ChicagoChicago is the major metropolis of
America's heartland, with three million people hustling and bustling in the city of skyscrapers that appears to rise straight out of the waters of
Lake Michigan, in northern
Illinois. Once a gangster's hang-out synonymous with infamous names such as
Al Capone and Bonny and Clyde, the 'windy city' today has a squeaky-clean reputation as an international business and commercial capital boasting an eclectic mix of architecture, world-class theater, art exhibitions, and super-enthusiastic sportsmanship.
Chicago emerged as a rough and tough
survivor after being destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871 and a huge influx of immigrants from all over the world in the early 20th century brought with them a determined spirit infusing the city with ethnic diversity and the unmistakable sound of
Chicago-style blues music. Chicagoans have built a city that is to be reckoned with, boasting soaring skyscrapers including the
Sears Tower (one of the tallest in the world); thriving ethnic neighborhoods; a lakefront business district, the re-energised downtown; unbeatable shopping along the famed Michigan Avenue; and top-class sports teams.
One thing that does not attract visitors to Chicago is the weather, which, because of its geographical location is breezy at best, and freezing and gale-ridden at worst. It is possible to ignore the weather though, when getting caught up in the myriad of things to do, see and experience in this Midwestern metropolis - there are 30 excellent museums alone.
Getting Around: Chicago has the largest public transportation system in the country and getting around the city is fast, easy and inexpensive, with an extensive network of rapid transit trains and buses. The train system has both underground lines and elevated tracks above the city and is known as the El; most visitors only use the El, but buses also cover every part of the city including the suburbs, albeit less regularly. Most train lines run 24 hours a day, with Overnight or Night Owl services taking over between midnight and 5am, though only on some lines. The Metra commuter trains link the city to the outer suburbs, including Lake Michigan,
Hyde Park and
McCormick Place. Fares for the bus, subway and the El are standard, and a variety of visitor passes are available offering more economical travel. During the summer months, a free trolley system operates in the downtown area, connecting Chicago's top cultural attractions, shopping areas and visitor destinations. Taxis are easy to find, and the metered rates are reasonable for short journeys. Although traffic is not as bad as in other major cities (outside rush hour), parking is expensive and difficult to find.
Nightlife: Chicago's unassuming nightlife scene comes as a refreshing change to other US cities and although most locals prefer to stay close to what they know and hang out at their local watering hole, Chicago still has its fair share of hip and happening places to see and be seen in. Most nightclubs and music bars are dotted throughout the windy city with the most popular haunts located in
Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Lakeview where revelers can find music clubs devoted to just about every genre from rhythm and blues and jazz to alternative rock and Indie. The city's waterfront nightlife is popular with residents and tourists alike while the piano bars at The Drake Hotel and the
Ambassador East Hotel's Pump Room are favorites with locals.Wells Street in the Old Town offers some great restaurants and bars as well as the popular Zanies Comedy Club. Chicago's gay scene is grouped together on a stretch of North Halsted Street in Lakeview and men's bars dominate the strip.The birthplace of house music in the 1980s, Chicago has plenty of loud and pumping clubs full of 20-somethings dancing the night away to the latest offerings of the resident DJ. Many of these types of clubs pop up and disappear at a dizzying rate while others have been around for decades.The culture scene in Chicago is bustling with shows and plays running throughout the year at renowned Chicago theater companies, such as
Steppenwolf Theater Company, the Goodman Theater, and the Victory Gardens Theater. Broadway-style entertainment can be found at the
LaSalle Bank Theater and the Cadillac Palace Theater. An when in town, a visit to Symphony Center to hear the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform is an absolute must.
Climate: Chicago has an extreme climate with very hot summers and bitterly cold winters, its lakeside setting only slightly moderating the temperatures and adding some humidity to the atmosphere. Chicago has distinct seasons, with a short spring, when temperatures are moderate and nights frosty. Summers are hot, sunny and humid, from June to the end of September, and are prone to thunderstorms. August is usually the wettest month of the year. Autumn is a lovely time of year when the air is crisp and cool, with blue skies and sunshine. Winters in Chicago are icy and prone to cold, harsh winds. Snow is common.
SpringfieldThe state capital of Illinois,
Springfield owes its prominence and position to its most famous citizen, beloved former American president,
Abraham Lincoln. The city started out as a little pioneer settlement in 1820, called Calhoun after a
South Carolina senator of that name. The senator fell out of favor and in 1832 the town was renamed Springfield, just before a young lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, decided to make the frontier town his home. No sooner had he settled in than Lincoln decided to up the town's status to state capital, a legislative effort that he seemed to accomplish without too much trouble. The civil war brought some economic benefits to the town with new industries opening, and Springfield also became an important link in the state railway system. Today the city has a thriving economy, and a good tourist trade thanks to having been Lincoln's home town. It is also well located midway between Chicago and
St Louis on the historic Route 66.
