Sign in with Facebook"The place I call home" Top 5 Page for this destination Chicago by Dabs
Chicago Travel Guide: 6,874 reviews and 11,563 photos
I'm having fun in my hometown of Chicago. Summer is my favorite time of the year in Chicago, the city really comes to life from Memorial Day until Labor Day with a multitude of festivals every weekend, the lakefront is jammed packed with bicyclists, walkers, joggers and roller bladers, the al fresco dining areas are open, it's perfect weather to hop on a boat and go for a ride on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River or catch the Cubs at Wrigley Field or the White Sox at Cellular Field.
Current/Coming Soon Hot Events in Chicago
If you do not have to be here, don't come! The G8 Summit that was to be held May 19-20 has been moved to Camp David in Maryland but they are still expecting protesters since they can't go to Camp David and protest. The NATO Summit is still coming May 20-21, 2012. Chicago will be expensive, they are already planning for crowd control and riots like every other one of these summits. I'm staying as far away from downtown Chicago as I can!
Everyone likes free things to do, especially in this economy, here's a list of FREE THINGS TO DO
There are a ton of daily deal sights but the original and the one with the best offers is Groupon, I've bought many of them now and they are a great deal!
One to see discounted entertainment options for specific dates is Goldstar, I've bought tickets for several shows through Goldstar
If you are looking for some ideas on what to do in Chicago for the Christmas holidays, have a look here
Late Spring/Early Summer starts festival season and while lots have been cancelled because of budgetary problems, here are a couple of guides to the spring, summer and fall festival seasons
**Metromix festival guide** Timeout Chicago Festival guide**
2012 Festivals
**29th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, June 8-10**27th Chicago Gospel Music Festival, June 21-24 (new date, location)**32nd Annual Taste of Chicago, July 11-15 (new date)**54th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show, August 18-19**34th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, Aug 30-Sept 2**14th Annual World Music Festival, September 13-20**
The Taste of Chicago has been moved from the week around the 4th of July to July 11-15, 2012. The concerts, which used to be entirely free are now being sold as reserved seats, lawn still free.
I've lived in and around Chicago since I was 8 years old and like many Chicagoans love this city and can't imagine living anywhere else (just don't ask me that question in February when the wind chills have dipped below zero!!!) My Chicago page has turned into a monster page, since joining VT I keep finding things that I want to share with all of you-interesting architecture, neighborhoods to explore, restaurants that I want to try...
I've tried to organize the tips into sections to make it easier to navigate if you use author's order
Must Sees
Top 10 which is what most visitors to Chicago will see, I know there are dozens of tips on these but I wanted to have a complete page
Art Institute, Cultural Center, Shedd Aquarium, Hancock Building, Architectural River Cruise, Buckingham Fountain, Lincoln Park Zoo, Museum of Science & Industry, Sears (Willis) Tower, Field Museum
I guess I could even make it a top 15 since I've left out seeing the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, Blue Clubs, shopping on Michigan Avenue, Navy Pier and Pierogi Fest :-)
Architecture which is one of my favorite things about Chicago, here's a few of my favorites
Chicago Tribune Tower
Wrigley Building
Carbide & Carbon Building
Rookery
Public art the major public art in the city
Misc things that don't fit anywhere else
Food
I've tried to identify the neighborhood that the restaurants are in, the NMA (North Michigan Avenue), River North and Loop restaurants are the most centrally located and I've located them together if you use author's order. If I've made a more recent visit than the tip, I try to remember to note that at the top so you know if the information is current. Here are a few of my favorite spots:
Italian-Rosebud on Taylor in Little Italy, there's also a location on Rush Street downtown
Greek-Greek Islands
Mexican-Salpicon or Adobo Grill
Spanish-Cafe Iberico
Steaks-Wildfire for more casual, Morton's for a special occasion
Pizza-Lou Malnati's, Edwardo's, Giordano's
Seafood-Joe's Stone Crab or Shaw's
Dim Sum-Shui Wah in Chinatown
Chinese-Lao Sze Sichaun in Chinatown
American contemporary Atwood Cafe
Breakfast-Bongo Room
Indian-Tiffin or Viceroy on Devon Avenue
Off the beaten path
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods that Chicago visitors often don't get a chance to see as they are outside the central area. If you are staying longer than a weekend, venture out into the neighborhoods to have a meal at one of the terrific ethnic restaurants throughout the city, take a free tour with a Chicago Greeter or one of the excellent tours offered by the Architecture Foundation. Here's a couple of my favorite neighborhoods:
Hyde Park
Pullman
Chicago is often overlooked as a tourist destination for overseas visitors, it's the 3rd largest city and yet is only the 9th popular for overseas visitors, partially because of it's Midwestern location and partially because people thinking of visiting a large US city choose New York. Here's my top 10 list of reasons to visit Chicago:
Chicago Top 10
Best websites on Chicago:
metromix
Explore Chicago
Chicago Reader
Center Stage
Chicago Loop Alliance Loop walking tours
Yelp, user reviews
LTH Forum dining reviews
- Pros:Architecture, museums, FOOD!
