Chicago

I thought I would write the next USA article on the amazing city that is Chicago….

As the legendary Frank Sinatra once sung - ‘my kind of town, Chicago is’. In my opinion, Chicago is at least an equal to any great city in the US. It has a wonderful location on the shores of Lake Michigan, but it is very important to visit at the right time of year, As well as being known amongst other things as ‘The Windy City’, Chicago has seasonal extremes of very cold winters and extremely hot summer temperatures, so you must always bear this in mind when planning when to visit. This city is just so atmospheric, so let me try and bring to your attention just why Chicago should be on everyones bucket list.

The food scene in Chicago is astonishing. With over 7000 restaurants offering everything from classic Chicago deep dish pizza, Chicago style hot dogs, Italian dipped beef sandwiches (the bread is often double dipped into the juices the meat is cooked in!!), mouth watering fried chicken, gourmet dining in Michelin star restaurants, etc. Let us tailor your trip to include the ‘Taste of Chicago’, the largest free admission food-fest in the world, which takes place in July, or the ‘Chicago gourmet’ event in September. Chicago is also the craft beer capital of America, with ‘Tap Rooms’ all over the city, offering delicious craft beers with some truly innovative bar food, in a range of establishments to suit everyone. Visit one of the thriving international neighbourhoods like Greektown, Chinatown, Little Italy, Pilsen, etc, where you can sample wonderful dishes from street vendors, food trucks, bars, restaurants and fine dining establishments.

The Chicago skyline is famous throughout the world, with the world renown Willis Building (formerly the Sears Tower), one of the worlds tallest buildings, as one of its main focal points. For the brave, venture out onto the glass-bottomed ‘Ledge at Skydeck Chicago’ for some incredible views, or stand awe struck at the panoramic views from the 94th floor at 360 Chicago. If you are feeling really brave, take a ride on the one of a kind adrenaline ride - Thrill. The lakefront area is the place to be in the summer. There are numerous water based activities to choose from, fabulous beach areas with trendy bars, cafes, restaurants and nightlife, in which you can pass the time relaxing or joining in the fun. A great way to see this whole area is to rent a Divvy Bike on Chicago's 18 mile Lakefront Trail. A stroll down the “Magnificent Mile’ is a must for everyone who visits, especially those who like to shop!

Chicago has some legendary sports teams and equally legendary sports fans, often considered the most passionate in the US. Take in a Baseball game featuring either the Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox - the legendary Chicago Bulls Basketball team (made famous by the iconic Michael Jordan) and the Chicago Blackhawks Ice Hockey team share the same superb arena. You also have the Chicago Sky Basketball team, the Chicago Fire and Chicago Red Stars football teams and for those of us who remember American Football in the mid 1980’s, Chicago is the home of the once mighty Chicago Bears American Football team.

When it comes to theatre and music, then few places can touch Chicago. Just think of the famous musical Chicago! Personally, I always associate Chicago with Blues and Jazz, but specifically, I think of one of my favourite films of all time - The Blues Brothers - if you have not seen this, do so immediately. Frank Sinatra sang about Chicago, there is an 80’s rock band called Chicago, the city is just alive with live music venues showcasing some incredibly talented local musicians. Chicago plays host to a Jazz Festival, a Blues Festival and a World Music Festival, that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to this wonderful city. The theatre scene is legendary with more than 200 stages, including five Tony Award winning theatres. If you cannot find a theatre offering to suit you in Chicago, then you really do not like the theatre!

If you have not visited Chicago, then you really must and if you already have, then you know just how fantastic it is and hopefully this will encourage you to go again. Pop in and let’s get you out to ‘The Windy City’.