What to do with Children in Tow
Chicago can boast of being a very child-friendly city with all there is for them to see and do.
United States
Chicago
Chicago is called the "second city", as it is second only to New York in terms of its importance in the United States. It is an economic powerhouse. Chicago has the 4th highest GDP of any metro area in the world. That's reflected in the spectacular skyline, which contrasts beautifully with the shore of Lake Michigan.
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A CLOSER LOOK
Top places to visit
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago started as the Chicago Academy of Design and was founded by a group of 35 artists in 1866. The academy was profitable, but struggled with financing. The current building, built in the Neoclassical style, was built as an art gallery for the Colombian Exhibition and completed in 1893. The museum and art school have continued to grow and expand ever since. In 2009, a new wing for modern art designed by Renzo Piano was completed, greatly expanding the available space.
Chicago Architecture Foundation
Chicago's architecture is unparalleled. As the grand avenues of Paris are exemplary of the nineteenth century, and the canals of Venice of the Renaissance, so do the skyscrapers and neoclassical monuments represent modernity. The Chicago Architecture Foundation works to advance knowledge and public interest in architecture and design.
Chicago Cultural Center
The Chicago Cultural Center was built between 1893 and 1897 as a public library. It is built in the Neoclassical style, with touches from the Italian Renaissance. When the new Harold Washington Library was built in 1991, it was converted into a cultural center. The Cultural Center is also renowned for its intricate and ornamental details, including white Carrara marble staircases, delicate mosaics, glass, stone, and mother of pearl adornments, and vaulted ceilings. There are two large domes on the third floor, including one made of Tiffany-stained glass.
Fine Arts Building
The Fine Arts Building, also known as the Studebaker Building, was built in 1885 for the Studebaker company by architect Solon S. Beman. It is a striking example of Romanesque architecture. Studebaker soon vacated the building, and it was renovated into a hub of fine arts. As the name would suggest, it is filled with offices, art galleries, lofts, recording studios, and shops, nearly all related to the world of art.
Sears (Willis) Tower
Until the completion of the new World Trade Center in New York City, the Sears Tower is the tallest building in the United States, standing 442m (527m to the spire). It was built between 1969 and 1973 as headquarters for the Sears corporation, formerly the largest retailer in the world.
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium was built in 1930 by philanthropist Max Adler and is part of Chicago's Museum Campus. It was the first modern planetarium in the western hemisphere. Though it has since become a little dated, there is still a lot to see here.
Buckingham Fountain
One of the world’s largest fountains, the Buckingham Fountain is located in the middle of Grant Park. It was a gift to the city from Kate Sturges Buckingham, in memory of her brother Clarence Buckingham. The Beaux-Arts-style design, finely wrought bronze sculpture and innovative use of technology make this one of America’s finest fountains. The fountain runs during warm-weather months with a light and water display from 9:00pm to 10:00pm.
Field Museum
Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History was founded in 1893 during the Colombian Exhibition. It was moved to its current location in 1921 and is named for Marshall Field, the museum's first benefactor and retail giant Marshall Field. The magnificent Classical Revival building is located along Lakeshore Drive in Chicago's Museum Campus, along with the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium.
Grant Park
Located between the Loop and Lake Michigan, Grant Park is known as Chicago's front yard. It covers 319 acres. The park was built after the 1871 Great Chicago Fire on landfill and the 1893 Columbian Exhibition was held here. It is named for former president/Civil War general and Chicago-area native Ulysses S. Grant. The recently completed Millennium Park is at the northwest corner of the park, and acts as a gateway.
Muslim travel planner
Full guidePlan a Muslim-friendly trip in Chicago
THE LOCAL TABLE
Halal restaurants in Chicago
Everest
This restaurant is one of the finest restaurants in the nation. It is located on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. The moment you enter this restaurant, you get transported back to an era of old-fashioned French aristocracy of the 1920’s. In contrast is the strikingly modern and impressive view of Chicago, courtesy the full-wall windows on the western side of the restaurant. Said to give the finest total dining experience, the restaurant also has a rather impressive wine list.
Grand Café Lux
When the grandeur and luxury of European cafes blends with the practicalities and spirit of an all-American restaurant, what you get is the ultimate in fine dining experience. Café Grand Lux is an unusual eating place where global cuisine is served in elegant yet relaxed surroundings. Savor flavors from a wide and varied selection ranging from Thai, Malaysian and Caribbean, to classic American and European specialties. A hallmark of the Grand Lux experience is the on-site bakery where your chosen dessert whether it be Molten Chocolate Cake or warm Rustic apple pie, will be baked to order.
