Chicago Travel Review
Did you know: The flow of the Chicago River was reversed in 1887, a bold engineering feat,in order to improve Chicago's sewerage system and to reduce the epidemics of diseases caused by poor sewers.
Chicago History
Due to its position along the Great Lakes shipping routes and major railroads, Chicago became a busy port, agricultural and manufacturing city. The meat packing business has thrived there for many decades due to the proximity to the agricultural heartland of the United States. Ranchers and farmers in Indiana, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa and many other states have shipped to and sold their goods in Chicago, for later processing, transport and distribution to a hungry America. The Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed large portions of the city- even temporarily delaying the printing of the Chicago Tribune- but merchants and businessmen helped to rebuild, allowing the town to become the great metropolis of the Midwest and one of the most important centers for agricultural, commodities, finance, shipping and other industries. More Chicago History...Chicago Clubs and Music
Known for its signature blues, Chicago also has been home to many famous jazz, pop and other genres over the decades. For blues, Buddy Guy's Legends, Fitzgerald's, Frankie's Blue Room, Hot House and Kingston Mines offer music weekly. Many of the early (and now famous) jazz bands got their performing and recording careers started in Chicago. The Chicago Jazz Festival each September is a major event downtown in Grant's park and offers a huge array of mainstream jazz and blues-oriented performers. More Chicago Clubs and Music...Chicago Area Attractions
Chicago is blessed with numerous museums, galleries and other civic and social institutions which offer a huge variety of activities. The Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Sears Tower Skydeck, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and the Chicago Architecture Foundation (which offers a free downtown walking tour highlighting some of the finest buildings in the region) all present activities worth exploring. Fans of author Ernest Hemingway will be delighted to explore his home in nearby Oak Park, where he spent most of his childhood. Architecture students and buffs will want to tour the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. History buffs will interested in driving a few hours to the South to Springfield, Illinois to see "Lincoln Country" where the 16th President spent his formative years as a budding lawyer and politician. The area is filled with so many interesting places to visit- and taking the City Tour on the Chicago River and out to Lake Michigan adds a new and fascinating perspective to this great town.
Sports fans have perhaps more options than almost every other major U.S. city, with the Chicago Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, the Bulls and the Bears and the Chicago Blackhawks offering virtually year-round entertainment. One of the nice things about Chicago is that you can enjoy the simple things in life like Bratwurst, a chili dog or deep-dish pizza and a beer in one of the many restaurants along Rush Street, but also dine in elegance at a five-star restaurant along the shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago is truly a city of wonderful variations. More Chicago Attractions...