Chicago at a glance
On the edge of the world
Glitz, glamour and gangsters - they all fit with Chicago. Sinatra loved it, as did most of the Rat Pack. On mention, Chicago does conjure up thoughts of a time gone by. To some extent it is still back in the last century, stuck with its reputation for style and danger. Modern Chicago is doing its best to grow out of that and into a hip, trendy city. It is also a very beautiful city.
Some interesting things to do in Chicago:
The Chicago River
An interesting fact about Chicago River is that is had its direction reversed in the early 20th century to avoid spilling waste into Lake Michigan. The project took longer than the digging of the Panama Canal. Today the river is a good place to start a tour of the city. Hop on a boat tour or walk the promenade to the State Street Bridge for a great view of Beaux Arts Jewellers where Al Capone used to hang out.
Downtown Chicago
Known as 'The Loop', Downtown Chicago really pays homage to modern architecture, with the Sears Tower taking all the attention. The Loop is similar to London's City region as in it is heaving during the day and pretty dead at night. It is surrounded by the elevated 'El' trains (hence the name). There's no shortage of unusual buildings to view, one being the Gothic building 'The Rookery' that holds the Board of Trade. The Skydeck Observatory offers stunning views of the city and the four states Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.
Art Institute of Chicago
Set on the lake side of South Michigan Avenue is the Art Institute, a haven for art lovers with an excellent collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings as well as Asian art, architectural sketches and photography. Exhibits include pieces by Matisse, Gauguin and Van Gogh.
Lincoln Park
Most of us would have assumed that New York's Central Park is the largest in the U.S. but not so. Chicago's Lincoln Park is the largest, 50 percent larger than Central. It was established in the 1860s after the clearance of a large cemetery. But don't let that stop you - Lincoln Park is a great visit if you fancy a trip to Lincoln Park Zoo or the very pretty Shakespeare Garden with plants and flowers dedicated to Shakespeare's work. There is also a beautiful Victorian greenhouse, the Conservatory, or for those of you feeling more energetic there's always a paddleboat for hire.
The Blues
No mention of Chicago could skip the city's long standing love affair with Blues. It began in the late 1920s when Lester Melrose began to produce Blues musicians on the Bluebird label. With that Chicago just exploded with Blues creativity that launched international stars like Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup and Muddy Waters. The Blues bars and clubs are still very much alive. Check out Blue Chicago or the Checkerboard Lounge. Worth a look too is the Blues Haven Foundation, a museum based in the old Chess Records studio.
In association with
spotlight - northern ireland
travel guides
Plan your break!
Why not use our range of guides to research a trip you have booked or get planning your next break away.
travel articles
Each month we bring a new and exciting feature from our travel experts, watch this space for the next feature...
family travel tips
Family flight tips and hints
travel health news
Up-to-date Travel Health News from around the world.
Powered by: