Chicago is the Midwest’s powerhouse, a Lake Michigan city of about 2.7 million (metro ~9.5 million) founded in 1833 and known for its skyline, deep-rooted blues and jazz, and trailblazing architecture from Sullivan and Wright to Mies van der Rohe. The compact core runs from the Art Institute and Millennium Park’s “Cloud Gate” to the Riverwalk and the Museum Campus (Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium), with big views from the Willis Tower Skydeck and 875 N Michigan Avenue’s observation deck. Neighbourhoods add flavour—Pilsen’s murals and taquerías, Wicker Park’s bars and venues, Hyde Park’s museums and the University of Chicago—while lakefront parks and beaches thread for miles. Getting around is straightforward via the CTA ‘L’ and Metra commuter rail, with international access through O’Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW).
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