"My Kind of Town ... Chicago" a Chicago Travel Page by TRimer

Chicago is a city of contradictions. It is big and cosmopolitan, yet it is very clean and beautiful. It is made up of neighborhoods that each have their own look and feel. Summer is the best kept secret- with city sponsored music festivals, neighborhood street festivals, beach activities and lots more. Some people say if we did not have winter, everyone would want to live here! The best thing about Chicago is the people. They will go out of there way to make you feel at home.

A few words to the wise to people wanting to visit our beautiful city (things I constantly answer on the forums):

1). Try to stay downtown!!!! While it may be $20 or so cheaper to stay out by the airport or in a nearby suburb (Schaumburg is NOT doable on public transportation) you will spend at least that much in taxis or parking and in time getting to/from downtown. You are not limited to just the loop area or hostels (although some posters would imply this). There are many nice hotels in the $100-$200 range in River North, Lincoln Park and Lakeview. You can also find deals at the chains (Hampton, Courtyard, etc) on the Mag Mile.

2). We have lots and lots of great restaurants here (from a culinary and atmosphere perspective). Pizza Uno, the Cheesecake Factory and the Rainforest Cafe are NOT good choices- they are not particular good or inexpensive. Better to try out unique Chicago restaurants in the neighborhoods, Market Area and/or Mag Mile.

Did You Know?

Chicago is home to the world's longest street - Western Avenue.

The Chicago Post Office at 433 W. Van Buren is the only postal facility in the world which you can drive a car through.

The term "Jazz" was coined in Chicago in 1914.

Chicago is home to the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is one of the last free zoos.

Chicago has the world's largest public library - the Harold Washington Library.

The Adler Planetarium in Chicago was the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.

Chicago is the birthplace of air travel. The first commercial air passenger (a female Chicago Herald-Examiner reporter) departed Chicago for San Francisco on July 2, 1927.

The University of Chicago was the site of the world's first atomic reaction.

The first Ferris wheel made its debut in 1893 at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

The Field Museum houses Sue, the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered.

The Wild Reef Exhibit at the John G. Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest and most diverse shark habitats in North America. The aquarium is the largest indoor aquarium in the world.

The Art Institute of Chicago holds the largest collections of Impressionist paintings in the world outside of the Louvre in Paris.

Chicago has been the background for lots of movies. Here is a partial list:

About Last Night
A League of Their Own
Backdraft
Bad Boys
Barbershop
Chicago: The Musical
Curly Sue
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
High Fidelity
Home Alone I, II, III
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Major League
Meet the Parents
Miracle on 34th Street
My Best Friend's Wedding
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Nothing In Common
Ocean's 11 and Ocean's 12
Ordinary People
Risky Business
Sixteen Candles
Stir of Echoes
The Blues Brothers
The Fugitive
The Road To Perdition
The Untouchables
What Women Want
When Harry Met Sally
While You Were Sleeping