USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “MIDWEST” ILLINOIS

ILLINOIS: PRAIRIE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

Traveling can be a great way to meet new people and experience other cultures. New friends are waiting to meet you in places you have only dreamed of traveling. It can be a wonderful way to see all that the world has to offer. Travel can be a hobby and an adventure that will lead you to unexpected places.  When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Look at the article below for an enthralling perspective on Chicago!

Wicker Park: Where history meets haute

By TIFFANY MEYERS

CHICAGO — Special to The Globe and Mail

Published Tuesday, Jun. 15, 2010 3:37PM EDT

Last updated Monday, Mar. 14, 2011 11:07AM EDT

Like so many of the best travel anecdotes, this one will start at The Crotch. At least that's what some people are calling the six-corner intersection (Milwaukee, Damen and North Avenues) of the Chicago neighborhood Wicker Park. On a typical day, a throng of people who care about progressive fashion, music, food and books, plus originality and Pabst Blue Ribbon, spill forth from that intersection, which, in all seriousness, you should really just call The Corners.

Along those three main drags, you'll find a caffeinated, high- and low-end mash-up of DIY creativity, $200 skinny jeans, $2 tacos, new and used books and respectable people watching.

In 1870, Charles and Joel Wicker (a pair of brothers-cum-developers) appropriated 80 acres of land and called it, after themselves, Wicker Park. The devastation following the great Chicago fire, one year later, inspired a real-state boom in their domain, as German and Scandinavian brewery tycoons built their mansions along Hoyne and Pierce Streets, a.k.a. "Beer Baron Row." (For more architectural eye candy, add Caton Street to your walking tour.)

Poles arrived in the 1940s, adding a cultural imprint that remained strong for decades, even as the neighborhood declined through the 1970s. (Division Street was known as the Polish Broadway.) Attracted to the low rents and light-drenched warehouse space, artists came next, setting up studios in the historic Flat Iron Arts Building and elsewhere.

Fast forward to the nineties, when an infamous wave of gentrification displaced lower-income residents and the artist pioneers who made the neighborhood attractive to mainstreamers. Holdouts from those more bohemian days, include Earwax Café and Reckless Records, both icons you shouldn't miss.

For Chicagoans who were there when the neighborhood was fringe, and even some who weren't, Wicker Park has become synonymous with Faustian-style gentrification. The Wicker-Park-has-sold-its-soul conversation persists to this day, although varied sources are adding nuances: Yes, the countercultural breeding ground is now a, gulp, "destination," but Wicker Park has hardly gone Wal-Mart. The truth is that the neighborhood’s early culture came in concentrated form. So while the forces of urban renewal might have added water (and a Starbucks), Wicker Park never lost its essence. Bottoms up.

Pretty sweet At Mojo Spa, creator and co-owner Amanda Kezios makes 250 all-natural skin-care products. "Call me the Willy Wonka of beauty," she says, referencing her cupcake- and candy-shaped soaps. Mani/pedis use her all-natural products, too. 1468 Milwaukee Ave.; 773-235-6656;www.mojospa.com

Batter up The Bongo Room turns the humble pancake into a culinary movement with flavours like Lemon Ricotta and Blueberry laced with gingersnap brown-sugar butter. Order them in stacks or individually and expect a long to extremely long wait. 1470 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-489-0690; www.thebongoroom.com

Free association Reigning purveyor of boho-chic apparel, Free People puts glamour and grunge in a blender and creates something better than either alone. Price points are more chic than boho but worth it. 1464 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-227-4871; www.freepeople.com

Starstruck Chef Paul Kahan has just the taco for you (fish, veggie, pork) at the new, honky-tonk inspired Big Star. Other crowd favourites (crowd is an understatement, go early): plantain fries and queso fundido. 1531 N. Damen Ave.; 773-235-4039

