Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its centre, and airplanes followed suit. Butcher of hogs and believer in progress, it is one of the world's great cities, and yet the metropolitan luxuries of theatre, shopping, and fine dining have barely put a dent in real Midwestern friendliness.
It's a city with a swagger, but without the surliness or even the fake smiles found in other cities of its size.
Source: Wikitravel. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel.
Chicago Information
Population: Approx. 2.9 million
Time Zone: CMT -6
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Native American
Currency: American Dollar ($USD)
Currency Exchange: Purchase your USD cash and travellers cheques before you leave Australia
Electricity: 110v - 60Hz
Chicago Climate
On a typical Chicago mid-summer day, humidity is usually moderately high and temperatures ordinarily reach anywhere between 78°F and 92°F (26°C to 33°C).
Winters in Chicago are cool and the coldest month is January when daytime temperatures drop to around 4°C / 40°F, while night time temperatures reach lows of around -2°C / 28°F. Snowfalls will occur through these months, but do not last very long.
Chicago Airport
Name: Chicago O’Hare Airport
Distance to city: 22km
Car Rental: Great choice of hire cars at mates rates from our car suppliers
Transfers: Shuttle buses are widely available outside the ground transportation area
Sheraton Chicago Hotel Towers
4 Star Property
Located in heart of downtown along the Chicago River, Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers is steps away from famous Michigan Avenue shopping and Navy Pier. Guest rooms and suites feature spectacular views of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan, or the city skyline.
Swissotel Chicago
4 Star Property
Designed by noted Chicago architect Harry Weese, Swissotel Chicago is located on the shore of Lake Michigan with panoramic views of the Chicago River and city skyline, including Grant Park and Navy Pier. The hotel offers 661 individual temperature-controlled, tastefully decorated and generously oversized rooms. Each one features two phone lines, voicemail and dataports, high-speed internet connections, Turkish cotton terrycloth robes and coffeemaker.
Hotel 71
3.5 Star Property
Hotel 71 is a stylish boutique hotel perfectly located in the epicenter of downtown Chicago, across the river from the Magnificent Mile, making it an ideal luxury hotel for both business and leisure travelers. The Hotel 71 is approximately 20 miles from O'Hare International Airport.
InterContinental Chicago
5 Star Property
505 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL The InterContinental Chicago is situated on the Magnificent Mile, approximately 13 miles from Midway Airport and 16 miles from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Local attractions include Navy Pier, Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Sears Tower, Water Tower, and Hancock Observatory.
The Allerton Hotel on Magnificent Mile
4 Star Property
Of all Magnificent Mile hotels, Allerton Hotel Chicago's historic Italian Renaissance style will dazzle you. This completly non smokng hotel is approximately nine miles from Midway Airport and 18 miles from O'Hare International Airport. Local attractions include Adler Planetarium, Sears Tower, Water Tower Place, Navy Pier, McCormick Place, Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, and Wrigley Field.
Dining
Chicago is one of the great restaurant towns in America. If you're looking for a specific kind of cuisine, check out the neighborhoods. Greektown, the Devon Ave Desi corridor, Chinatown, and Chatham's soul food and barbecue are just the tip of the iceberg. Other areas are more eclectic: Lincoln Square and Albany Park have unrivaled Middle Eastern, German, and Korean food, while Uptown offers nearly the whole Southeast Asian continent with Ghanaian, Nigerian, contemporary American, stylish Japanese, and down-home Swedish a few blocks away.
If you're interested in celebrity chefs and unique creations, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park have plenty of award-winners. River North has several good upscale restaurants, but don't waste your time on tourist traps like Rainforest Cafe, Cheesecake Factory, or the Hard Rock Cafe. In fact, you should never submit to standing in line — there are always equally good restaurants nearby. No matter what you enjoy, you'll have a chance to eat well in Chicago, and you won't need to spend a lot of money doing it — unless you want to, of course.
Source: Wikitravel. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel.
