Area: Chicago Show Map
This smoke-free 17-story hotel is 1 block from North Michigan Avenue's boutique and specialty stores, 3 blocks from … More
Pricing for stays between 14 Feb - 17 Feb, 2012
A traveler from Spring Lake, MI said:
"Perfect location off of Michigan Ave; access to shopping, restaurants - all the city... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Built in 1927, this Chicago hotel is one block from Michigan Avenue shopping and Rush Street restaurants and … More
Pricing for stays between 26 Feb - 29 Feb, 2012
Ashley L from Scottsdale, AZ said:
"I would not recommend staying at this hotel. They were not accommodating what so eve... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Located on Michigan Avenue in the middle of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, this 1920s Italian Renaissance hotel is … More
Pricing for stays between 19 Feb - 22 Feb, 2012
A traveler from Dubai UAE said:
"Great location, average hotel, friendly service"
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Area: Chicago Show Map
City center hotel located in vibrant River North Gallery District, just steps from famed Magnificent Mile shopping … More
Pricing for stays between 12 Feb - 15 Feb, 2012
Kristy H. from West Valley City, UT said:
"Other reviews of this hotel had mentioned that the rooms were small. This is true (e... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
The all-suite hotel is located in the center of the Magnificent Mile and 5 blocks from Water Tower Place. Omni … More
Pricing for stays between 28 Feb - 02 Mar, 2012
Teah B from Detroit,Mi said:
"Went there for "Black Friday" weekend. The staff was very helpful. The food was grea... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Located on Chicago's fabled Gold Coast, this boutique hotel is adjacent to the John Hancock Tower, steps from … More
Pricing for stays between 12 Feb - 15 Feb, 2012
A traveler from Indiana said:
"I wanted a room near to the Magnificent Mile but also with reasonable parking. The p... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
A blend of modern comfort and classic hospitality, this hotel is a half-block from Chicago's Magnificent Mile and 4 … More
Pricing for stays between 26 Feb - 29 Feb, 2012
A traveler from Denver, CO said:
"Super friendly staff, great amenities"
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago within Marina City, the Sax Chicago - A Thompson Hotel offers guests VIP … More
Pricing for stays between 26 Feb - 29 Feb, 2012
A traveler from Cape Elizabeth, Me said:
"Very nice..."
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Built in 1893, this downtown Chicago hotel offers a convenient location across from Grant Park and close to Lake … More
Pricing for stays between 12 Feb - 15 Feb, 2012
A traveler said:
"Staff was not overly hospitable, but not rude. Pretty good location, most of Chicago... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
On Michigan Avenue and across from Millennium Park, this rock-inspired hotel occupies the 36-story, Art Deco-style … More
Pricing for stays between 12 Feb - 15 Feb, 2012
Emily P from Los Angeles, CA said:
"Visited the Hard Rock Hotel in December 2011. Location is great and our room was ver... "
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With its famous skyline of tall buildings, and its breathtaking natural surroundings, the Midwestern metropolis of Chicago is a truly dramatic location. Home to the highest skyscraper in the Western hemisphere, the Sears Tower, yet close to Lake Michigan, a body of water bigger than some European countries, the Windy City is a place where urbanisation meets nature.
"The Windy City"
The channelling of strong gusts between Chicago's skyscrapers may make it seem like it's windier here than anywhere else in the US, but there's another reason why Chicago is nicknamed the Windy City. Chicagoans are crazy about sport, from the Chicago Bears (football) to the Blackhawks (hockey) and the Bulls (basketball). Nearby Cincinnati is equally competitive and the term Windy City was probably first used by Cincinnati newspapers covering the rivalry between the two cities.
Reaching for the sky
Chicago is known for its architecture, not at all surprising when you consider that 10 of the 50 tallest buildings in the world are located here. The Illinois capital has been at the forefront of progressive architecture and tall buildings since the late 19th century when large parts of the city were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1871. While two of the most prominent buildings, the Sears Tower and the Aon Center, date back to the 1970s, the boom continues. Donald Trump's luxury apartment complex was completed recently and the 2000-foot Chicago Spire is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
It's not sheer height alone that makes the city's architectural face so interesting; some of America's greatest architects have left their mark on Chicago, including Solon S. Beman, Walter Burley Griffin, and perhaps the greatest of all, Frank Lloyd Wright. A Chicago Card gives you admission to the city's best-known skyscrapers and the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Society, and includes architectural walking tours.
Chicago and the arts
One of the best-known American paintings, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, is exhibited in the Art Institute of Chicago. Next to Hopper, the museum houses an impressive collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, and American paintings. Also worth a visit is the Museum of Contemporary Art, which focuses on visual art from 1945 to the present day with emphasis on surrealism, minimalism, conceptual photography, and works by Chicago-based artists.
Chicago is serious about culture and you'll find museums dedicated to everything from Swedish-American life to Science and Industry. A definite must-see for young and old is the Field Museum - home to "Sue", the world's largest and most famous Tyrannosaurus Rex. To get a comprehensive overview of what the city has to offer, opt for a half-day sightseeing tour, which includes museum admission as well as a trip up Hancock Tower to see the city from above. However much time you spend exploring during the day, make sure you keep some time aside for a night out in Chicago. It's not called the home of the blues for nothing, and venues like the Chicago Blues Bar on North Halsted pay tribute to that seven nights a week.