South Asian invasion For a long time, Wicker Park had everything a young urbanite could want/need except for Indian food. Enter Cumin, a new Indian and Nepalese offering. Don't miss the signature drink: Fresh Jal Jeera, with cumin and mint. 1414 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-342-1414; www.cumin-chicago.com

Wax poetic Earwax Café's vegan/vegetarian fare is about choices: chicken or seitan, vegan cheese or cheddar. Enjoy it amidst the café's turn-of-the-century, three-ring circus décor. Sword throwers! Fire eaters! Delicious. 1561 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-772-4019; earwax-cafe.com

Lenny for your thoughts Brilliant displays make this vintage home store feel like a natural-history museum, only here the exhibits feature mid-century Americana. Lenny & Me Home also has a sister store with vintage clothing across the street. 459 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-489-5576

Robin's nest Robin Richman shops Paris and New York to stock her eponymous boutique with haute, hard-to-find selections: Marc Le Bihan's architectural garments, inimitable pieces from Japan's Share Sprit and leather goods by Lebanon's Johnny Farah. 2108 N. Damen Ave.; 773-278-6150; www.robinrichman.com

Retail thera-p.45 P.45 has supported Chicago designers since it opened 13 years ago (when 45 was Michael Jordan's jersey number). Among the more recent designers to appear in the women's boutique: Abigail Glaum-Lathbury, whose sculptural clothing (intricate pleats, origami-like folds) is museum-worthy.1643 N. Damen Ave.; 773-862-4523; www.p45.com

Una Mae I help you? If the gang from the seventies sitcom Rhoda had the chance to stock a 21st-century boutique, they might come up with something like Una Mae's, which mixes incredible vintage finds (with 1970s leanings) and brands on the vanguard, like BB Dakota for women and Free Gold Watch for men. 1528 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-276-7002

Cusack muzak Nick Hornby's 1995 novel High Fidelity took place in London's Reckless Records, but when the movie's script migrated to Chicago (and starred native John Cusack), the beloved Wicker Park branch of the new-and-used music store served as inspiration. 1532 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-235-3727; www.reckless.com

Local letters Myopic Books, neighborhood institution, buys and sells the tomes Wicker Parkians digest. Lose yourself in stacks labelled art, music, film, philosophy, "geek" (comic books) and more. 1564 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-862-4882; www.myopicbookstore.com

Drink in the atmosphere Filter's exit from the Flat Iron Arts Building in 2007, when a bank took the spot, caused a period of mourning. Three years later, the coffee shop and all it represented (i.e., the neighborhood's alternative spirit) is back. Drape yourself across a piece of vintage furniture and stay all day. Everyone else does. 1373-75 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-904-7819

Triple threat AKIRA, Chicago's newest fashion empire, has three Wicker Park storefronts: men, women and shoes. The vibe is Forever 21-ish, only you won't see everyone and their sister in your new dress. 1814 W. North Ave., 773-489-0818 (women); 1910 W. North Ave. (men); 1849 W. North Ave. (shoes). www.asraigarden.com

Neighborhood perennial Breathe in the dewy air at Asrai Garden and your whole body smiles. The florist offers hand-tied bouquets to swoon by, plus home goods and fragrant lotions and potions - such as from Florentine perfumery Santa Maria Novella. 1935 W. North Ave.; 773-782-0680;www.asraigarden.com

On a foodie's bucket list No waiters, no hostess, no wine list. It's just chef Michael Carlson at Schwa, plus his kitchen staff and eight tables. The food (and experience) is legendary, challenging and unforgettable to the few who get reservations. Most talked about: quail egg raviolo with truffle butter. Carlson mans the phone. 1466 N. Ashland Ave.; 773-252-1466;www.schwarestaurant.com

WHERE TO STAY

Wicker Park is close to downtown Chicago, where hotels abound. But the neighborhood has some of its own options, too.

The Ruby Room Adjacent to her holistic spa, salon and boutique, Ruby Room owner Kate Leydon offers eight guest rooms stocked with Aveda products, spa robes and REM-inducing pillow-top mattresses. Guests can also bliss out in a healing garden in the back. Rates from $159 per night. 1743-45 W. Division St.; 773-235-2323; www.rubyroom.com.

The Wicker Park Inn Five guest rooms offer a bed and breakfast experience (private bathrooms, mind), while three apartments suit the longer-term traveler. The Provence Room is bathed in golden hues, while the Wicker Park Room offers the neighborhood’s signature exposed brick. Rates: $143 (rooms) to $204 (apartments) per night. 1329 N. Wicker Park Ave.; 773-645-9827; www.wickerparkinn.com.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/destinations/wicker-park-where-history-meets-haute/article571631/

    

Live Life, Have Fun and Travel Often!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “MIDWEST” ILLINOIS

ILLINOIS: PRAIRIE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

We lead such busy lives working, going to school, taking children to different activities that often we do not stop and talk to our children. We usually do not have time to sit around the dinner table and ask our children what they did today. Family vacations are so important, as it gives us a way to connect with each other in a stress free relaxed environment. Families that take vacations together build memories that will last a lifetime. Family vacations and travel can be a most rewarding experience.  When you are ready to plan a vacation contact me!

CHICAGO “The Windy City”

Chicago History

Chicago's history began with the arrival of French explorers, missionaries and fur traders in the late 17th century. 

The territory was claimed by the United States in the late 18th century, at which time the area was inhabited by the Potawatomi Indians. By the 1830s, the population was only a few hundred but entrepreneurs saw the potential to create a transport hub. 

The first commercial schooner sailed into the harbor via the Great Lakes, a sign of the trade that was to mushroom between the city and New York State. This was augmented by the development of rich farmlands, which attracted Yankee settlers and encouraged the construction of roads and docks to load ships with farm produce to send eastwards. 

By 1840, the population had boomed to 4,000. Eight years later, a canal and railway line opened and Chicago fast became the transportation hub of the United States with its road, rail, water and later air connections. 

In a period of two decades, the population reached 90,000, thanks to the arrival of Irish Catholics fleeing the Great Famine and rising numbers of European immigrants. By 1900, Chicago grew to nearly 1.7 million people, at the time the fastest-growing city ever. 

With the era of Prohibition, the 1920s brought international notoriety to Chicago. Bootleggers and smugglers brought in liquor from Canada and formed powerful gangs. The most notorious was Al Capone. 

After WWI, tens of thousands of African Americans arrived in the city, and social tensions rose. Competition for jobs and housing sparked race riots in 1919 in which many blacks died. 

Nevertheless, the arrival of migrants and immigrants continued throughout the 20th century - Hispanics, Mexican Puerto Ricans and Cubans from the 1940s and Indians and Chinese from the 1970s. 

The then Sears Tower was built in 1974 to become the world's tallest building, a symbol of the city's confidence. 

Since, the 1990s, attempts have been made to revitalize inner city neighborhoods, whilst more recently, attempts have been made to create a greener city, with the development of gardens on top of flat skyscrapers and the creation of Millenium Park. 

Did you know? 
- The name "Chicago" is believed to derive from the French version of the word shikaakwa ("Stinky Onion"), named for the plants grown along the Chicago River. 
- In 1871, a fire destroyed 18,000 buildings, leaving 100,000 homeless and killing hundreds. 
- In 1885 Chicago gave the world its first skyscraper, the 10-story Home Insurance Building.

City Attractions in Chicago

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

Opened in 1930, the Adler Planetarium was the Western Hemisphere's first public museum devoted to the stars. It still maintains the traditional in-the-round Zeiss planetarium (Sky Theater) as well as the state-of-the-art interactive Sky Rider where, with the help of armrest controls, visitors can choose how they would like to journey into space. Other interactive exhibits include 3-D computer animations of the birth of the solar system and of the Milky Way.

