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Fall Travel to Chicago, Illinois by
Ann Hattes
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 Chicago,
home to world-class museums, great jazz and blues clubs, a "Magnificent
Mile" of shopping, three of the world's tallest buildings,
and the only city in the U.S. with a completely non-industrialized
waterfront, was recently ranked the number one city for business
travel in the U.S.
The
sixth annual Chicago season of fall events and holiday celebrations
-- from October through December -- features family fun for
all ages. Visitors are invited to take a ride on a Haunted "L"
and celebrate Chicago's visual arts community during Chicago
Artists' Month: Artists at Work, October 1 - 31, plus attend
performances, plays and events that celebrate the holidays.
For
those who prefer a pre-planned itinerary, Immersion Weekend
packages include two-night stays in first-class downtown hotel
accommodations and exciting itineraries. "The Music of
Broadway" Immersion Weekend (November 1 - 3) includes pre-show
receptions, lectures and tickets to the original revue, The
Swinging Sounds of Richard Rodgers at Chicago's Symphony Center
on Friday night and tickets to the musical cabaret, Her Turn
on Saturday night.
The
"Chicago for the Holidays" Immersion Weekend (December
6 - 8) offers visitors the chance to visit Chicago and take
care of their holiday shopping, along with tickets to the Chicago
Cultural Center's holiday cabaret A White Christmas - A Tribute
to Rosemary Clooney.
Chicago,
the birthplace of the world's first skyscraper, became a prime
destination for architects after the Great Fire of 1871, when
the city rose like a phoenix from its ashes. In the process,
Chicago's architecture helped to change the look of every American
city.
"Make
no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood,"
counseled Daniel H. Burnham. Thanks to the genius of Burnham,
Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others, Chicago is a
living museum of architecture. For a detailed look, the Chicago
Architecture Foundation (312-922-3432; www.architecture.org)
offers more than 50 walking or bus tours.
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| SHOPPING |
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| The
Magnificent Mile |
A
Chicago shopping spree must include a visit to the "Magnificent
Mile" (www.themagnificentmile.com),
home to Cartier, American Girl Place, Brooks Brothers, Lord &
Taylor, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany and Gucci. Amidst these giants
of retail establishments are hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques.
The over one million lights lit in mid-November for the holiday
season continue to shine through the end of February.
North
Bridge, Chicago's newest district, stretches from the
"Magnificent Mile" south to the Chicago River and westward.
Nordstrom anchors the Shops at North Bridge, a four-level, European-style
retail center. The third level, entirely devoted to children's
clothing, toys and accessories, boasts The LEGO Store and the
LEGO Construction Zone with creative play for children of all
ages.
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SIGHTSEEING |
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| Navy
Pier |
Visitors
find that they can travel the world in the city's neighborhoods
with Chicago Neighborhood Tours. The four to six hours long
tours depart from the Chicago Cultural Center (312-742-1190; www.chgocitytours.com).
The city's diversity is also displayed in exhibits at the Polish
Museum of America, Swedish American Museum Center, the Ukrainian
National Museum, and the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum.
Spend
an entire day exploring Museum Campus, a park-like area just
south of downtown on the lakefront and home to the Field Museum,
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum and the John G. Shedd
Aquarium. For one package price, CityPass (707-256-0490; www.citypass.com)
offers a ticket booklet with passes for these three facilities
plus the Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry and the
Sears Tower SkyDeck.
Sue,
a four-story Brachiosuaurus and the world's largest mounted
dinosaur, stands at the Field Museum. A coalmine, captured WW
II German submarine, and 16-foot walk-through pulsating human
heart beckon at the Museum of Science and Industry.
For
spectacular views of the city, weather permitting, take a sightseeing
boat tour on Lake Michigan,ride the 15-story ferris wheel at
Navy Pier, and/or take the 105 story elevator to the top of
one of the world's tallest buildings (1,450 feet).
Navy Pier (www.navypier.com),
Chicago's #1 tourist attraction, is a unique year-round 50-acre
park that is home to the Children's Museum, Shakespeare and
IMAX Theaters, and a variety of shops and restaurants. Just
east of downtown, this pier which extends almost a mile into
Lake Michigan served as a military training site during World
Wars I and II.
Within
the spray from Buckingham Fountain and the screech of the "L"
trains in the Loop lurks the ghostly presence of the city's
great capitalists like the Pullmans, the Fields, and Wrigley.
Plan a tour of the Pullman Historic District (773-785-8181; www.pullmanil.org),
built by George M. Pullman as an industrial town in 1880. Access
to transportation played a key role in the development of Chicago
sitting as it does at the crossroads of the nation for auto,
rail and air travel.
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| DINING |
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| TRU's
Lobster Cannelloni, Petite Herb Salad, Saffron Vanilla Beurre
Blanc |
Chicago,
home to award-winning restaurants and world-renowned chefs,
has thousands of restaurants offering tastes from around the
world at excellent prices.
For
example, Bin 36 (www.bin36.com)
where more than 50 wines are available by the glass, makes learning
about, and dining with wine fun, affordable and approachable.
Chicago's
TRU, ranked as one of the 50 Best Restaurants
in the World (Conde Nast Traveler, 2000) ensures that guests
are happiest right before they leave with delectable creations
by "Dessert Diva" Gale Gand. Gand's world-class desserts
have won her top awards in 2001 as the James Beard Dolce Best
Pastry Chef and the Best Pastry Chef at Bon Appetit's "Best
of the Best" Awards. After a theater show, stop by TRU
to experience the newly introduced Dessert Collection Menu,
a flavorful presentation of elegant-yet-whimsical creations.
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| LODGING |
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| Le
Meridien Lobby |
From
brand new properties to newly renovated hotels, Chicago tops
the charts in luxury, hospitality, variety and service.
Le
Meridien, crowning the Shops at North Bridge, has
introduced PJs to hold Le Phone, Le Pager and Le Palm for road
warriors so guests no longer have to battle the 'no pocket problem'
as they lounge in their rooms or head to the gym.
For
those traveling with very young children, don't forget that
Westin and Sheraton (www.starwoodhotels.com)
have introduced new custom-designed cribs developed to be ultra-safe,
stylish and comfortable. While the little one might enjoy the
Heavenly Crib, parents luxuriate in Westin's signature Heavenly
Bed and Heavenly Bath.
The
Chicago Time Out Guide (Penguin), written and researched by
a team of resident writers, is a great guide to the city. Whatever
your style, Romantic Days and Nights in Chicago (Globe Pequot
Press) suggests some of the coolest spots for pampering and
romance.
From
romance to culture to pampering, Chicago has it all.
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| MORE
INFORMATION |
For more information visit www.877CHICAGO.com or call toll-free 1-877-CHICAGO (1-877-244-2246). A guide featuring
Chicaglo events by month, special Thanksgiving and New Year's
Eve hotel events and offers, and more will be available October
1 by mail or at any of the Visitor Information Centers. Chicago
tourism information is also available on the internet at www.cityofchicago.org/tourism. |
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