Shanghai Terrace
This is an award winning restaurant where guests can enjoy a four, eight or fifteen course meal. It includes spas as well as guest rooms. Cuisine: Chinese Address: 108 East Superior Street (at North Michigan Avenue) Chicago, Illinois 60611 -2508, USA Phone: (312) 337 2888 Website: www.chicago.peninsula.com
Signature Room
Located on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Tower, this restaurant gives guests a breathtaking view of the magnificent mile. It also includes extraordinary food and beverages.
Alinea
Foodies will not want to miss this unique dining experience. Chef Grant Achatz has used gastronomy to create one of the world's best restaurants. Each meal consists of twenty fixed miniature courses, each with its own fanciful presentation. The Black Truffle Explosion is legendary. If you have the money -- it'll set you back around $200 per diner -- definitely check it out. Alinea pushes the limits of what food can be.
Atwood Café
Located right in the heart of Chicago’s Central business District, this restaurant offers a cozy intimacy. Enjoy dining in the vibrant dining room with a view of the bustling Chicago streets. Cuisine: American – serves contemporary American “comfort foods.” Address: 1 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602 Phone: (312) 368-1900 Website:www.atwoodcafe.com
Bon Apetito!
Cuisine: Italian Address: 2600 Navy Blvd Intersection of Patriot and Navy,Glenview, IL 60026 Phone: (847) 724-8400 www.bestitalianusa.com
Bravo Cucina Italiana
In the heart of Glenview sits Bravo Cucina. A very spacious restaurant with a lot of seating. The high ceilings and well decorated walls give the feel of a Roman ruin. Classic Italian food is served here. Their signature dish, Pasta Bravo, comprises of rigatoni tossed with wood-grilled chicken and mushrooms in a roasted red pepper cream sauce.
Catch 35
Known as one of Chicago’s premier seafood restaurants it has been given a perfect rating from Chicago’s top food critics and magazines. It has a deep range of seafood selections and an elegant and classy atmosphere. Its location close to the Theatre District is an added advantage.
Petterino’s
Ideally located in the theatre district, just round the corner from the Ford theatre and adjacent to the Goodman theatre, it is hugely popular with theatre afficiandos looking for a good meal before the show. Dark wood booths create an old world look. With an elegant atmosphere and variety of dishes, what you have is a winner!
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Where to stay in Chicago
Four Seasons (Near North Michigan Avenue)
Guest rooms at Four Seasons start at the 30th floor! The hotel is very close to the shopping centers. Rooms provide dozens of amenities including Ethernet services, a refrigerator and Wi-Fi. Hotel facilities include room service, bar, pool, gym, concierge, laundry service as well as three restaurants.
Hard Rock Hotel
This energetic hotel is loud and flashy with plasma screen TVs everywhere. Their tower room has an amazing view of Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park and the Chicago River. They have DVD, internet, dial-up services in the rooms. In the restaurant they have a bar. Other facilities provided include access to the gym, room service and public Wi-Fi.
Ritz-Carlton
The Chicago franchise of the Ritz-Carlton is located is located above the heart of the Magnificent Mile. Every guest has access to the fitness center, including daily fitness classes, the pool and whirlpool, high-speed wireless internet, and the business center. The rooms are comfortable and the service is just what you'd expect from the Ritz-Carlton. There are also two excellent restaurants and a bar.
Sofitel
The Sofitel is a four-star hotel located just off Chicago's Magnificent Mile. It's within a few blocks of the city's best restaurants and shopping. Rooms feature luxurious marble bathrooms, high-speed internet, and HDTVs. Amenities include a gym and pool. There is also a bar and a restaurant. The Cafe des Architectes serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a lovely outdoor terrace.
Peninsula
The Peninsula is one of three five-star hotels in Chicago. It's located just off the Magnificent Mile, home to Chicago's finest shopping and restaurants. In fact, the ground floor of the hotel is occupied by Banana Republic and Tiffany & Co.
