"This is a Great City and a Gre ..." a Chicago Travel Page by aflaneur

I moved here in 1993 after spending 5 wonderful years in Toronto. So, as a fairly new resident of Chicago, I've found my own pleasures in the great city to share. I am limiting my recommendations to those destinations that would interest a first-time visitor, and leave a more exhaustive review of neighborhood gems and off-the-beaten-track opportunities to others.

NAVY PIER -- This is quite a bit more than just a typical tourist destination. It offers one of the most spectacular views of the shoreline cityscape -- especially the view south toward Grant Park, the Art Institute and the Museum Campus -- and the best places to appreciate the view is either by eating lunch at a window table on the second floor of Riva Restaurant or perched atop the monsterous Ferris Wheel. Navy Pier has the only full-service Haagen Dazs cafe in North America, which is the best place to cool off on a hot Chicago summer day. And for Chicago souvenirs, Navy Pier has Oh Yes Chicago!, which develops its own designs for t-shirts that cannot be found elsewhere -- very creative and cool.

In addition to Navy Pier, a day spent along the lakefront can include a bike ride along the shoreline bikepath that is great for 10 or even 20 miles of cardio and peoplewatching, all the while taking in the best skyline in the country. Spectacular. Then take in a beach volleyball game at North Beach, or a walk through Millenium Park, or an hour of Impressionism at the Art Institute (second to none), or the dinosaurs at the Field Museum (Sue!). Window shop along the 10 blocks of Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River. Take the Chicago Architecture Foundation's boat tour and see the best of Chicago's soaring buildings from the best possible vantage point (far better than ascending by multiple elevator rides to the top of the Hancock or Sears buildings...unless you just like to see what it's like to be up high, which presumes you've never been on a plane.

Chicago has world class live theater, sports and restaurants. For live theater, you can't miss with any of the programs at the Steppenwolf, Goodman and Lookingglass theaters, all of which develop local live theater programs that are world famous. Then there's the broadway shows that stop by the theater district in and around State Street and Randolph. For sports, if you don't take in a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, you're missing out on actually visiting Chicago. That's not so much to take anything away from the Sox, Bulls, Bears, or Hawks, but Wrigley Field is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Chicago is chock full of the best restaurants the world has to offer, and competes on an even level with the best of NYC, LA, SF and Las Vegas. Chicago has evolved into a restaurant city.

While you can visit for 3 days, like all great cities you need a week to get a real feel and sense of place for Chicago. It really is the cultural capital of the Third Coast, and will please beyond your expectations.