- Cons:Cold and snowy winters
- In a nutshell:My favorite city in the US
Reviews (387)
No, we don't hibernate in winter
Local Customs
(11)
Contrary to popular belief, Chicagoans do not survive winter by hibernating until the chill is gone. I wouldn't go as... more travel advice
Polar Bear Plunge
Local Customs
(11)
My husband can't adequately explain to me why he wanted to do the Polar Bear Plunge, it's just one of those things that... more travel advice
River North-Casual Mexican from Rick...
Restaurants
(140)
Rick Bayless is the equivalent of a rock star in the culinary world, one of those few chefs that have received celebrity... more travel advice
Untouchables Tour
Tourist Traps
(9)
As a local I am obliged to put this tour in the tourist trap section. Ask (almost) anyone who lives in Chicago about... more travel advice
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Transportation (20)
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Nightlife (25)
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Things to Do (66)
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Off The Beaten Path (52)
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Shopping (19)
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Dabs' Related Pages
Chicago Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "The place I call home"
- "Captivating City of "The Big Shoulders": Chicago"
- "Never A Lovely So Real"
- "Chicago!"
- "Chicago - My Favorite City in the United States!"
- "Sweet Home Chicago!"
- "Chicago - I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it"
- See All...
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Badges & Stats in Chicago
- 387 Reviews
- 579 Photos
- 918 Forum posts
- 124 Comments
- 87,433PageViews
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Have you been to Chicago?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Chicago
- Replied to Camellia36's Travel Chicago Forum Forum Question "UNION STATION TO O'HARE"
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Photos in Chicago
See All Photos (579)
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Comments (118)
Nice town...I was in chicago last year, indeed an excellent city with an interesting architecture
As a child I used to go to the games at Wrigley Field sometimes, but then when I was nine years old the Cubs had a thirty-six game losing streak. I was so disappointed I vowed never to set foot in Wrigley Field again, and thus far I haven’t.
Hello, Kristi!~ What an interesting page! It's very detailed and comprehensible...
Nice--Much better than that dour "American Gothic" couple!
Yeah, I know there's no corn there... I dated a girl for a long while who was from Merriville and the family was spread across Schererville, Crown Point, etc. Even that far south is just barely on the fringes of corn.
Hi Kristi, Just looking for pix of the latest vt meet mate. Got any?... Cheers, Ann.
Wow! Only 1 comment on your Chicago page in 2011 and that from Kaspian. Is anybody looking at our Chicago pages anymore??
Ooooh, 61 and 62!!? And they're both in the Caribbean according to your homepage! This snow is even more depressing now! Which two lovely islands will you be adding to your list? :-)
excellent chicago tips! im buidling up my chicago tips and read your tips a lot before going there last september :-)
Dabs, ty SO much for your tips on safety in Chicago. We're planning a visit there in Sept. and could use some help. Would you mind corresponding with me via email? My address is Angelvoice2@gmail.com. I'd really appreciate talking to you. Ty so much! - AV
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