Elysian Hotel
The Elysian Hotel has often been rated Chicago's best, standing out even amongst the city's crop of five-star hotels. The Elysian has an excellent location at the northern end of the Magnificent Mile, just a few blocks from the historic Water Tower. It's in the Gold Coast, Chicago's most upscale neighborhood.
Best Western Hawthorne Terrace
This hotel’s front terrace is a place to be in the summer, particularly when there are festivals taking place on the streets! There are 83 rooms at this hotel, and each room is fitted with whirlpool tubs, dial-up and Wi-Fi internet. The hotel has a gym and laundry facilities also.
Embassy Suites
Embassy Suites is located in the heart of Chicago’s downtown area, within minutes of all the main tourist attractions and businesses. The 367 suites are spacious and finely decked out. The hotel has a fully equipped fitness center, an on-site restaurant and wine bar, complimentary 24 hour business centre, indoor heated pool, complimentary full breakfast, high-speed wireless and wired internet access. Each one bedroom suite features a separate living room with a sofa bed and dining/work table, remote-control console television, two phones with high speed internet access and private voicemail. The separate bedrooms are furnished with handsome furniture, remote control TV, am/fm radio, and a hospitality corner with a microwave, coffeemaker and refrigerator. Smoking suites are also available
Essex Inn
This hotel is the accessible and family-friendly. It is a five minute walk from the Museum Campus. It also offers great package prices with attractions such as the Shed Aquarium and the Sears Tower. It has a rooftop swimming pool, open year-round, along with sliding–glass doors that open to views of Lake Michigan and Grant Park. Some rooms have kitchens, refrigerators and Wi-Fi. There is room service, a restaurant, pool, gym, and laundry service available in the hotel.
Hilton Garden Inn
With a location that’s so central, you can’t get better than this. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago's Magnificent Mile, it is surrounded by world-class dining, art galleries, nightclubs, and entertainment, two blocks from famous North Michigan Avenue shopping, four blocks to Navy Pier and the Loop business and financial district, minutes to McCormick Place Expo Hall, Millennium Park, popular museums, and lakefront. The hotel offers excellent dining and snacking option in its on-site restaurant, Weber Grill and Pavilion Pantry.
History and today in Chicago
Fast Facts
Location : In northeastern Illinois, at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan.
Public Holidays
January: New Year’s Day - 1st Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day – 3rd Monday in Jan; February: Groundhog Day- 2nd Lincoln’s Birthday – 12th Valentine’s Day- 14th President’s Day- 3rd Monday in Feb; March: C. Pulaski’s Birthday – 2nd
Visa Information
There is now a new process for persons traveling to the United States. It includes an Electronic Visa Application Form. This form will be processed faster and is now used for all Nonimmigrant Visa applications. The Electronic Visa Application Form is an online application that can be filled out on the internet, making the whole process a lot faster. The average wait period has been reduced to 1-2 days in Abu Dhabi and about 5 days in Dubai.
When to go
Summer is the best time to visit Chicago. The weather gets hot and humid -- regularly into the mid 30s --but temperatures are moderated somewhat by Lake Michigan. It's usually sunny too, though severe storms can pop up suddenly. Summer is also filled with festivals and cultural activities.
Chicago Residents
Chicagoans are often extroverted; talkative, assertive and outgoing. They are friendly, social people who are positive in most situations. Chicago is a great place for people who like group activities and social gatherings. Hard-working Chicagoans love sports, both as participants and fans. Many can be seen playing along the lakeshores. According to the US Census Bureau, White Americans made up 37.6% of Chicago’s population while Black or African Americans made up 35.0%. Asian Americans accounted for 4.9% of the population while other races made 20.6%. The main ethnic groups in Chicago are African American, Irish, German, Italian, Mexican, English, Bulgarian, Greek, Chinese, Slovak, Lithuanian, Polish, Bosnian, Czech, Filipino, Serbian, Russian, Ukrainian, Indian, Arab, and Puerto Rican. Poles in Chicago constitute the largest Polish population outside of the Polish capital of Warsaw.
Chicago History
What is now Chicago was first settled by Europeans in the 1780s. During the War of 1812 it was the sight of Fort Dearborn, an important outpost of the US Army. The town of Chicago was founded along the southwest shore of Lake Michigan on August 12, 1833 after the remaining Native American population was forcefully removed following the Treat of Chicago.