Telephone (312) 922 7827.
Website http://www.adlerplanetarium.org

Art Institute of Chicago

The bronze lions guarding the main entrance of the Art Institute of Chicago have become true symbols of the city. The Institute is packed with examples of over 5,000 years of human artistry from all over the world. Of particular interest are the collections of African, Ancient American and 'modern' American art from the 17th century to the present, including two icons of 20th century American art: American Nighthawks (1942). The Institute can also claim to be the French Impressionist capital of the American Midwest. Its collection includes one of the four surviving Water Lilies paintings by Monet, as well as work by Mary Cassatt, the only American to be included in the French Impressionist Movement. The Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing , which opened in May 2009, has increased gallery space by 33% and displays 20- and 21st- century art. A bridge links the museum to Millennium Park.

Telephone (312) 443 3600.
Website http://www.artic.edu

Field Museum

Home to 65-million year-old 'Sue', the nearest to a complete Tyrannosaurus Rex that has ever been discovered, the Field Museum explores the world's diverse environments and cultures. The entrance leads into the Dinosaur Hall, which is filled with real and replica skeletons. The Africa exhibit experience takes visitors from the city streets into the harsh but magnificently beautiful Sahara and into the galley of a slave ship. Inside Ancient Egypt is just that, with 23 real mummies in a recreated burial chamber. Shrink to the size of a bug and burrow into the surface of the soil at the Underground Adventure. Weekends are most crowded. The Ancient Americas, the museum's newest permanent exhibit, scans 13,000 years of pre-European, western hemisphere culture.

Telephone (312) 922 9410.
Website http://fieldmuseum.org/

Grant Park

In the 1890s, Grant Park was a marshy wasteland earmarked for development, until it was saved by the wealthy Montgomery Ward and transformed by the landscaping plans of the Olmstead Brothers. Its popular landmark, the Buckingham Fountain (on Congress Parkway and Columbus Drive), is modelled after a fountain at Versailles and is a fine example of Beaux Arts landscape design. Between 1 May and 1 October, a brightly-colored, illuminated water performance takes place from dusk until 2300. The fountain itself flows from 1000 onwards.

Telephone (312) 742 7529.

John Hancock Observatory

Not quite as tall as the Willis Tower, the John Hancock Observatory is still very high at 344m (1,127ft). It is usually less crowded and gives a more scenic view of the city's shoreline. There is an excellent observation gallery on the 94th floor, which also has the outside Skywalk. One floor up is the Signature Room, a good spot to sip a cocktail while enjoying the sunset views to the west and the panorama of Lake Michigan to the east. Architecturally, the building is striking because of its massive X-shaped cross-braces. It is also possible for visitors to 'tour' Chicago without leaving the building, by following the 'Windows on Chicago' virtual reality tour of 80 city sights and viewing the Chicago history wall.

Telephone 1 888 875 VIEW.
Website http://www.hancock-observatory.com

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo, which sits alongside Lake Michigan, has been a favourite to both locals and visitors since 1868. Though it is noted for its Great Ape, Elephant and Lion Houses, other buildings in the nation's first urban zoo tend to simulate natural habitats. The Regenstein Small Mammal and Reptile House has a glass dome roof that serves to replicate a jungle, river and forest environment. You will find cuddly koalas here too. While away your time amid orchids and lush greenery at the nearby Lincoln Park Conservatory (2200 North Stockton Drive).

Telephone (312) 742 2000.
Website http://www.lpzoo.org

Millennium Park

Millennium Park, one of the city's most popular attractions, is a collage of exceptional art and architecture. The 10-hectare (25-acre) recreational area features Frank Gehry's BP Bridge and the towering stainless steel ribbons of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion - an outdoor concert venue. A video of faces are displayed on the Crown Fountain , two 15m-tall (50ft) towering glass fountains by Jaume Plensa. The stainless steel, elliptical Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor (referred to as 'the Bean') reflects fish-eye panoramas of the skyline. Grassy and lush, the Lurie Garden pays tribute to the city's transformation from marshy flat to a beautiful metropolis. 

