|
  The Windy City. Chi-Town. The City With Big Shoulders. The Second City….Chicago, Illinois. There’s just no city quite like it.
With 26 miles of lakefront along the beautiful Lake Michigan, Chicago is home to nearly three million people, 200 art galleries, 200 theatres, 552 parks, eleven Fortune 500 companies, two major league baseball stadiums, and more. The third largest city in the United States, nearly 80 million tourists visit Chicago each year, and it’s no surprise why…it’s a city filled with history, endless amounts of things to do, places to see and makes for a perfect weekend destination.
Chicago’s skyline is one of the world’s tallest and most magnificent. Standing at 110 stories high, the Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower, is a Chicago icon and has claimed the title of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The famous skyscraper was completed in 1973, encompasses 3.5 million square feet and weighs 222,000 tons. A Chicago must-see, take a tour of the building and see the city from a whole different vantage point. On a clear day, you can see Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin from the Skydeck. If you dare, take a step onto The Ledge, an all glass box that extends 4.3 feet out from the Skydeck, and look 1,353 feet straight down!
Another great way to see the city is from the water. A boat trip on Lake Michigan provides a perfect view of Chicago’s famous skyscrapers.
For an even more spectacular and breathtaking view, take a tour in the evening, and see the splendor of the lights twinkling in the night sky. For an up close and personal look at Chicago’s skyline, take an architectural boat tour, and learn about the history of Chicago and the fire in 1871 that destroyed over three square miles of the city.
Known as Chicago’s lakefront playground, Navy Pier is the place to enjoy shopping, entertainment, dining, and more. Rich in history, the first Ferris wheel made its debut in 1893 in Chicago. Today, a replica of the original 15-story Ferris wheel makes its home on the pier.
Weighing in at over 110 tons, 66 feet long and 33 feet high, Cloud Gate, otherwise known as The Bean, is a popular public sculpture and highlight of Millennium Park. Designed by Anish Kapoor, the sculpture gives off a unique reflection of the city skyline and is a hot spot for tourists.
You can’t go to Chicago and not try one of their famous deep dish or stuffed pizzas. With crust up to three inches tall, large amounts of cheese and tomato sauce, the famous Giordano’s stuffed pizzas are a must have. Established in 1974, critics all over the country have named it the city’s best stuffed pizza.
Also originating from Chicago is the Chicago Dog. Load up an all beef frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, topped with mustard, onions, sweet pickle relish, tomato slices, pickled peppers, a pickle spear with a dash of celery salt and you’ve got yourself a Chicago Dog…but don’t add ketchup, as most Chicagoans consider ketchup on your dog forbidden.
Spring in Chicago is nothing more than beautiful, especially after a cold winter…but what is even more exciting about spring in the city is the arrival of baseball season to the two major league teams that call Chicago home…the Cubs and the White Sox. If you want to experience baseball and the glory of its tradition, you must visit Wrigley Field, America’s second-oldest ballpark in the majors behind Boston’s Fenway Park. Built in 1914, the Cubbies didn’t call Wrigley home until 1916. From its ivy covered brick outfield wall to the hand turned scoreboard and famous red marquee sign at its entrance, visit the stadium and you’re guaranteed to fall in love with America’s favorite past time.
Jump on the L train and head to the home of the Chicago White Sox, U.S. Cellular Field (formerly known as Comiskey Park). The stadium opened in 1991 and offers up a different baseball experience. The ballpark features a 53-foot by 28-foot video screen and represents everything modern, with many attractions for fans to enjoy.
From the Sears Tower, to the Navy Pier, Wrigley and more, no matter where you go, Chicago is full of exciting and interesting places to see, and one of the most-visited cities in the Midwest.
|
|
