Ah, the Windy City. Many people think there’s a lot to love about this place, while of course there are others who are very wrong who think there’s nothing to love about it at all. To each his own. If you’ve never been to the city, then there’s no way to really know for yourself, but I’d definitely recommend checking it out before taking anyone’s advice on whether you should/should not love it. If you are going to take some advice though, these are pretty much the best things to do in Chicago to tempt you into feeling the same way I do.
1. The Chicago River. Whether you’re walking alongside or riding atop the Chicago River on a water taxi or one of the Chicago tours, or staring out at the view from your hotel room, you can’t not love the Chicago River. Despite the fact that this little gem used to be so smelly that they had to reverse the flow of the water, things smell great now, and you’re going to want to see it while you’re here.
2. Pizza. Everyone love gooey cheese, tons of carbs and all the toppings, right? The Chicago food scene is famous for their pizza, especially the deep-dish pizza! The pizzerias are the talk of the town here, and it’s hard not to think about these pies even months after your trip.
3. Museums. Chicago’s weather can be temperamental, so when you’re here and it gets too hot, too cold, too rainy, too snowy or you got too sunburnt yesterday to even think about letting the sun see you, there are quite a few world-famous museums to duck into for cover. There are museums for art lovers, animal lovers, history buffs, families and science nerds, so you always have the chance to explore your interests and learn something new. And you have to love Sue, the most complete T-Rex known to the world.
4. Sports. Chicago is one of only 4 US cities that has teams in 5 of the popular professional sports. Whether you like football, baseball, basketball, soccer or hockey, you can catch a game in Chi-town.
5. Chicagoland. Say what you will, but not every city in America has a racetrack. If you’re a NASCAR find, you’ll definitely feel a pull to this area every September.
6. Beaches. 28 miles of beaches. They’re all man made, but that doesn’t take away from their beauty. There’s a beach for everyone: the swimmers, the sun bathers, the boozers (aka people who come to the beach to hand out at the bars), the people watchers and the dog lovers.
7. Comedy. Many people know Chicago as the Second City, and many people don’t pass up the chance to see some stand-up at the Second City comedy club with they’re here either. There are comedy clubs all over Chicago, because who doesn’t love a good laugh, right?
8. Beer. This city is home to so many local breweries. Goose Island is the most famous, but some other that are worth a try include Revolution Brewing, Half Acre Beer Company, Atlas Brewing and Pier Brewery. You don’t have to go to the breweries to get a good craft beer though, because most the bars in this city have a pretty good idea of what they’re doing.
9. Music. From the blues to the jazz to the rock and roll, you and experience a variety of genres here. Big names from all over the place come to play here. You can take entire tours dedicated just to the music scene. Or you can head to the bar around the corner and see a local band. None of these things are discouraged.
10. Celebrity spotting. Catch Vince Vaughn at a Blackhawks game. Hang out at a nightclub until one of Da Bears walks in. Grab a meal at Gibson’s restaurant in hopes that Johnny Depp will make an appearance. Obama? You can do a drive by at his Chicago house but hopefully he has better things to do than lounging about his kitchen.
This article was written by Lizz Riggs, editor of ChicagoTraveler.com.
OOH!! We love Chicago – and you’ve gotten all the fun things, for sure!
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