Explore Chicago, also called the windy city which is located in the Midwest along the Great Lakes shoreline. It is the third largest city and metropolitan area in the United States with a city population approaching 3 million and a metro population approaching 10 million. It’s well known for house music and electronic dance music, blues, jazz, comedy, shopping, dining, sports, architecture, highly-regarded colleges and universities, and premier cultural attractions.

As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find with its picturesque skyline calling across the waters of the huge freshwater Lake Michigan, an impressive sight that soon reveals world-class museums, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks, public art, and perhaps the finest looking downtown in the world.

With a wealth of iconic sights and neighborhoods to explore, there’s enough to fill a visit of months without ever seeing the end. Prepare to cover a lot of ground; the meaning of Chicago is only found in movement, through its subways and historic elevated rail, and eyes raised to the sky.

Districts of Chicago

The most visited part of Chicago is its large central area, which contains neighborhoods such as Downtown, River North, Streeterville, Old Town, the Gold Coast, Central Station, the South Loop, Printer’s Row, Greek Town, and the Near West Side among others. Collectively, these neighborhoods contain many skyscrapers, attractions, and highly ranked institutions. But there are also many attractions to be found in the city’s’ other districts. Chicago consists of Downtown, the North Side, the South Side, and the West Side – each Side named according to its direction from Downtown. The Loop is the financial, cultural, retail, and transportation area located within Downtown. Another region in the Central Area is North Michigan Avenue. This portion of Michigan Avenue, and its adjacent streets, is called the Magnificent Mile and contains high-end shops, retail, and restaurants.

The North, South, and West Sides of Chicago are not neighborhoods themselves, they are large Sides of the city that each contain numerous and varied neighborhoods. Residents tend to identify strongly with their neighborhood, reflecting a real place of home and culture. Below are various regions of Chicago and some of the neighborhoods that they contain:

Downtown (The Loop, Near North, Near South, Near West)

• The center of the entire Midwest for work and play, and global importance with major corporate headquarters, skyscrapers, shopping, river walks, big theaters, parks, beaches, museums, a pier, a sports stadium; the area contains some of the country’s most famous sights

North Side (Lakeview, Boystown, Lincoln Park, Old Town)

• Upscale neighborhoods with entertainment aplenty in storefront theaters and the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, along with a ton of bars and clubs.

South Side (Hyde Park, Bronzeville, Bridgeport-Chinatown, Chatham-South Shore)

• The historic Black Metropolis, Hyde Park and the University of Chicago, Chinatown, the White Sox, great soul food, the excellent Museum of Science And Industry, and the Barack Obama Presidential Center

West Side (Wicker Park, Logan Square, Near West Side, Pilsen)

• Ethnic enclaves, dive bars, a very impressive conservatory, and hipsters abound on the fashionably rough side of town

Far North Side (Uptown, Lincoln Square, Rogers Park)

• Ultra-hip and laid-back, with miles of beaches and some of the most vibrant immigrant communities in the country

Far West Side (Little Village, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Austin)

• So far off the beaten tourist track you might not find your way back, but that’s OK given all the great food, a couple of top blues clubs and enormous parks

Southwest Side (Back of the Yards, Marquette Park, Midway)

• Former home to the massive meatpacking district of the Union Stockyards, huge Polish and Mexican neighborhoods, and Midway Airport

Far Northwest Side (Avondale, Irving Park, Portage Park, Jefferson Park)

Polish Village, historic homes and theaters, and some undiscovered gems in the neighborhoods near O’Hare International Airport

Far Southeast Side (Historic Pullman, East Side, South Chicago, Hegewisch)

• The giant, industrial underbelly of Chicago, home to one large tourist draw: the historic Pullman District

Far Southwest Side (Beverly, Mount Greenwood), rarely does a neighborhood have such beauty as this in an urban setting

Chicago’s history

As far as Chicago’s weather goes, well let’s just say that Chicago is an enormous city so things tend to get blown out of proportion more than they would in other cities that include the same weather. The winters in Chicago are indeed cold and the summers are not very hot but they offer an array of parades, festivals, and events.

Smoking is prohibited by state law at all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, workplaces, and public buildings. It’s also banned within fifteen feet of any entrance, window, or exit to a public place, and at CTA train stations.

Chicago is served by two major airports: O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport. There are plenty of taxis both to and from the city center, but they can be expensive, especially during rush hour due to traffic.

Chicago is quite unique in that it has established subway/elevated rapid transit rail service to its commercial airports; something many cities have not done at all, or perhaps have completed to one airport in their region. CTA trains provide direct service to both O’Hare and Midway airports.

While the city has many great attractions in its huge central/downtown area, lots of Chicagoans live and play outside of the central district as well. Travelers also go to the city’s vibrant neighborhoods to soak up the local nightlife, sample the wide range of fantastic dining, and see other sites that are a part of Chicago. Thanks to the city’s massive public transit system, which includes over 140 Chicago Transit Authority subway/elevated train stations, a separate city/suburban Metra rail network, and bus routes criss-crossing the city every few blocks apart, all parts of Chicago are indeed accessible.

Downtown Chicago is very walk able, with wide sidewalks, beautiful architecture, and an abundance of hotels, shopping, restaurants, and cultural attractions. The Chicago Pedway System is helpful for walkers looking to avoid cold or snow. It is a system of underground, ground-level, and above-ground passages that connect downtown buildings.

Chicago has a large and comprehensive bus system, and buses typically run frequently. This allows Chicagoans to go to bus stops and wait for the bus without even looking at bus schedules, as buses usually run every few minutes apart.

Rental cars are available at both airports (O’Hare and Midway) as well as from numerous rental offices in the Loop as well as other locations scattered throughout various neighborhoods and in the suburbs. O’Hare has the most and largest rental car offices, with many agencies operating 24 hours.

Cycling in Chicago can be safe and rewarding if undertaken carefully. New divided bike lanes in the Loop area are especially attractive when other modes of transportation are at full capacity.