Chicago Today
Chicago is called the "second city", as it is second only to New York in terms of its importance in the United States. It is an economic powerhouse. Chicago has the 4th highest GDP of any metro area in the world. That's reflected in the spectacular skyline, which contrasts beautifully with the shore of Lake Michigan.
Chicago in one day
Start your tour of Chicago with a sampling of the city's famed architecture. Take a guided walking tour with the Chicago Architecture Foundation. This two hour tour traverses the Loop, giving insight into the city's history and letting you feel the pulse of the city. There is also an architectural boat tour available that runs along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, if you don't feel like walking.
Useful information
Shopping
900 North Michigan Shops
This mall is the most upscale out of the rest of the malls. It has about 70 stores, a few good restaurants and a movie theatre on the lower level. Address: 900 N. Michigan Ave. Phone: 1-312-915-3916
American Girl Place
For those of you with little girls, don’t give this one a miss, for it is more than just a store, it’s an experience. Incredible boutiques showcase contemporary and historical characters, beautiful dolls, accessories, and outfits for both girls and dolls. There’s also a café that serves brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. The doll hair salon is especially popular and girls can watch as the stylists brush, braid, twist, and fix the dolls’ hair! A stage show brings stories from the American Girl books to life. Address: 111 East Chicago Avenue, across from Water Tower Park Phone: 1-877-AG PLACE www.americangirl.com
Chicago Place Mall
Several designer names begin at the intersection of Oak Street and Michigan Avenue. Clothing, home-décor and a food court are all available on the top floor. Address: 700 N. Michigan Ave. Phone: 1-312-642-4811
Macy’s
This block-long store is second only to the Macy’s flagship store at New York. Its breadth of merchandise is impressive, as is the interior. A number of exclusive miniboutiques within the store sell the latest designer wear and footwear. There are also a number of beauty stations where you can pamper yourself and pick up exclusive cosmetics. Take out time to sample Charlie Trotter’s gourmet food at the food department.
Magnificent Mile
This area is about a mile long stretch of North Michigan Avenue between Oak Street and the Chicago River. This area is known to have the best stores and is simply a shopper’s paradise. If high-end designer stuff is what you’re looking out for, then this is the perfect place for you. From Bulgari jewelry, Prada bags, or Salvatore Ferragamo footwear, you’ll find it all. This area is also the heart of the city and walking down the streets you gives a distinctive feel of what it’s like to be a Chicagoan.
Water Tower Place
This is the first big indoor mall to open downtown. This mall is still very popular today. Address: 835 N. Michigan Ave. Phone: 1-312-440-3166
Westfield North Bridge
The mall is bright and spacious with high ceilings. There are jewelry, clothing, and bath and body shops here. Address: 520 N. Michigan Ave. Phone: 1-312-327-2300
Armitage Avenue
Get a unique shopping experience at Armitage Avenue, where chic boutiques find homes in beautifully restored 19th century buildings. Here you can buy anything from unique furnishings to hard-to-find cosmetic brands to hip fashions and toys. Address: Between Halsted Street and Racine Avenue, Lincoln Park Near De Paul University www.armitageshopping.com
Bucktown/Wicker Park
These side by side neighborhoods cater to the creative and hip crowd. Find hottest clothing styles from established and up-and-coming designers. Unearth that long lost gem at a used record store or vintage accessory shop, or browse independent art galleries. This shopping area though a bit gritty, is definitely trendy.
Old Orchard Shopping Center
A suburbanite’s answer to Downtown shopping, Old Orchard, has a wide range of stores from Macy’s, Nordstrom, Ann Taylor and Bloomingdales to a host of specialty stores featuring jewelry, watches, gifts, home furnishings, etc. There is a food court plus full service restaurants. For family entertainment, there are a number of cinemas too within the complex. A large outlet of Barnes and Noble, the famous bookstore is also housed here. Address: 34, Old Orchard Center, Skokie, IL 600077
Signature sights in Chicago
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is one of Chicago's newest attractions. The 24.5 acre park was built between 1997 and 2004 over what had been a rail yard. Today it receives more than 4,000,000 guests annually and is a treasured part of Chicago. Many consider it the most important municipal project since the Colombian Exhibition ended in 1893.
Museum of Contemporary Art
Founded in 1967, Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art features a large collection of modern art from World War II to the present. The current modernist building, designed by German architect Josef Paul Kleihues, opened in 1996 and in terms of square footage was the largest museum of modern art in the world. The highlight of the building is the main staircase, which leads to the beautiful atrium overlooking Lake Michigan.
Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is one of the world's largest, with more than 32,000 fish from 1,500 different species. It is the most visited attraction in Chicago with more than 2,000,000 guests annually. The aquarium was built between 1927 and 1930, and was one of the world's first inland aquariums. Seawater had to be brought in by train via railroad from Key West, Florida. Along with the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium is part of the Museum Campus Chicago. The aquarium is named for its founder John G. Shedd, president of retailer Marshall Fields.
John Hancock Center
The John Hancock Center is the third tallest building in Chicago at 344m. It is one of the signature elements of Chicago's skyline, with its tapered design, twin spires, and criss-crossing trusses. The Hancock Center was designed by architect Bruce Graham of the famous Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill architecture firm. It was built between 1965 and 1970 and houses offices, condominiums, and shops.
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is Chicago's most visited attraction, attracting more than 8,000,000 visitors per year. It was built between 1914 and 1916 and at the time was the largest pier in the world, at more than 1,000m long. Initially, the pier was to serve as both a port and as a public gathering place, but as cars proliferated the Great Lakes shipping industry declined. Its popularity fell during the 1960s and 1980s, but has seen a resurgence in recent decades.
Museum of Science & Industry
Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry is housed in the Palace of FIne Arts, built for the Columbian Exhibition. In the 1920s, after the Field Museum moved out, it was decided to convert the magnificent Neoclassical building into a museum dedicated to science and industry. The museum was bankrolled by Julius Rosenwald of retailer Sears Roebuck. It has evolved into one of the world's premier science museums and is the third most popular cultural attraction in Chicago by attendance.
Festivals and events in Chicago
Winter Celebration in Lights
All through the first week of January, interactive events take place in the Elizabeth Mores Genus Children’s Garden. Beautiful plants can be viewed in the largest glass greenhouse in the US, along with holiday lights that celebrate the continuation of winter. Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Avenue. Call (312) 746-5100 for more information.
Around the Coyote Winter Festival
Works of over 400 artists, including art performances, are on view at the Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods, during the first week of February. This event is sponsored by the resident artists. Call (312) 744-2400 for more information
Auto Show
An auto show that’s seen 101 editions continues to delight Chicagoans with its rich and varied collection of contemporary cars. Hundreds of the latest production cars and trucks are showcased here. McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lakeshore Drive, for two weeks in the middle of February. Call (312) 791-7000 for more information.
Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Teams come out to compete at building a machine that takes an allotted number of steps (20 or more) to complete a certain task. The machine designed should use the most complex process to complete a simple task. This event is hosted by the Chicago Children’s Museum. Located at Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue, in the middle of February. Call (312) 527-1000 for more information.
Chicago Bike Show
Check out the annual bike show where bike manufacturers and bike clubs come together in one location. Located at the Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, usually held at the end of March. Call (312) 595-PIER for more information.
Chicago tours and experiences
Chicago Architectural Cruise
Starting at Navy Pier, this tour takes you down the main branch of the Chicago River, up to the north branch to the East Bank Club, and then south past Sears Tower to the old Post Office Building. All along you get to sample Chicago’s world famous architecture as knowledgeable guides provide detailed descriptions of more than 40 buildings and regale you with dramatic stories of Chicago’s rise from the Great Fire of 1871 to become a world-class city.
Chicago Grand Tour with Hancock Tower
This tour will take you along the entire length of the scenic Outer Drive and to all the beautiful parks of the city including Lincoln Park, Grant Park, and Washington Park. Visitors can enjoy a visit to the Lincoln Park Conservatory. A stop will also be made at the Adler Planetarium. The tour includes a visit to the John Hancock Center Observatory and the open-air Skydeck, 1000 feet above Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, from where you get stunning views of the city.
Chicago Greeters
What better way to tour a city than through the eyes and experience of an ardent resident. Greeters are residents who know and love the city and who take small groups of up to six people to attractions, neighborhoods, and other unusual places of interest. They even take them shopping. Greeters is a free service of the Chicago Office of Tourism. Please note that advance reservations are necessary.
