Advantages: The contrasting architecture. Music. Relaxing Parks. Disadvantages: Parking fees. Rush Hour.
...is for Architecture~~
When Chicago was all but destroyed by fire in 1871, there arose from the ashes one of the most famous skyscapes in the US if not the world. Chicago was home to the first ever skyscraper, a steel-framed ten story building, the Home Insurance Building built in 1885 and demolished in 1931 to make way for even taller cloud busters (as they were known way back when). Ten storeys, although no doubt impressive then, are mere small ... ...styles that combine to make Chicago (highly recommended). Or do all three - we did!
A surprising range of architectural styles exist. Sitting comfortably among the modernist glass, concrete and / or steel buildings are the Neo-Gothic Tribune Tower Howell and the French Renaissance Style Wrigley Building not to mention the limestone Water Tower (the only building to that survive the great fire) and now a museum. The architecture was one of the main ...
MAFARRIMOND 10.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Lots to see and do. Friendly people. It's big. I got lots of cool stuff, cheap. Disadvantages: American beer is minging.
...both sightseeing and socialising.
Chicago is serviced by two airports: O'Hare (the big, famous one) and Midway (the one no-one's heard of). They're both located quite close to the city centre (close by American standards, that is) and getting to and from either airport is easy.
Travel to and from the suburbs is done via Metra trains (http://www.metrarail.com) into Chicago Union Station and at the time of writing they currently offer unlimited weekend ... ...that can be done within Chicago city centre, so wearing shoes that are comfortable is definitely worth consideration. Navigation around the city is incredibly easy due to the fact that the streets and roads are laid out in the grid system which all American cites use.
Other methods of traveling around Chicago are the subway system which covers a large part of the city ($1.75 per journey or two for $2 if you use the second journey within a few hours ...
TheDuke 12.12.2004 (14.12.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
...Chicago.
Brief History:
Chicago has quite an exciting history, founded in 1833. Chicago is the largest City in Illinois and has the third highest population in the U.S.
Chicago's history runs deep throughout the U.S., it produced the first sophisticated and sewer system in America, whilst also providing a sophisticated travel network. Chicago has a very wealthy financial market, with many fortune one companies residing their, and also has a range ... ...are four main weather fronts Chicago experiences. Between January and March, Chicago can experience cold temperatures and heavy rain. April through September is the hottest times of the year, with limited rain and unlikely chance of snow. And October through December is when it gets cold, and heavy snow is likely.
It really all depends on when you want to go, I wanted to visit Chicago during the peak hot season and thus decided to go during the ...
jaygami1986 03.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Lots to see and do all year round Disadvantages: Popular attractions quickly get crowded, eating on a saturday lunchtime is surprisingly difficult
...back I took off to Chicago for a few days in the Windy city. I knew of Chicago of course, but I didn't know much about the place, so I booked my trip on the assumption that a big city would have stuff to do, and I would find out what that stuff was when I arrived. Even though I was arriving from just a few states over, I flew in to O'Hare which is the more international of the 2 airports (Midway, the other, usually serves domestic flights). Getting ... ...more central you are.
Chicago has a fair number of attractions - not as many as, say, New York, but enough to keep you occupied for a short break none the less. I started off with the Terra Museum of American Art because it was only 1 block from my hotel. This place is small as art galleries go, but is worth a visit because it is so quiet compared to the main art gallery, and also because admission is free. The art on display changes regularly, ...
zoe_page 26.07.2004 (19.04.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: A great city, with every amenity Disadvantages: Bloody cold in December, and I lost my hat!
...architecture in the world makes Chicago a showcase city for anyone interested in BIG BUILDINGS!!! I was unaware until my visit that Chicago is very much Frank Lloyd Wright country, with the Robie House a great example. Meis Van Der Rohe was another architect who practised in and around the city. Chicago is also home to the second tallest building in the world, which is a rather sad thing to claim, really, but it was the tallest for a good long time ... ...as the band at Blue Chicago wound it up for the night, and the bar closed. It was 2.00am, and we were both due to be up about and bushy-tailed at about 8.00am. D is also for Dear God it’s cold! The phrase used by the same rad consultant when we stepped outside the bar! Did I tell you it was chilly? Oh…I did huh?
