Chicago is the third largest city in the U.S., the largest in the Midwest, and definitely the largest in architectural history and variety. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed most of the city, it became an architectural melting pot where architects from all around the world merged to make the city rise from the ashes. New building techniques and materials had to be researched and developed to be fireproof. Steel and glass found their way to the top of the list of preferred materials helping architects create taller buildings known as skyscrapers. The elevator came up as a new invention that helped people move easily within those tall towers. Buildings with different architectural styles and aesthetics began forming the new Chicago skyline. This is still happening today with all the ongoing buildings being designed by different architects or firms from all around the world.
This city is a great architectural gem. People visiting should take advantage of it by taking one of the many architectural tours that the Chicago Architecture Center and other companies offer. As an architect living in Chicago, I would recommend all available tours, but my favorite tour would be the Architectural Boat Tour available between April and November. I always tell my guests that this tour is a must while in town. Walk around the Loop, Millenium, Maggie Daley, and Grant parks, River North, Magnificent Mile, Gold Coast, Streeterville, South Loop and West Loop. These neighborhoods are where you have all the tall buildings and cool areas to visit. While I always tell guests to go and walk around these areas, I also tell them that Chicago is not only the Downtown area. The real Chicago also happens in all the residential neighborhoods. I highly encourage people to go to Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Wicker Park, and Bucktown. All these are residential neighborhoods by the Loop where you can find lots of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, cool hang out spots, and more. It’s a great idea to get on one of the rental bikes and ride around the city’s downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The city has done well making it a bike friendly one. Public transportation is also highly recommended to move around the city.
While on your bike, you should ride along the great Lake Michigan lakefront trail. Before moving here, I always thought that the lake was just a regular one as seen in other places. But once I moved here, I was deeply impressed by the magnitude of the lake and its beaches, which together makes it look just like the ocean. I always try to go to the lake when I can to take a run, a bike ride, a picnic, a beach day, or just relax on a hammock in between trees. This lake is part of the five Great Lakes of the U.S. and it’s deep blue color always reminds me of how beautiful it is.
Arising from the lake water, the Chicago River starts its journey connecting to the Mississippi River and heading south all the way to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. During the Great Migration, the blues and jazz music movements made their way north through this river from Louisiana all the way to Chicago, where they were happily adopted. Both have been around the city and its history, and you can enjoy them by going to different bars. The Kingston Mines club is my favorite where you can listen to live blues music bands performing until 4am every day of the week. For good live jazz, I would recommend Andy’s Bar and some nights at the Green Mill bar. Since this bar was frequented by Al Capone, it attracts several tourists looking for his history. There are some crime tours offered that will take you around some of the famous spots frequented by the mafia.
Chicago with all its history, beauty, culture, and people will make you fall in love during each season of the year. Winter with it’s frigid cold days where you can see the frozen lake and river, is warmed up by Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s day celebrations. Spring blooms and brings all citizens out of their homes into a colorful city that is preparing for the great warm months. Summer arrives in the city with all the street festivals, free concerts, beach days, boat rides, BBQ and picnics. The city transforms into a whole different one and Chicagoans know well how to celebrate during these months. Every single second of summer is fully enjoyed before the orange and yellow colors of fall arrive. Colder days come in with the smell of lit up chimneys and colorful streets around the city full of people taking their best pictures. The city is active all year round and every season is a different experience. I highly recommend visiting this city and falling in love with it, as I have been for the last four and a half years.