subject: Chicago deserves your full attention [print this page] Everyone looks for something different in a holiday. Some prefer to kick-back and relax on a beach for a fortnight, whilst the very notion of not moving from a deckchair for two weeks is enough to drive some people insane.
City breaks are always a good middle-ground, as there's normally something to suit everyone. And if you go to one of the world's top cities, then you can't possibly fail to please everyone in your party so Chicago, here we come.
Fantastic architecture, blues music and sublime dining? Check. Great shopping, top-notch museums and a giant lake? Check. Splendid parks, MLB Baseball...we'll stop there as the list could go on and on. It's safe to say that Chicago is a world class city that deserves your full attention. So where to start?
The Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) Skydeck should be top of your list for starters. Take the ear-popping lift to the 103rd floor observation deck where on a good day you can see as far as Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. It's not all about views, however, with interactive exhibits telling all about Chicago's past, including famous architects, musicians, writers and sports stars.
If you prefer a bit of retail therapy, then look no further than the Magnificent Mile, where you'll find exclusive shops, boutiques and department stores located in the northern end of Michigan Avenue.
Chicago and blues go hand in hand and no visit to the Windy City' would be complete without a trip to one of the city's many blues venues. In North Side clubs such as Kingston Mines, or South Side venues such as the Checkerboard or Lee's Unleaded Blues, you can get to grips with the sounds Chicago invented way back in the day electric blues.
Chicago has many fantastic arts venues too, and culture vultures will be licking their lips when they see what's on offer. The Art Institute of Chicago is a cultural gem that houses the USA's best collection of Impressionist and Postimpressionist art. Then there's the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, where you can enjoy getting up close and personal with the country's oldest planetarium.
And let's not forget about the jewel in Chicago's cultural crown the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). Visitors get to traverse an elevator shaft to a coal mine or can be whisked back to the cobbled streets of Chicago in 1910. If that doesn't float your boat, why not venture into the deepest, darkest caverns of the human heart in a giant replica ticker?
With so much to see and do, you'll want somewhere pleasant to rest your weary head and luckily, Chicago hotels are varied and plentiful, ensuring you have a choice selection of places to rest. Enjoy your trip...the Windy City welcomes you!