E is for Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and as dull as ditchwater. Stay up, eat, drink, be merry, make the most ...
stevethesleeve 09.12.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Skyline, Plenty of shops, Tourist attractions Friendly people Disadvantages: dont know of any
...was sent to work in Chicago in 0ctober 2004 for 3 months.. luckily for me flights, accommodation and hire car were all paid for. As it was my first time in America i was SO excited. Once we flew over Lake Michigan and began to see Chicago's amazing skyline, i gasped with amazement. Chicago Airport was very very busy, with another plane landing each and every minute. Customs queue felt like ages especially after such a long flight from ireland.
The ... ...Magnificent Mile, Unios Street Station, Chicago Bulls at the united center, Blue Man Group, lincolin park, chicago bears, the white sox, broadway shows, oprah winfrey shows and jerry springer shows......the list is endless. As i was there for 3 months i got to see and do quite a lot and i have some of the most beautiful pictures in my album. NOTE - If you decide to go up the hancock tower! DONT PAY INTO THE OBSERVATORY, just tell the doorman that ...
LOUISEHASSON 20.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: cleanliness, variety, sports, shopping Disadvantages: parking cost, can be chilly
...many times I had imagined Chicago to be a less spectacular version, but I underestimated the Windy City.
The first thing that struck me in comparison to New York, in fact in comparison to almost anywhere, was the cleanliness of the city. For such a bustling metropolitan area to be so clean is quite remarkable, and is very pleasant. It is a picturesque city on the whole, situated on the shores of lake Michigan, and with beautiful buildings both modern ... ...be complete without trying a Chicago style pizza. I was warned by the waiter I would struggle to finish half a pie, and after 2 slices I realised I would have been well informed to take his word, it was outrageously thick, but delicious.
It can be tricky to manouvere around the city by car, and walking can take it out of you as attractions and shops are fairly spaced out, so a brief study of the buses and trains would be reccomended. Parking is ...
Foxy1212 19.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: amzing Disadvantages: cold,cold and even colder
...an awesome veiw of the Chicago sky line and the breath taking lake Michigan.Arriving at 9 am in the morning to a beautiful sunn clear day,meant the view was at it's best as the plane circled in to land giving amazing panoramic views.
Having landed I made my way to the pick-up point I'd arranged with my cousin,but with the flight 20 minutes ahead of schedule I decided to venture outside to grab a quick cigarette.BAD IDEA!!! Quite apart from the fact ... ...My cousin having lived in Chicago for 2 years was acustomed to life over there,and soon had me installed in her well heated people carrier ,and we whizzed around the freeway towards her apartment.
During this journey I realised that it was so cold,that not one icicle or piece of snow was melting on the cars,despite the warm engines....I was getting worried..and snow was everywhere.
Whilst I realise that not all homes in America are the same...far ...
babajane32 14.12.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Great for sightseeing, outdoor activities and museums. Fantastic architecture. Disadvantages: VERY cold in the winter. Busy during conventions
Chicago is a place many pass through en route to another US destination, but it’s well worth stopping here either for a short break or for your whole vacation – there’s something to suit most types of tourist and is a great place to be “part of” for a couple of weeks.
The city sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, with over 20 miles of walking/cycle/rollerblade track and beaches to keep outdoor types amused, There’s also an abundance of well-kept ... ...For real buffs, the Chicago Architecture Foundation organises a wide range of tours, by foot, boat, coach and even on the El.
North of the River is a great place for shopping and eating, particularly on the “Magnificent Mile” – the mile-long stretch of Michigan Avenue from the river northwards. However, the downtown area has revived with the pedestrianisation of State Street – a great shopping street in the heart of the “Loop”, named for the El ...
vasquita 08.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Great city, HUGE towers, great shopping, nightlife and music Disadvantages: Weather (hot and humid in summer/ DRY cold in winter), pricey
...at a bad restaurant in Chicago but the Cheesecake factory is a must, and if you want something quick but a bit different, get an italian beef from Portillos. You must eat pizza at some stage on your visit too!
