Chicago

Despite being one of America's great industrial powerhouses, Chicago is also one of its most welcoming cities.

A bustling downtown and soaring skyscrapers combined with the strong community spirits of its immigrant communities make the city a less stressful alternative to New York City, rewarding visitors who choose to take a break from the tourist norm with a unparalleled insight into the real United States, including some of the country's finest music.

Chicago sits on the shores of the impressive Lake Michigan on the tip of the Great Lakes and is well connected to the popular East Coast by trains and the legendary Greyhound bus as well as to Europe with daily flights.

Traditions and Culture in Chicago

As with New York, Chicago is in essence a city of immigrants, with the diversity created by its 19th century status as the country's major railroad hub still very much is essence today. Thus, the downtown area boasts strong German and Irish communities, with the latter responsible for one of the world's great St Patrick's Day festivities, while excellent and affordable pizza in family-run restaurants is also guaranteed in its bustling Italian quarter.
Aside from its industry, Chicago's greatest gift to the world has been jazz and blues music, with the city's strong black population making it the spiritual home of both types of music over the decades. Bars and clubs along the State Street "stroll" which have hosted the likes of Bo Diddley, the Rolling Stones and Miles Davis are still the best place to check out the finest acts and enthusiasts can still catch Buddy Guy at his own venue, Legends, most nights of the week.

Recommended in Chicago

While walking among all the skyscrapers is a good means of getting a feel for the dynamism of modern-day Chicago, easily the best way to see the city is to head out onto Lake Michigan for a guided boat cruise. Led by informative guides, these trips give an insight into the old history of the city, which would often be overlooked otherwise given that the physical evidence disappeared with the great fire of 1871.

Aside from the tall buildings, which include the mighty Sears Tower, other highlights include the Symphony Hall, home to the fine Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the outdoor auditorium in Grant Park, where locals flock in the summer months to enjoy the free shows.

For shopping, its best to avoid downtown Chicago and instead head to North Michigan Avenue, home to almost 500 shops including some of the biggest US names like Saks and Bloomingdales.

Weather in Chicago

Just like the UK, Chicago experiences four distinct seasons, with temperatures falling as low as minus eight degrees C and summer temperatures often nudging 30 degrees C. Summer visitors can expect brief downpours of rain and thunderstorms while, as any fan of the TV show ER will know, snow is a relatively common occurrence in the wintertime.

Destination Checklist for Chicago

Chicago poses no language problems as English in the official language of the United States. The relatively low value of the dollar means that there are plenty of hotel bargains to be had, while eating out is also excellent value.

The dialling code for the city is +1 and it is five or six hours behind GMT