About the city:
Chicago is a major cultural center of United States that has many attractions for visitors. Located in northeastern Illinois on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of Chicago River is the city of Chicago. Chicago is the third largest city in United States and is one of leading industrial, commercial and financial centers.
Chicago covers a land area of 227.1 square miles and extends 29 miles along Lake Michigan. Chicago is divides by two short rivers- Chicago River flows west though the downtown area and the Calumet River flows in the south. Both rivers are linked with Illinois and Mississippi rivers making Chicago a connecting point. Chicago Board of Trade supplies large varieties of Corn, Wheat, Soybean Oil and Oats.
Chicago is the center of a large metropolitan area spreading across three states from Wisconsin to Indiana. Almost every ethnic group that’s found in the United States is represented in Chicago. Spanish and Polish are the two most common languages spoken in the city other than English.
Tourist attractions:
Among the many excellent museums in Chicago is the Museum of Science and Industry. Arts Institute of Chicago has classical Renaissance structure with two bronze lions guarding the entrance and it boasts world’s great art collections. Another not to be missed spot is Shedd Aquarium with recreated environment of the Amazon River and Philippine coral reefs and shows one of the largest and most diverse shark shows in whole North America.
While in Chicago must visit is the Millennium Park that opens in front of the lake with Ferris Wheel, outdoor music and ice-skating rink. Lincoln Park Zoo that was established in 1868 is a beautiful landscaped zoo, which is one of America’s last free-admission zoos and houses best assemblies of gorillas and chimpanzees. Also worth visiting is Chicago Carnival with over forty rides, games and stalls, which offer loads of fun and frolic.
For Music lovers and night birds, there are many clubs, bars located all over Chicago offering jazz music, and swings on blues mood. Clubs like Green Mill, B.L.U.E.S, Buddy Guy’s legend, Andy’s Jazz club are some of great jazz music playing joints; Second City is a comedy club where drinks can be enjoyed with few laughs.
Close Destinations:
91 miles from Chicago, Illinois is the 150 years old University of Notre Dame in South Bend. However, there is a capacity of 80,000seats but for a "Fighting Irish" football game; it becomes difficult to land seats. Many attractions on the campus include many works of art, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. South Bend also has several fine museums, including the South Bend Regional Museum of Art and the Northern Indiana Center for History. It also must to try the truffles or fudge from the South Bend Chocolate Company.
Also just 91 miles from Chicago is Lake Geneva. When starting on this trip kiss stresses good-bye as this lovely resort town with laid-back atmosphere would do just that. Beach buffs could straight away dash for several beaches along seven miles of Geneva Lake and could even do some water sports. There so much for everyone, water parks for kids, world’s largest refracting telescope at Yerkes Observatory is necessary see, for land lovers there’s an alternative for self-guided hike around the perimeter of the lake, which stretches some 21 miles. Winters make it a popular family ski spot.
Booking:
Moving in and around Chicago is simple by making use of transport facilities available in the city. The Chicago Transit Authority operates bus, subway, and EL (elevated train) services for visiting Chicago. Even for moving out of Chicago to nearby places, comfortable and convenient service of Trains is available. Amtrak connects Chicago with all major states like Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Indiana and so on. Shuttle services could also be used to fly to neighboring states.
Reaching Chicago from any other place in the world can easily be arranged via a travel agent or over the internet. Chicago ’s O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports, which is connected by all major airlines. From India, flights like KLM, British Airways, and Air India provide their services daily. Flight time could be 17hours to 24 hours depending on the airline and weather.
Accommodation:
Accommodation in the city can be booked in advance over the websites of many hotels and resorts available in Chicago. According to the nature of travel, choice of accommodation could be selected. Various hotels ranging from 2 to 7 starts are available, lodges with necessary requirements only, are ideal for budgeted stay and various resorts with special relaxing and comfort facilities are available.
Hotel Rates and Charges:
If looking for a low profile stay in a 3 star hotel, it could be availed in the price range of $76 to $207, whereas for much high profile stay in 4 star or a 5 star hotel, price range starts from $129 and can go up to $300. For a comfortable and cost-effective stay in lodges available in Chicago, price range could be $40 to $60.
Lodging:
Whatever the choice of the hotel, stay would be comfortable in Chicago city. Each hotel provides distinct facilities making the tourist cherish their experience forever. Rooms are made comfortable with amenities like TV, Iron and iron boards, three multilane telephone, fax machines, minibar, coffeemaker, cable television etc. some exclusive hotels also provide other facilities included laundry and valet services, health club, safe-deposit box, heated indoor pools, Jacuzzi and Steam rooms etc.
Amusing Facts:
Certain Facts are attached with the City of Chicago, as The Art Institute of Chicago has the world’s second largest collection of Impressionist paintings. The world’s largest Cookie and cracker factory (Oreo) is in Chicago, which produces around 16 billion cookies a year. Chicago was nicknamed “The Windy City” by Charles Dana because he was tired of hearing Chicagoans boasting about the world’s Columbian Exposition.
This windy city indeed has some very powerful winds blowing around the city that makes tourist fly into this city. Chicago not only a diverse and versatile city but also most popular tourist destination. |
