From Wiki
[edit] How to get there
Chicago has two main airports, O'Hare International (one of the largest in the world) and Midway Midway, a smaller, primarily domestic only airport. Given the location of Chicago in the 'middle' more or less of the US, it serves as a major hub for most airlines, with United and American having a very large presence. Basically, you can get to any place in the United States from O'Hare airport.
Midway has SouthWest airlines, who are the guys who basically created the discount airline model (many *decades* before RyanAir and Easyjet). Southwest can get you to many places from Midway at a pretty good price vs. the cost from O'Hare.
As for rail, Chicago has a major rail station (Union Station) that has Amtrak passenger trains arriving from the West and East Coasts along from the South (New Orleans). However, long distance rail transportation in the US is very rough, with a train from NY or DC on the East Coast taking nearly 14 hours to get to Chicago (about the same time as it would take to drive).
[edit] Places to Eat
Carsons
612 North Wells St.
Chicago
IL 60610
Phone: (312)-280-9200
Website: [1]
If you like Ribs, this is the place for you. The BBQ Sauce is wonderful, the decor is quite bland and the food is a bit on the pricey side. Even so, it's well worth a visit.
Ed Debevics
640 North Wells St.
Chicago
IL 60620
Phone: (312)-664-1707
Fax Line: (312)-664-7444
Party Line: (312)-266-5421
The American Diner style Ed Debevics offers the normal fare in a fun atmosphere and is a tourist favourite. The waiting/acting staff are comically abusive and usually burst into a song and dance given half a chance, it's all part of the act.
Maggianos
516 North Clark St.
Chicago
IL 60610
Phone: 312-644-7700
Fax: 312-644-1077
Website:[2]
Situated on the corner of Clark and Grand, Maggianos is a great Italian Restaurant with reasonably priced, well cooked food and huge portions. A chain run restaurant, which manages to have a family run feeling. It can get very busy, so it's best to pre-book.
Taste of Chicago
Grant Park
Chicago
Official Website: [3]
Another great Chicago tradition offering cuisine from more than 70 restaurants, plus entertainment and activities for the entire family in Chicago's Grant Park.
June 29th-July 8th, 2007.
[edit] Places to See
Sears Tower
233 S. Wacker Dr.
Chicago
IL 60606
Tel.:312-875-9447
Fax.:312-906-8193
At 1450 ft and 110 stories, the Sears Tower dominates the Chicago skyline. A visit to the Sky Deck gives stunning 360 degree views over the City. For the faint of heart, the inside walls of the Sky Deck offer a potted and interesting history of Chicago.
Open 365 days a year, 10am to 10 pm.
Ticket prices (as of 1 April 2007)
Adult: $12.95
Child: 4-11: $9.50
Under 4: Free.
Sky Deck Bookings and info:[4]
Sears Tower Website:[5]
John Hancock Center
875 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago
IL 60661.
At 1127 ft and 100 stories, the John Hancock Center is Chicago's second tallest building.
The Hancock Observatory is open daily from 9:00am to 11:00pm
Ticket Prices:
Adult: $10.25
Seniors (62+): $8.00
Children 5-12: $6.50
Under 4: Free
Hancock Observatory Website[6]
A better option is to take the free elevator to the 96th floor where for about the same price as taking the elevator to the viewing observatory, you can have a cocktail. The views alone from the restaurant on the 95th floor make it worth dining there.
[edit] Places to Shop
[edit] Sports
Chicago has a great tradition of sporting teams and some of the most diehard fans in the U.S.
Tickets to most fixtures sell quickly, so it's best to book well in advance.
The Chicago Cubs
Wrigley Field
1060 West Addison Street
Chicago
IL 60613.
Tel.: (773) 404 2827.
An afternoon game at Wrigley, watching the Cubs is a great experience. Cubs fans are fanatical about their team, which given the Cubs penchant for losing at important moments shows the level of support they get. One of the great traditions is a guest singing during the 7th Inning stretch, the actor Bill Murray, being an avid fan, albeit a terrible singer turns up quite regularly. Most of Wrigley is very family orientated, but If you prefer a more boisterous atmosphere, try to get tickets for the Bleachers, where the fans seem to have had more than their fair share of beer and can get very vocal.
Ticket prices range from $8 to $67 depending on dates and seating.
Chicago Cubs Official Site[7]
The Chicago White Sox
US Cellular Field
333 W 35th Street
Chicago
IL 60616
Tel.: (312) 559-1212
Winners of the 2005 World Series and the Cubs arch rivals. If you're a baseball fan in Chicago, the chances are you're either a Cubs fan or a Sox fan, there's a lot of friendly rivalry between the two. Although in different leagues, the 2 teams meet each season in a series of cross town games. The games are huge sellouts and ticket prices rise accordingly.
Ticket prices range from $8 to $59 depending on dates and seating.
Cross town games range from $30 to $64
Chicago White Sox Official Site[8]
[edit] Theatre
Blue Man Group
Briar Street Theatre
3133 N. Halsted
Chicago
IL 60657
Ticket Sales: (773) 348-4000
Group Sales: (773) 348-3300.
Website:[9]
A fun, quirky and original show, well worth seeing.
Ticket prices range from $48-$59.
Tony and Tina's Wedding
Pipers Alley
230 West North Ave.
Chicago
IL 60610
Sales: (312)-664-8844
Group Sales: (312)-664-0773
Website: [10]
Now in it's 11th year, this is a hilarious show about a tacky wedding between two families of misfits. The audience play the guests and the Wedding Breakfast, Champagne and Band is included in the price. It's a very interactive experience.
Frankie Avalon guests as the wedding singer on certain dates.
Tickets $55-$88 depending on guest artists.
[edit] Accommodation
[edit] External Links
City Of Chicago official site
