To quote Calamity Jane, “the Windy City is mighty pretty”, but it has much more than good looks. If you are visiting the Chicago area for a city break or longer holiday, you will find a great deal of attractions and places to have fun.
As the third largest metropolis in the US, Chicago is rather vast but getting around is relatively straight forward. The city boasts one of the finest public transport networks in the country, however, many visitors find car hire as their best option as it allows them to travel according to their own schedule and explore areas off the beaten track.
One thing to be aware of, though, is that many rental vehicles carry hefty excesses if an accident occurs. This has the potential to wipe out a person’s holiday money and put a rather large grey cloud over their time in the city. Thankfully, car excess insurance can be taken out for a reasonable sum, ensuring that a tourist is covered no what happens.
Some of the best Chicago fun can be had in the city’s many jazz and blues clubs. There are a number of venues which host live music in the downtown area and you can while away the hours sipping cocktails while watching some of the finest undiscovered talent in the region. Chicago is also the birthplace of house music so you will find plenty of clubs where you can get your dancing shoes on as well.
If retail therapy is your idea of fun then you are in for a treat around Michigan Avenue as it is home to some exceptional boutiques, department stores and restaurants. You can literally shop until you drop, with many outlets offering the latest designer trends.
Animal lovers will be drawn to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Opened back in 1865, this 35 acre site offers free entry (a rarity in the US) and is filled with creatures from around the world, including monkeys, big cats and exotic birds.
If you wish to take in some culture then Chicago has a large number of museums to explore. These include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and the Museum of Science and History.
No visit to the Windy City is complete without taking in some sports. The Chicago Bears are one of the best supported teams in American Football, but it is baseball that the city is most known for as it is home to revered Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.
The Cubs are the oldest current professional team in Major League Baseball, with a history going back to 1876. They also ply their trade at one of the game’s most iconic stadiums, the 41,000 capacity Wrigley Field, which, as well as baseball, regularly hosts concerts and is worth a visit even there is no game on.