The Sears tower or the Hancock building both proivde brilliant views over the city and lake (which seems to go on forever). Navy pier would be fantastic in the summer when all the attractions are open, in the winter the inside bits are good ... ...though. If you're into Blues, there are plenty of Blues themed restaurants, bars and events.
Chicago often looks familiar as it's been the setting for many films and TV series. Definitely worth staying there for at least a few days and going back again and again. ...
magnoona 27.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Great shopping, architecture, museums, nightlife Disadvantages: Erratic weather, remote from other tourist sites
...New York or LA, Chicago is not the kind of town British
tourists flock to in huge numbers. But don't let that deter you. Set on the banks of Lake Michigan, it is a vibrant, fascinating city.
The first thing that catches the eye as you drive in from busy
O'Hare airport is the dramatic skyline. Chicago was the birthplace
of the skyscraper and some of the finest examples of the form are
on display here.
There's the Sears Tower, once the undisputed ... ...Chicago has dozens of high quality museums and galleries
for fans of culture - the Museum of Science and Industry, the
Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Institute of Chicago to
name but three. Wander around the streets and parks and you
could easily find yourself admiring a sculpture by Picasso, Miro or
Moore. Navy Pier is the
largest recreational pier in the US. It also has a ferris wheel, a
theatre, shops, bars, restaurants and great ...
sfinchuk 21.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Archetecture,Lake Front, Sport Disadvantages: South Side
...to take a day off. chicago hurls superlatives at you: tallest buildings, largest grain market, greatest distribution point, busiest airport and train terminal, biggest polish pupulace outside of warsaw, highest concentration of practising psychics - the list is endless. although it was built on a swamp the natives call 'place of the stinking wild onions', chicago boasts an array on architectural innovation as well as being the hub of communication ... ...were born here. chicago has numerous hostels and hotels that offer cheap and clean accomodation. the local food speciality include pizza, kosher all-beef hot dogs and cheap hamburgers called sliders. the chicago magazine is available from most tourist offices offering an extensive guide to eating out. chicago is the centre of the blues world, has one of the strongest folk scenes in america and boasts an impressive amount of jazz activity. the reader, ...
sagregson 02.02.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: MASSIVE LAKE TO MAKE UP FOR IT Disadvantages: CONSTANTLY WISHING YOU WERE IN NYC
EXCUSE ME SIR, ABOUT 40 MINUTES AGO I ORDERED PIZZA, REMEMBER? BEFORE I WAITED IN THE SNOW FOR 40 MINUTES? SO WHAT IS THIS SCALDING, SLOPPY, $25 QUICHE YOU HAVE GIVEN ME..
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sixhitsofsunshine 19.09.2002 (23.09.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Chicago
Advantages: Free trolley bus service (in summer) great lifestyle Disadvantages: Trolley busses have a high charge (in winter) NO security measures on the Hanncock tower!
I visited Chicago in August 2003 as part of a 3 week holiday visiting Illinois, Cleavland and Greenbay. From the moment you step off the plane at Chicago O'hare you feel welcome. I took the Subway from O'hare to Downtown the took a CTA bus to my Embassy Suites Hotel near Navy Peir. That night I took a walk to Navy peir, it was all light up with lights a liveleyness. There was a huge selection of resaurants and on the roof of the restaurants there ... ...It had amazing veiws on chicago and Lake Michigan. The next day I took a trolley bus from Navy peir to John Hanncock Tower. We bought a family pass that enabled us to have 48 hours acces to the tower. Unfortunatley the security is very, very poor, there wer no scannings of bags or anything unlike the Sears tower.
It was recomended that you shouldnt visit the Sears tower unless you realy want to as you will spend most of your time queing. There are ...
coolu 04.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Chicago
Chicago is quite a nice City. I stayed there for a weekend with my family and although I didnt like it that muh my Mum loves it. There are lots of places to go. We took a boat trip and went up the John Hankock center, the 2nd tallest building in Chicago. You have to rely on walking as public transport is akward, the roads are packed and taxis cost too much (at about $30 per trip) I might go back again but it is not very likely because as a child ...
infestedtim 20.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Chicago
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