Telephone (312) 742 1168.
Website http://www.millenniumpark.org

Museum of Science and Industry

Designed by Daniel Burnham for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1892, this museum continues to charm both kids and science buffs. Ride through the coal mine, explore the WW2 German submarine, the U-505, walk through the 6m (20ft) human heart or try to catch some fairy dust at Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle. Families especially enjoy the hands-on Imagination Station and the acoustically perfect Whispering Gallery. The huge screen of the Omnimax Theater features science and space-related films.

Telephone (773) 684 1414.
Website http://www.msichicago.org

National Vietnam Veterans' Art Museum

Enter to the sound of tinkling bells, then look toward the ceiling and see Above and Beyond: 58,000 imprinted dog tags of the men and women who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. This museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving and displaying artwork done by Vietnam veterans, which includes the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese as well as the allies. Artefacts and artwork give one a more intimate look and a better understanding of a most unpopular war.

Telephone (312) 326 0270.
Website http://www.nvvam.org

Navy Pier

The 800m-long (2,400ft) pier, built in 1916, was once the city's municipal wharf and a military pier - the only pier actually completed out of several proposed under the Burnham Plan of 1906. After an extensive refurbishment, it is now one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, with parkland, gardens, piers, shops and restaurants. Its outdoor facilities include an amphitheater, a 50m-high (150ft) ferris wheel (the first one ever - not this one - was built in Chicago in 1893, for the World's Columbia Exposition), and a carousel. Inside the complex is an IMAX film theatre, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, miniature golf and The Chicago Children's Museum, where interactive exhibits instruct and entertaining.

Telephone (312) 595 7437/PIER.
Website http://www.navypier.com

The Oprah Winfrey Show

Everyone wants to see Oprah and her popular TV talk show. It is possible to do just that because programs are recorded in Chicago with a live audience. Morning and afternoon dates vary and go from January to June and September to November. Tickets, available exclusively by phone, are at a premium and must be obtained at least one month in advance. A valid photo ID is required to enter the studio.

Telephone (312) 591 9222.
Website http://www.oprah.com

Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower)

Third only in height to Taipei 101 and the Kuala Lumpur Petronas Towers, this famous 110-floor city landmark stands 443m (1,454ft) high. When the day is cloudless, the views reach to Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana up to 80k (50 miles) away. Although the tower is a working office building, there are various visitor attractions and entertainment facilities. The Skydeck is a multimedia experience showcasing Chicago's history, music, literature and sport. 'The Ledge', is a five-sided glass box, which juts out from the tower and allows visitors to experience being suspended more than 400m (1,300ft) above the ground. The queues for the 103rd floor can be quite long. Every year, 1.5 million visitors come to take the 70-second lift ride to the top.

Telephone 877 SKYDECK.
Website http://www.theskydeck.com

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I began acting on stage when I was 7 years old. My first role was as Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' at Chicago's Center on Deafness in Northbrook, Illinois. 

Marlee Matlin

 
  

Travel  and create wonderful memories for your family!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “MIDWEST” ILLINOIS

ILLINOIS: PRAIRIE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

The purposes of traveling are different for different people. There are some people who travel for the sake of pleasure. The people that are heavily burdened either at their domestic front or at their offices move too far off places for relieving their worries and anxieties. The poets and writers make a trip to distant places for collection of facts for their writings. Businessmen also visit various places to enquire as to whether there are scopes for expansion of their business. Travelling provides the benefit of sightseeing and gives pleasure to the visitor. In addition, it gives a scope to an individual to have firsthand knowledge of variegated people inhabiting the world. When you want to plan a vacation 

contact me!

CHICAGO “The Windy City”

Often overlooked in favor of New York or San Francisco, the ‘Windy City' of Chicago doesn't fall short as a center of culture, art and architecture. Soaring towers befitting the birthplace of the skyscraper are stacked high along the stunning Chicago River and throughout the sprawling metropolis. This is also the home of blues and jazz, where early masters such as Louis Armstrong honed their skills.

