Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States, has much to offer not only to tourists, but also to its residents. Whether you grew up in the Windy City or you're a transplant from elsewhere in the nation, you will always find something new and exciting. Discover the ins and outs of Chicago by following a list of the 10 things you should do in the City of Big Shoulders before you die.
Take a walk up and down the Magnificent Mile, Chicago's most well-known attraction. Along this stretch of road is the Wrigley Building, the Chicago Tribune building, the old Chicago Water Tower and the John Hancock Center. At the south end of the avenue is the Art Institute of Chicago, along with Grant and Millennium parks. At the north end, cross Lake Shore Drive and spend time along the shores of Lake Michigan.
State Street is the second most well-known shopping district in Chicago, next to Michigan Avenue. However, State Street is home to Macy's, formerly the flagship store of Marshall Field's. State Street is also a major destination for window shoppers, especially during the holiday season. Each year shops along State decorate their windows with new themes, providing an easy and entertaining destination for residents and tourists looking to save some money.
Experience the Taste of Chicago, a festival held each year in Grant Park. This festival features restaurants from across the city that dish up their most popular meals. Many restaurants also offer "taste" portions, which are half the price and half the size of full portions these vendors serve at the festival. This allows you to eat more as you explore the more than 100 vendors. The Taste of Chicago also draws national musical acts and local performers from the Chicago area.
Chicago is home to many music festivals throughout the year. If you're in love with jazz or the blues, you'll find a festival for both. If you like pop, rock and alternative, travel to the Windy City to check out Lollapalooza. Chicago is also home to Pitchfork, a weekend music festival that features lesser-known indie and alternative acts. Whatever your musical taste, you will easily find a festival suited to your needs.
Once you pay to get on the train, you can ride the El all day, all across the city, by transferring at stations that have lines that cross. For instance, the Clark and Lake station in the Loop offers free transfer between the Blue, Orange, Pink, Brown, Green and Purple line trains. With a little planning, you can travel from the Loop to the far Northwest and North sides to the West and South sides, and with each stop you can decide whether you want to get off and explore or keep going to the end of the line. You'll notice the differences in the neighborhoods as you go along, allowing you to experience different ethnicities and styles of life.
Visit the observatories at the top of the Willis -- originally known as Sears -- Tower or the John Hancock Center. The Willis Tower, the tallest in North America, is located in the city's West Loop, while the Hancock building is nearer to Lake Michigan. Both, however, provide magnificent views of the city, its neighborhoods and the lake.
Whether you live in Chicago or you're just visiting, you must take in a game at one of the city's many storied sports venues. The United Center on the city's West Side is home to the 2010 Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks and the NBA's storied Chicago Bulls. On the North Side is Wrigley Field, home to the lovable losers, the Chicago Cubs. On the South Side, visit U.S. Cellular Field to take in a White Sox game. Also on the near South Side is Soldier Field, home to the Bears.
Chicago's museums are known across the world to have some of the best collections of artifacts. The Art Institute of Chicago and the Field Museum are two of the most popular in the Windy City, and the Museum of Science and Industry is a must-see, especially for students, as it houses both permanent and touring exhibits. Visit the Shedd Aquarium to see dolphins up close or the Adler Planetarium to learn about the space program. Adler, in 2011, was named home to a space shuttle flight simulator from NASA.
Many neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago hold festivals during the summer months to celebrate the end of winter and to help residents enjoy the coming of good weather. Festivals sometimes have themes, centered around food or the orientation of the neighborhood. On the North Side, festivals such as Market Days or Pride are focused on the gay community, while farther south West Fest and Wicker Park Fest focus on the artistic attributes of the area.
Chicago is known as one of the most food-centric cities in the world. It is known for its fine dining restaurants, such as Grant Achatz's Alinea and Stephanie Izard's Girl and the Goat, as well as its simple meals of Italian beef sandwiches or its Chicago-style hot dogs. Many people also visit Chicago to experience its deep-dish pizza, which has been made popular by pizzerias such as Lou Malnati's, Gino's East, Giordano's and Pizzeria Uno.
