"The Windy City" a Chicago Travel Page by neKo

I can't believe Chicago is my home! As a little girl, I was fascinated with the history and sheer size of Chicago. My interest began with the movie "In Old Chicago", with Don Ameche. I recommend seeing it before you visit. It is about the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the infamous O'Leary family - their cow allegedly kicked over an oil lantern and started the Great Fire!

Highly recommended webpage for restaurant and nightlife info:
Metromix

1. DO NOT pay for the Sears Tower or John Hancock Tower observation deck! These are HUGE rip-offs!

Instead, go to the Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the Hancock Tower. There, you can have a cocktail in the lounge or soup and appetizers in the restaurant. For the same price of 1 person on the observation deck, you can have a have a drink + the view for free!

If you don't want to spend at all, just go up to the 95th floor and pretend you know exactly where you are going. Come out of the elevators and turn right, then turn right again - towards the lounge. In the hallway on your left are the bathrooms - ladies, you have floor to ceiling windows in there - a great view and you can stand there as long as you want to! Sorry guys, no view. You can stand in the lounge and look around without being harrassed, unless it's a very busy evening (avoid Fri and Sat night).

2. If you know someone living in Chicago, ask them about FREE MUSEUM PASSES.

Chicago residents are able to check out free museum passes from the Chicago Public Library. The passes can be held for about 4 days and they admit 4-8 people. This will save any traveler hundreds of dollars! But, you need to know a very kind Chicagoan. The passes are often hard to track down, as they may only be available in a distant neighborhood library.