Situated on beautiful Lake Michigan, Chicago's countless bars and restaurants are lively and usually full - especially if a game is on. The friendly locals are sports mad, with American football, basketball and baseball all popular.

The live-music scene is vibrant (with plenty of blues bars), while there are also renowned festivals, a world-class symphony and some terrific museums - such as the Art Institute with its extensive French Impressionist collection. Then there's the stunning Millennium Park, which opened in 2004 and features work by Frank Gehry, Jaume Plensa and Anish Kapoor.

The Downtown area is known as the ‘Loop' after the raised metropolitan railway that circles the central business and shopping district, and many visitors take to the iconic waterways to tour this area's colossal architecture by boat.

The 10-floor Home Insurance Building constructed here in 1884 was the first skyscraper, ahead of Hotel Burnham (formerly the Reliance Building), which was the first steel-framed skyscraper. It also houses one of the world's tallest buildings, Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower). Famous architects such as Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright and his Prairie School of Architecture have all left their mark here.

But the city isn't only interesting for its architecture. Chicago is a cosmopolitan hub with varied districts known for their Irish, Vietnamese, Latin-American and other connections, and it's constantly changing. "It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago," said Mark Twain in the 19th century. "She outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them." Over a century later, his words still ring true.

Tours & Excursions

Tourist Information Centers

Chicago Office of Tourism

·        Address:

East Randolph 
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago
United States

·        Telephone:  (312) 744 2400 or 1 877 244 2246/CHICAGO.

·        Website:  http://www.choosechicago.com

·        Hours of Operation:

Daily 1000-1700 (Jan-Mar); Mon-Sat 0930-1800, Sun 1000-1700 (Mar-May); Mon-Thur 0900-1900, Fri-Sat 0900-1800, Sun 1000-1800 (May-Sept); Mon-Sat 0930-1800, Sun 1000-1700 (Sept-Dec).

Excursions

Cantigny

·        The 202-hectare (500-acre) estate of legendary Chicago Tribune editor and publisher from 1925-1955, Colonel Robert R McCormick, is one of the far west suburbs' key attractions. Originally built in 1899 by McCormick's grandfather and founder of the Chicago Tribune, Joseph Medill, the estate has 16 hectares (40 acres) of stately gardens and two museums. McCormick served in the US Army's First Division and The First Division Museum is devoted to the history of this infantry division from 1917 to Desert Storm. On the lawn are tanks from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Robert R McCormick Museum is the colonel's 35-room, plantation-style mansion complete with original furniture, antiques and artwork.

·        Telephone:  (630) 668 5161.

·        Website:  http://www.cantignypark.com

 

Milwaukee

·        No longer merely the land of beer and brats, Milwaukee is taking great pains to reinvent itself. It is worth the trip up there just to have a look at the stunning winged (or as some think of it, whale-fluked shaped) white Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, it has a moveable roof that opens and closes twice a day. When open, it spans over 66m (217ft). Milwaukee has many other interesting attractions to explore: museums, a very cool zoo, Potawatomi Bingo Casino, brewery tours and funky neighborhoods. For motorcycle buffs, there is the House of Harley. You can learn all about the illustrious bike, plan a trip and talk with other bike enthusiasts.

Oak Park Neighborhood

·        Two famous residents, architect Frank Lloyd Wright and writer Ernest Hemingway, made their home 16km (10 miles) west of the Loop in the suburb of Oak Park. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation, 951 Chicago Avenue, was where, between 1898 and 1908, Wright developed his new approach to architecture. Foundation offerings include Prairie School of Architecture educational programs, daily tours (usually between 1100 and 1500) of Frank Lloyd Wright structures and maps for exploring on your own. Discover aspects of the author's life and history at the Ernest Hemingway Museum.

·        Telephone:  1 888 625 7275.

