Chicago

Chicago is cited as the largest city in Illinois, a state in US. The metropolitan area is near Lake Michigan. Chicago also holds the record of being one of the 25 biggest urban areas based on population. Next to New York City and Los Angeles, it is the third most populous city in the country, with an estimated population of about 3 million.

Geography of Chicago

Chicago lies on the notheastern part of the state of Illinois and is found on the southwestern region of Lake Michigan. The city is also close to Chicago River and Calumet River.

Climate of Chicago

In the zone of humid continental climate, Chicago has four seasons. The summer season is naturally warm and humid, while winter in Chicago is cold, windy and snowy. For the spring and fall seasons, the days are mild with low humidity.

Economy of Chicago

This city in Illinois is known as a major business centre or financial district. It is home to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board Options Exchange and Chicago Stock Exchange. Aside from the futures exchanges, Chicago also has many brokerage firms and insurance firms in its area. IT, publishing and manufacturing industries in the city also provide vast employment opportunities.

Places to visit in Chicago

Several tourist sites in Chicago will make the tour in this part of the US a worthy experience.

*The 'time travel' in Chicago

The "Time Escape" at the Navy Pier is a three-dimensional simulation that would let visitors be part of the past, present and future of Chicago. Navy Pier also has boat and bus tours that are open to the public. These tours promise to visit notable landmarks in the city and provide more interesting information.

*Zoos in Chicago

Although Chicago is famed as business centres, there are still sites for the family and the little ones. At the north side of Chicago is the Lincoln Park Zoo. There is also the Brookfield Zoo. It sits on a 200 plus acres of breathtaking landscaped terrains. The zoo has about 2,000 animals.

*Yearly favourites in Chicago

All year round, Chicago hosts special affairs and celebrations. A lot of them, however, happen during the summer season. The yearly events in Chicago are the Chicago Air & Water Show, Chicago Blues Festival and the Taste of Chicago.

*Museums in Chicago

No less than 40 museums are found in Chicago. Here are a few examples:

* The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum of Chicago
The very first planetarium of the West Hemisphere, the museum features historical exhibits and sky shows.

* Field Museum
It is a museum for natural history, with a collection of about 20 million of cultural items. Among the collections are from the University of Chicago's Walker Museum.

Guidebooks for Chicago tours

For first-time visitors to Chicago, it would be best to consult guidebooks when looking for popular landmarks and other points of interest. Aside from museums and zoos, guidebooks also feature restaurants, cafes and shopping centers in this Illinois city.