Chicago Hop On & Hop Off Trolley Tours
Tour Chicago on an authentic San Francisco-style trolley car with solid oak and brass interiors. A very popular option, this tour gives you the flexibility to spend as much time as you want at a particular tourist attraction. The trolley stops at the following places; Sears Tower, Palmer House Hilton, Art Institute, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Navy Pier, Water Tower, John Hancock Tower, Hard Rock Café, Mc Donalds, Wrigley Building and Fort Dearborn. Boarding and leaving the trolley is permitted at designated stops only. The trolley can be used throughout the day; simply hop on and hop off according to your plans and interests.
Film Tour in Chicago
If seeing film locations is your idea of fun, then this tour is a must. Seated comfortably in a luxury coach with 2 flat screen TVs showing actual film clips, a bag of popcorn (it is after all a film tour!), and you’re all set to witness filming locations of innumerable blockbuster films and famous television shows. Patrol the Dark Knight’s Gotham City, visit Oprah’s HARPO studio, see Bundy Fountain, visit the famous Billy Goat Tavern from Saturday Night Live, get up close to the Pursuit of Happiness, Drive down Siskel & Ebert Way, find out the inside gossip on Chicago celebrities, and more. The tour includes more than 30 sites where more than 50 movies were filmed.
Loop Tour Train
Taking a tour of the loop of Chicago on the City Transit Authority’s ‘El” train gives you a unique perspective of the architecture of this gorgeous city, especially that in the heart of Chicago’s business district. The tour circles the loop three times while a Chicago Architecture Foundation docent explains the architectural details of the buildings with a brief history of each.
Chicago masjids and Muslim travel
Al-Asr Muslim Center
773-722-8005 24 N. Pulaski Chicago 60624
Al-Haqaani Center
773-734-1390 2226 E. 75th St. Chicago 60649
Al-Madina Islamic Center
773-274-1184 1701 W. Wallen Ave Chicago 60626
American Islamic College
773-281-4700 640 W. Irving Park rd Chicago 60613
Bait-ul-Salam Masjid
773-508-8548 NE corner of Loyola & Winthrop (Basement of the Ministry Center) Chicago
Chicago Sunni Muslim Society (CSMS)
773-275-7130 5726 N. Western Chicago 60659
Transportation
Bus
Chicago's bus system is extensive. Just about every major major street is on a bus route. Bus stops are denoted by blue and white signs, which show the route they're located on. Buses generally run every five to fifteen minutes during the day along busy routes.
Car Rental
To rent a car in Chicago you must have a valid driver's license or an International Driving Permit. Policies, insurance information, and minimum age requirements vary with each rental company. Be sure to check beforehand.
Driving Tips
Chicago has America's second best public transit system, so driving is not necessary. If you must drive, the biggest obstacle is traffic. Chicago's main roads are consistently backed up during the day, especially during rush hours. Parking can also be a challenge, especially in the Loop. Many attractions have their own parking lots, but paying for a space can add up.
From the Airport
Chicago has two major airports: O'Hare and Midway. O'Hare International Airport is located inland, and is one of the world's busiest. Midway serves domestic flights and is located 13km southwest of the Loop.
Taxi
Though taxis in Chicago are among the cheapest in the United States, they are still an expensive way to get around, and should only be utilized late at night, or if no other options are available.
Trains
Chicago's train system is called the "El" (or L), as most of the tracks are above ground and elevated. It's run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Most of Chicago's major tourist attractions are located within walking distance of a stop, and it is definitely the most convenient way of getting around the city. There are 144 stops along 8 lines, with 360km of tracks. The Loop is the most serviced part of the city, as seven of the eight lines pass through.
Health and Safety
Health and Safety
Traveling abroad causes jet lag which affects the body. Taking care of your health and body while you are traveling is very important. It is necessary for you to eat healthy food and get sufficient rest. Also, as you will be exposed to the heat quite a bit, do carry water with you at all times to avoid dehydration. Keep in mind that Chicago is called the ‘Windy City’, so be prepared. Chicago winters are known to be cold and windy so dress accordingly. In the case of medical assistance, several hospitals can be found in the Chicago area. Most hotels also have doctors on call and you should contact the concierge of your hotel for this. In case of emergency, head for the ER at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 E. Huron St. (tel. 312/926-2000; www.nmh.org). One of the city's best hospitals, it is located only a few blocks off Michigan Avenue and is easy to reach from all downtown hotels. If you need to see a doctor for a non-emergency visit, Northwestern has a Physician Referral Service (tel. 877/926-4664
