Chicago is my city. I grew up not too far from there and lived in the city for a few years. I love everything about it (except winter) and always enjoy coming back.
My Posts on Chicago
Neighborhoods and Areas:
- Chicago Loop (central business district)
- Chinatown (South Side)
- Edgewater (North Side)
- Gold Coast (Near North Side)
- Lakeview (North Side)
- Museum Campus (Near South Side)
- Old Town (Near North Side)
- Pilsen (Lower West Side)
- Prairie District (Near South Side)
- River North (Near North Side)
- University Village / Little Italy (Near West Side)
- West Loop (including Greektown) (Near West Side)
Streets:
- Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River)
- Michigan Avenue (south of the Chicago River)
Parks:
- Grant Park (including Millennium Park)
Architecture/Attractions:
Museums:
- Adler Planetarium
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Chicago History Museum
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Shedd Aquarium
Stadiums:
- Chicago White Sox baseball at Guaranteed Rate Field
- Soldier Field (Bears football)
- Behind the Scenes at the United Center (Blackhawks hockey)
Events:
Sporting Events:
- Celebrating the Stanley Cup
- Copa América Centenario 2016
- Marian Hossa jersey retirement ceremony (Blackhawks hockey)
Introduction to Chicago
Chicago is a world-class city with excellent food and nightlife, enjoyable summer street festivals, great museums, stunning architecture, and some of the best in entertainment and sports. Even in the freezing cold in winter, this city has something for everyone.
Getting to Chicago
Chicago is one of the best connected cities in the country. There are two major airports, the largest passenger rail hub in the Midwest, and several important highways crossing through the area.
Airports
You can fly into the city at both O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. Both airports are well-connected to the city by public transportation and taxis. O’Hare is connected by the CTA Blue Line and Midway is on the CTA Orange Line.
Union Station
Union Station is where Amtrak trains enter and depart from Chicago (we came in on the Empire Builder from Seattle). Megabus services leave from Van Buren Street between South Canal and Clinton (service to Madison, Wisconsin, leaves from Jackson and Canal). Greyhound has two stations in the city center, next to Union Station and 630 W. Harrison.
Getting to and from the Suburbs
If you need to get to the suburbs, there are Pace buses, Metra trains, and NICTD South Shore trains to Northwest Indiana.
Getting Around Chicago
To get around town, the Chicago Transit Authority runs buses and trains. It’s the second largest public transportation system in the country. Click here for updated fare and pass information.
Where to Stay in Chicago
Since I’ve lived in or near the city most of my life, I haven’t had to stay at many hotels. In any case, there are plenty of options for all budgets and tastes. The best hotels are located in the Loop and Near North Side.
Sofitel
The best stay I’ve had was at the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, which is located at Rush and Division just a couple blocks from Michigan Avenue. It includes a restaurant and bar on the property. We got an incredible rate for our anniversary so we went and spent the night there.
The Sofitel is a luxury hotel with extremely comfortable and spacious rooms, big bathrooms, and excellent customer service. It’s also within walking distance of some of the best and most popular restaurants in Chicago. We really enjoyed our night there and had a great experience overall.
Hyatt Regency
The Hyatt Regency Chicago sits along the Chicago River and Wacker Drive. If features a restaurant, café, and bar. I stayed there for a weekend for a convention and to go to a Blackhawks game at the United Center. From what I remember, the hotel was very comfortable and my friend and I had an enjoyable stay. I can imagine the rooms have had significant style upgrades since then.
Eurostars Magnificent Mile
I can recommend the Eurostars Magnificent Mile (formerly Dana Hotel and Spa) in River North. It’s located on State and Erie and is a boutique luxury hotel. I stayed here for a friend’s wedding when it was the Dana Hotel and absolutely loved it. Rooms are very modern and comfortable.
Finding Events in Chicago
There’s always has something happening in the city. For a schedule of events, nightlife, restaurant recommendations, entertainment, and more, check out Choose Chicago and TimeOut.
Chicago Sports
The city is heaven for sports lovers. There seems to be a professional team playing just about every day of the year as well as NCAA college athletic events. The United Center hosts the Bulls NBA basketball team and the Blackhawks NHL hockey team. Soldier Field is the home of the NFL Bears. The MLS has the Fire, who also play at Soldier Field. They moved back to the city in 2020 after spending several years in suburban Bridgeview. These stadiums often host concerts as well.
We even have two Major League Baseball teams – the White Sox on the South Side at Guaranteed Rate Field and the Cubs on the North Side at historic Wrigley Field. The rivalries between baseball fans divide the city every summer (and the rest of the year, to be honest). For the record, I’m a Sox fan.
In addition to the professional teams, US Soccer often plays international friendlies and qualifiers at Soldier Field. The occasional international tournament is hosted in the city as well as club teams from Europe and Mexico playing exhibition games.
Northwestern University in suburban Evanston is the biggest in NCAA athletics, but DePaul University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, and Chicago State University all have collegiate athletic programs for both men and women.