Welcome to the most comprehensive Chicago tourist guide on the net! Here, you can get ideas for a 1-day or weekend stay, as well as day trips and excursions from Chicago..
CHICAGO
Chicago is a world-class city,
with something to offer everyone. It has hotels for every budget, and diverse and
top-notch dining, with some of the world's top chefs based here. You will
find it a mecca for museum-lovers, as well as home to different spectator
sports; there is shopping for every acquisitive taste, amazing architecture,
and at the end of the day, a hopping night life for every age group.
The city itself boasts a stunning skyline, against the backdrop of the
azure waters of Lake Michigan. It is rich in history, yet is constantly
evolving. What distinguishes Chicago from certain other major cities
in the U.S. is that the city itself is alive -- people work and live in
the city, use public transportation, enjoy the lakefront and walk
around the city.
Yet, for all its glitz and polish, it is a very accessible, kind and affordable
city, with down-to-earth, friendly people. Just a short distance
away from major tourist attractions, you will find different neighborhoods,
with colorful cafes and eateries and local ethnic or demographic color,
all worthy of further exploration!
If you are planning a visit
without a personal local guide, a little advance preparation can make
your trip truly memorable.
Practical Information
In advance of your visit, do the following:
- Choose your accommodations and take a look at dining options. If you are limited in time, it is worth staying close in to the city, either within walking distance of major attractions, or accessible via public transportation. As Chicago is such a major tourist destination, you can certainly check an online booking source like http://www.hotels.com/ or cross check or just browse http://www.metromixchicago.com/ You can also browse the metromix link for restaurants, or pick up a copy of the Zagat guide for Chicago, which will not only give you ratings, but also indexes restaurants according to types and locations.
Click below for complete information on these
exciting destinations!
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Download maps, or, if you are a member of AAA, stop by your local ofice to pick up maps and guides. You can also get brochures in advance. For maps, transportation from the airport, public transportation within Chicago, check: http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/fares.html#e where you can also get information about visitor's passes (highly recommended for convenience and value). The regular site for Chicago Transit can also provide links for other transportation information: http://www.transitchicago.com/
Here are some useful sources for brochures:
http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicago_tourism.htm
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Finally, get an overview of the city. You can pick up any number of guides (Frommer's is always a reliable and down-to-earth source) from a bookstore, or look online. Here is the official City of Chicago overview: http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalChannelAction.do?topChannelName=Exploring
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A quick word about Chicago airports and airport transportation: Chicago is served by O'Hare International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, and also a smaller airport, Midway. Public transportation is available from both into the city, but there are also different airport transportation services available. Chicago is a reasonably priced city, so that sharing a cab is not out of the question also.
*Check the Travel/Tidbits
section for various petsitting solutions on http://www.poochsite.com,
"The Best Doggone Site" If you are on a family vacation and choose to bring
the four-legged member of the family, there are dog-friendly hotels and
motels. Certain hotels in the Holiday Inn, the La Quinta chain, Red Roof
Inns and Residence Inn by Marriott, and even certain boutique hotels, allow
dogs, with different deposit policies. Look at http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/uscities/guides/us/cities/usonlinecityILChicago.shtml
for excellent hints.
For New York City's Top Tourist
Tips: NewYorkforTourists.com
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