·        Website:  http://www.visitoakpark.com

 

St Charles

·        The undulating hillsides and open prairie of St Charles are just one hour west of Chicago. Situated along the Fox River, the town is as much about the great outdoors as it is about shopping, eating and sightseeing. Float 6.4 km (4 miles) down the Fox River on St. Charles Paddlewheel Riverboats. Alternatively, canoes and pedal boats are available at Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Avenue. Other relaxing parks include the Ferson Creek Park, on Route 31, two miles north of Main Street, and Mount St Mary Park, also on Route 31, to the west of Fox River and south of Prairie Street. The Fox River Trail, a spring and summer bike and hiking trail and a winter cross-country ski trail, borders the river. The attractive historic town is a shopper's paradise with antique shops, boutiques and the Kane Flea Market.

·        Telephone:  1 800 777 4373.

·        Website:  http://www.visitstcharles.com

Tours

Walking tours

·        Chicago is known for its architecture and there is no better way to learn about the city's structural designs than by taking one of the many tours that the Chicago Architectural Foundation offers. Tours, which are on foot, by bus and on the water, include historic and modern skyscrapers as well as Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Except for the water tours, most begin at 224 South Michigan Avenue.

·        Telephone: (312) 922 3432.

·        Website:  http://www.architecture.org

 

Chicago Greeters tours

·        Considered a 'themed visit' rather than a tour, Chicago Greeters will escort small groups (up to six) to attractions, neighborhoods, explore insider's favorite haunts, visit specific points of interest, or even take them shopping. Greeters are residents who know and love the city. Advance reservations are necessary for this free service of the Chicago Office of Tourism.

·        Telephone: 1 877 244 2246.

·        Website:  http://www.chicagogreeter.com

 

Bus tours

·        There are plenty of road-based options for touring the city. Gray Line Tours runs a variety of city excursions including 'North' and 'South' side city tours, which cover all the major sights in those parts of the city. Buses leave from 55 East Monroe Street. The Chicago Double Decker Co., based at the Willis Tower, offers double-decker service, using London-style double-decker buses to tour 21km (13 miles) of Chicago's main sights. A hop-on hop-off service (explore a site and catch another bus to resume the tour) stops at a number of points, including Navy Pier, Willis Tower, the Art Institute and Field Museum.

·        Telephone: (312) 251 3100 ; (773) 648 5000.

·        Website:  http://www.chicagotrolley.com

Boat tours

·        One of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of the city as well as learn about it is from the water. Such excursions operate from May to early November, but it is best to check with the individual sightseeing company for schedules and costs. Chicago Line Cruises runs both history and architectural boat trips. Boats departing from Navy Pier run the gamut from schooners to yachts and those that include meals and cocktails. Windy I or Windy II set sail around Lake Michigan. Or you can paddle a kayak down the Chicago River with Wateriders and explore history, architecture or gangster history.

·        Telephone: (312) 527 1977 ; (312) 595 5555 ; (312) 953 9287.

·        Website:  http://www.tallshipwindy.com

 

Gangster and ghost tours

·        The Untouchables Gangster Tour takes a step back to the days of prohibition. It traces the paths of some of the city's most infamous 1920s and 1930s residents, like Al Capone and John Dillinger. Wisecracking guides relate gangster lore on the way to famous hoodlum haunts like Little Italy and the St Valentine's Massacre. All tours depart from 600 North Clark Street, and reservations are necessary.

Chicago Hauntings visits paranormal and supernatural locations around the city. A two-hour 45-minute bus ride explores such haunts as the Biograph Theater, Graceland Cemetery, and the site of the Fort Dearborn massacre. Reservations are necessary.

·        Telephone: (773) 881 1195 ; 1 888 446 7891.

·        Website: http://www.chicagohauntings.com

·         

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I grew up in Danville, Illinois, right in the middle of the state.

Dick Van Dyke
 
 
  

Live, Love and Travel to create memories that will last a lifetime!