There's something for everyone in Chicago. The city is well known for its fast-paced atmosphere, with many things to do. The city of Chicago has an estimated population of more than 2.7 million, making it the third-largest city in the country and the largest in the Midwest. It is known as the birthplace of the modern skyscraper and is lined with urban beaches located along Lake Michigan. The great Chicago fire of 1871 destroyed much of the city center, leaving only a few structures behind and providing Chicago with one of the best skylines in the United States.
Over 200 neighborhoods make up Chicago, each with its unique character and charm. The collective term for Chicago and its environs is Chicagoland. In Chicagoland, tourists can explore places like,
There is no better museum in the country than the Art Institute of Chicago, located in downtown Chicago. Its collection includes Picasso's The Old Guitarist, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, and Grant Wood's American Gothic. The museum occupies almost one million square feet of the beautiful beaux-arts' palazzo constructed for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
One of the most important natural history museums globally is the Field Museum. Sue is the most giant, complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found, visited by more than two million people each year. In front of the Field Museum is Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.
Located at the northern tip of the Magnificent Mile, it was the world's first vertical mall. Downtown Chicago's shopping district contains 758,000 square feet of retail space. Over 100 stores are located in the mall, including the flagship American Girl store, the Chicago Cubs Clubhouse Shop, and mall staples like Victoria's Secret, Sephora, Lego, and the Banana Republic. The Chicago Water Tower, the mall's name, dates to 1871 and is the only building that survived the devastating fire that destroyed Chicago in 1871.
In downtown Chicago, Grant Park occupies a 319-acre space along Lake Michigan. This park includes the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and Buckingham Fountain, which appear in the title sequences of TV shows and movies. During the summer, the fountain runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and offers hourly water shows. A summer concert venue and an ice-skating rink are located within Millennium Park which is a part of Grant Park.
These parks are located downtown and provide an excellent location for picnics, running, or hanging out. They have many free concerts during the summer, and people play chess here when it's nice. A Chicago Bean sculpture can also be found here.
The most popular time to visit Chicago is between April and October. It can be pretty hot in Chicago during the busy summer tourist season, especially in the downtown area. Festivals and conventions are most active during June, July, and August. There is nothing more beautiful than coming to Chicago in the spring when the flowers bloom, and the city is re-emerging after the long winter. There are more walkers and bicyclists at the park and lakefront. A mild spring brings low humidity and comfortable daytime temperatures to Chicago, ranging from the 50s in March to the 70s in May. You can enjoy walking around the city on foot and enjoying the outdoors. In Chicago, springtime weather can be unpredictable. So be sure to check the weather and pack accordingly.
