago winters have produced between 9.8 and 87.0 inches (25 centimetres and 221 centimetres respectively) of snow. Snow tends to fall in light accumulations of around 2 inches (5 cm), but about once per year Chicago experiences a storm that can produce 10 to 14 inches (25 centimetres to 35 centimetres) of snow in one day. Unlike across Lank Michigan in western Michigan or in northern Indiana, Chicago rarely gets lake-effect snow because prevailing westerlies that cross the region pick up moisture from Lake Michigan after passing Chicago. Rare northeasterly winds during the winter may deposit the sort of snowfall that one associates with nearby snowbelt cities such as Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and South Bend, Indiana with the more usual westerly winds. Temperatures can vary wildly within the span of one week, but extended periods of temperatures below 32 °F are not uncommon in January and February. The temperature in January averages about 29 °F in the afternoon, and 14 °F at night. Temperatures can be expected to drop below 0 °F on 15 days throughout the winter season. Although rare, temperatures in Chicago even in the middle of winter can surpass 50 °F.