Skyscrapers, Lakeshore and Midwest Swagger
Chicago is the largest city in the American Midwest, on the shore of Lake Michigan, known for pioneering skyscraper architecture, deep-dish pizza and a deep musical heritage. After the Great Fire of 1871, the city rebuilt itself as a laboratory for modern architecture, and the first generation of tall steel-framed buildings rose here. Today the skyline is a roll call of great designs, from the Rookery to the Willis Tower, set against the wide blue horizon of the lake.
The Chicago Architecture Center's river cruise is the best introduction, gliding between towers along the Chicago River while guides explain each design. On land, Millennium Park brings the reflective sculpture Cloud Gate, known locally as the Bean, together with Crown Fountain and an open-air concert pavilion. The Riverwalk gives the city a lively waterside promenade. A tourist board has an easy, memorable story to tell with a skyline this recognisable.
Art, Blues and Deep-Dish Evenings
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the great museums of the United States, with Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Hopper's Nighthawks and Grant Wood's American Gothic among its icons. Elsewhere, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry make Chicago a rewarding city for families too. The lakefront path stretches for miles, with beaches, cycling and views back to the skyline.
Chicago's music is as strong as its art. The city shaped electric blues, and clubs in neighbourhoods such as the South Side and Lincoln Park keep the tradition alive, while jazz and house music also have deep roots here. Food runs from deep-dish pizza and Italian beef to Chicago-style hot dogs, always served without ketchup. Wrigley Field, opened in 1914, is a joyful spot for baseball. The blues lineage connects to Memphis and the Louisiana jazz story, and a hotel group can offer stays from the Loop to the Magnificent Mile.
Read the full Chicago guide on Visit Travel Group, or see Chicago.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.