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Chicago, often called the "Windy City", "Chi-Town", "Second City", and the "City of Big Shoulders", is the largest city in the Midwestern United States, as well as the third-most populous city in the United States. Adjacent to Lake Michigan, the Chicago metropolitan area (commonly referred to as Chicagoland) has a population of more than 9.5 million people in three U.S. states, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.
Chicago was founded in 1833 near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. The city soon became a major transportation hub in North America and the transportation, financial and industrial center of the Midwest. Today the city's attracts over 44 million visitors annually. Its principle airport, O'Hare International, is the second busiest airport in the world.
Chicago Performing Arts and Culture
The Chicago area has a lively theater scene that includes many landmark theaters that host mega-hit musicals, plays, and dance productions straight from Broadway as part of Broadway in Chicago, as well as world premiere productions. Some of the top performing arts venues include the Cadillac Palace Theatre (13 mi), the Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre (14 mi), Bank of America Theatre (14 mi) and Auditorium Theatre (14 mi).
Other performing arts offerings include the internationally renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Opera Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and a multitude of others too numerous to mention.
Chicago Museums, and Historic Sites
Chicago offers many remarkable museums scattered throughout the city and in the surrounding area. Chicago's Museum Campus on Lake Shore Drive includes the Shedd Aquarium (14.7 mi), Field Museum (14.8 mi), Adler Planetarium (15.2 mi), and Soldier Field (14.9 mi). The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere and offers over 800 fascinating interactive exhibits including the U-505 submarine, a working coal mine, a Boeing 727 airplane, and much, much more.
Impressive art museums are also plentiful in Chicago and include the Art Institute of Chicago (14.0 mi), and the Museum of Contemporary Art (14.0 mi), and many others. Other museums include a nature museum, a photography museum, and many more.
Chicago Shopping - A Dream Come True
Chicago is a genuine shopping paradise, with world-class department stores, numerous boutiques of every type, multiple designer & specialty shops, and fabulous discount shopping in various locations throughout the city.
One important Chicago shopping location is The Magnificent Mile along Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, which offers 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 2 unique museums and a variety of sightseeing and entertainment attractions to over 22 million visitors each year. Nearby are the high end stroes and salons on Oak Street, and another nearby treasure trove is the River North Gallery District, offering art and antiques in over 60 galleries.
Chicago Sports Venues
Chicago was named the Best Sports City in the United States by The Sporting News in 1993 and 2006. The city is home to two Major League Baseball teams: the Chicago Cubs of the National League play on the city's North Side, in Wrigley Field (10.8 mi), while the Chicago White Sox of the American League play in U.S. Cellular Field (15.6 mi) on the city's South Side.
Chicago is the only city in North America that has had more than one Major League Baseball franchise every year since the American League began in 1900. The Chicago Bears, one of the two remaining charter members of the NFL, play their home games at Soldier Field (14.9 mi) on Chicago's lakefront.
Outdoor Attractions: Theme Parks, Golf, Parks and Fun!
There are many fantastic outdoor things to do in Chicagoland, from huge parks with amphitheaters, gardens, and fountains, to amusement parks, zoos, and numerous golf couses which come alive in the summer months. Other outdoor activities include numerous tours on bikes, foot, car, bus, boats and even segways.
One of the top outdoor attractions in Chicago is the Navy Pier on Lake Michigan. It offers amazing rides, an amphitheatre, an IMAX film theatre, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Chicago Children's Museum, and much more. Another top draw is Millenium Park, an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. Among its many features is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States.
Let Us Help
For help planning your trip, take a few minutes to browse our web site. We provide real information about Chicago area attractions, restaurants and other things-to-do while staying with us. Your "Windy City" fun starts here!
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