Tightly hugging the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan and atop the breadbasket Great Plains, Chicago is home to more than three million people. Although Springfield is the capitol of Illinois, Chicago, the third largest city in the U.S., undoubtedly leads the state in entertainment, culture, commerce and more. It is a city that is both comfortably Midwestern and undeniably international, an ideal place to live and a traveler’s dream destination.

When To Go
Depending on your weather preferences, with preparation, Chicago can be visited at any time, as it is a city with four distinct seasons: If you’re considering a November through March trip, you’ll want to keep in mind the city’s cold, white winters and pack accordingly. The lighting of the city parade in late November, ice-skating on Michigan Avenue and Macy’s window decorations however, make braving the freezing temperatures all worthwhile. If you choose to come in summer (June-August), you’ll have the chance to hit most of the major city festivals, including the dangerously delicious Taste of Chicago. You may also take advantage of the Park District beaches and innumerable sidewalk patios for al fresco dining. Spring brings out the outdoor lover in everyone, as the city needs redemption after such a long winter. And fall, which is never long enough, but always pleasant, encourages nearby weekend getaways for apple-picking and car-camping.

Getting Around
Once your dates are decided, and you’ve flown, bused, trained, drove, boated, biked or walked on in (all are possibilities!) getting around the city couldn’t be easier. Chicago’s downtown offers a nicely navigable layout. With the lake serving as an eastern border, the river bisecting the middle, and towering skyscrapers ever-present, orientation is simple and it’s always easy to find a reference point. What’s more, Chicago’s organized grid system maps our the city perfectly, making walking tours a must, though for longer treks, taxis and a dependable public transit system get the job done. Cab drivers are often helpful and generally honest, though the new gasoline surcharge ($1 per person, no matter the distance), on top of the luggage fee and typical mileage charge make this the most expensive form of transportation. Chicago’s elevated train system, or the ¨El¨, costs $2.25 per ride ($0.25 to transfer with the Chicago Card), and has nine color-coded lines which run throughout the length and width of the city. City buses ($2.25 as well) and a suburban Metra train line (Fare depends on distance) round out the standard options, though Chicago is also known for its bikers, walkers, skaters, and most recently segway-riders.

What To Do
It can be helpful, but not necessary, to set up a tour (Land, water, or air), as the city is manageable in a long weekend, though entertaining enough for an indefinite duration. Chicago can be broken up into various neighborhoods, each with a diverse personality and specific feel. You easily could spend hours among the hipsters of Wicker Park, enjoy the Mexican murals of Pilsen, or shop the posh streets of the Gold Coast. It is the Magnificent Mile, however, which is the main tourist draw for shopping, eating, sleeping and seeing up and down Michigan Avenue, just north of the river.