Area: Chicago Show Map
Located 1 block from Rush Street nightclubs, Oak Street shopping, and the Magnificent Mile, this 32-story Gold … More
Pricing for stays between 22 May - 25 May, 2012
Linda from Oklahoma City, OK said:
"I have stayed at this hotel numerous times. We love the location and convenience. As... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
A dramatic new addition to Chicago's skyline, this Trump luxury hotel is adjacent to the Loop, 1 block from the … More
Pricing for stays between 27 May - 30 May, 2012
Paul from Ottawa, ON, Canada said:
"We got an upgrade as our original hotel overbooked. The Trump is absolutely luxuriou... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Centrally located in Chicago, this elegant hotel sits atop Water Tower Place, near the shops on the Magnificent … More
Pricing for stays between 25 May - 28 May, 2012
A traveller said:
"The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel) never disappoints. The housekeeping... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
The all-suite hotel is located in the center of the Magnificent Mile and 5 blocks from Water Tower Place. Omni … More
Pricing for stays between 27 May - 30 May, 2012
Zoran from Ottawa, ON, Canada said:
"Perfect location
Very helpful staff - Concierge was great
room decor a little out da... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Located on Michigan Avenue in the middle of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, this 1920s Italian Renaissance hotel is … More
Pricing for stays between 27 May - 30 May, 2012
A traveller said:
"The hostess at the restaurant was not happy that I sat and drank tea instead of orde... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Club Quarters is a club-like hotel in the center of the Loop, Chicagos central business district. A short walk to … More
Pricing for stays between 27 May - 30 May, 2012
JU and from Bloomington, IN, USA said:
"The location of this hotel was perfect--right near public transportation (the El, th... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
On Michigan Avenue and across from Millennium Park, this rock-inspired hotel occupies the 36-story, Art Deco-style … More
Pricing for stays between 27 May - 30 May, 2012
A traveller said:
"From the minute I pulled up in the cab, the staff was very friendly and helpful. The... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
This 1927 landmark Chicago hotel is a half block from Michigan Avenue/Magnificent Mile shopping, two blocks from … More
Pricing for stays between 23 May - 26 May, 2012
angelia from Illinois, USA said:
"The location is great for shopping and such. Just walk out the door to Michigan Aven... "
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Area: Chicago Show Map
This smoke-free 17-story hotel is 1 block from North Michigan Avenue's boutique and specialty stores, 3 blocks from … More
Pricing for stays between 28 May - 31 May, 2012
Tommy from The Cotswolds said:
"Staff very helpful. Good location. Breakfast expensive, lunch reasonable price."
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Area: Chicago Show Map
Located in the downtown Chicago Loop, this hotel is 3 blocks east of Willis Tower and 4 blocks west of Grant Park … More
Pricing for stays between 27 May - 30 May, 2012
A traveller from JC, NJ said:
"Extremely quick check-in and check-out mean few if any lines for help. The ability t... "
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With its famous skyline of tall buildings, and its breathtaking natural surroundings, the Midwestern metropolis of Chicago is a truly dramatic location. Home to the highest skyscraper in the Western hemisphere, the Sears Tower, yet close to Lake Michigan, a body of water bigger than some European countries, the Windy City is a place where urbanisation meets nature.
"The Windy City"
The channelling of strong gusts between Chicago's skyscrapers may make it seem like it's windier here than anywhere else in the US, but there's another reason why Chicago is nicknamed the Windy City. Chicagoans are crazy about sport, from the Chicago Bears (football) to the Blackhawks (hockey) and the Bulls (basketball). Nearby Cincinnati is equally competitive and the term Windy City was probably first used by Cincinnati newspapers covering the rivalry between the two cities.
Reaching for the sky
Chicago is known for its architecture, not at all surprising when you consider that 10 of the 50 tallest buildings in the world are located here. The Illinois capital has been at the forefront of progressive architecture and tall buildings since the late 19th century when large parts of the city were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1871. While two of the most prominent buildings, the Sears Tower and the Aon Centre, date back to the 1970s, the boom continues. Donald Trump's luxury apartment complex was completed recently and the 2000-foot Chicago Spire is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
It's not sheer height alone that makes the city's architectural face so interesting; some of America's greatest architects have left their mark on Chicago, including Solon S. Beman, Walter Burley Griffin, and perhaps the greatest of all, Frank Lloyd Wright. A Chicago Card gives you admission to the city's best-known skyscrapers and the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Society, and includes architectural walking tours.
Chicago and the arts
One of the best-known American paintings, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, is exhibited in the Art Institute of Chicago. Next to Hopper, the museum houses an impressive collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, and American paintings. Also worth a visit is the Museum of Contemporary Art, which focuses on visual art from 1945 to the present day with emphasis on surrealism, minimalism, conceptual photography, and works by Chicago-based artists.
Chicago is serious about culture and you'll find museums dedicated to everything from Swedish-American life to Science and Industry. A definite must-see for young and old is the Field Museum - home to "Sue", the world's largest and most famous Tyrannosaurus Rex. To get a comprehensive overview of what the city has to offer, opt for a half-day sightseeing tour, which includes museum admission as well as a trip up Hancock Tower to see the city from above. However much time you spend exploring during the day, make sure you keep some time aside for a night out in Chicago. It's not called the home of the blues for nothing, and venues like the Chicago Blues Bar on North Halsted pay tribute to that seven nights a week.