Chicago provides tourists with many different activities to enjoy. If you make the right plans, late winter and early spring is a great time to see the sights and events that the city has to offer. In March, the Windy City opens opportunities for visitors of varying interests.
Chicago literally gets green all over for its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. The daylong event occurs on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day (or on the holiday itself if it falls on a Saturday). A selection committee chooses a queen to oversee the day's activities. A parade begins at noon at the corner of Columbia Drive and Balbo. It continues regardless of the weather. Rain, sleet, snow or shine, the parade will go on as planned.
Another fun St. Patrick's Day activity is the annual dyeing of the Chicago River to green. The best place to view the color-changing event is at the intersection of Michigan Avenue, Wacker Drive and the river itself.
Aspiring gardeners will awe at the annual Chicago Flower and Garden Show, held at Navy Pier during the first and second weeks of March. If you are planning a wedding, this event provides the perfect opportunity to scope out table settings for your big day. Other special events throughout the festival include a preview benefit, mix and mingle social gathering and potting parties, which help participants perfect their own flower and gardening techniques.
Sports fans can sit in on an exciting live event. The Chicago Bulls basketball team and the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team are both in regular season during March, and both have home games at the United Center throughout the month. The United Center is also home to the 2011 NCSS Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Chicago has a majestic array of buildings and architectural wonders situated along Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan. You can visit the sky deck of the Sears Tower or the John Hancock Observatory, allowing for an optimal view of the entire city. The entire skyline is a wonder to be seen. A March evening may present the perfect opportunity to see the skyline light up as workers in the various buildings finish up their day. Photographer Richard Seaman captured this breathtaking view on a winter's night, and the photograph remains one of his most popular works.
