Tips for Visiting Chicago

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago...

Image via Wikipedia

Are you traveling to Chicago for business or vacation? This wonderful metropolis is home to the Sears Tower, the Chicago Bears, Wrigley Field as well as some Chicago food favorites — deep-dish pizza and the Chicago dog.

There are so many venues and attractions in Chicago you might have a hard time trying to decide on what to do and even where to stay during your time in Chicago. You may also want to make the most effective use of your time traveling to everything you want to see and do.

How do you go about finding information about all that is Chicago? It’s relatively painless procedure. Just try to plan in advance so you’ll have plenty of time for planning before traveling.

There are numerous websites out there that provide information about places to stay and visit in the city. Many of these websites will also mail you brochures and literature for additional information.

There are also national travel sites that can provide you with local information, as well as travel accommodations. These travel agencies will often be able to provide a full itinerary for you. They can plan a central lodging option that can get you to your chosen events or attractions for timely arrival at your business function or to make sure you can take in all the attractions on your vacation.

Area chambers of commerce are also a wealth of information for visitors or even people who are considering a move to Chicago. You can find out all kinds of information from socio-economic statistics including the average weather during a particular time of year. This kind of informatin will help you pack the appropriate clothing for the time of year you’ll be visiting.

It’s not hard to plan a trip to this wonderful city. Just spend a bit of time and planning and you’ll be sure to have a great time.

The Sky Deck And The Ledge – The Most Exciting Tourist Hotspot In Chicago

If you are visiting Chicago for the first time, do not leave the city without visiting Willis tower. Willis tower is well known as being the tallest skyscraper in the western hemisphere. It is also well known for the Sky Deck that has been in operation for more than thirty five years now. However, if you have a kid along with you, then you should visit Willis tower for solely visiting The Ledge.

When the Sky Deck was setup, there was a small part on the 103rd floor extended out of the building. This served as a gallery where individuals could take a look at the view from a height. It was noticed that the windows of the Sky Deck was perpetually smeared with marks of the head being pressed against the glass to take up better look of the world.

That is when the city realized that perhaps people were not satisfied with just the view outside and wanted a 360 degree view of how world looks from such a height. This is the reason why the Ledge was created. The Ledge is nothing but a box made of glass that give the individual a feeling that he or she is standing on the 103rd floor of the Willis tower without any ground beneath his or her feet.

Since the box is covered by glass on three sides, the individual gets a view of floating in plain air. The view, needless to say is simply fantastic. The first reaction that people have when they visit the ledge is that the structure is going to break off and is going to collapse.

However, the glass used and the additional metal structure provided is so strong that it can easily withstand the most powerful storms and the weight of numerous individuals standing on the ledge at the same time.

Why Is The Sky Deck So Popular? It Is A Unique Experience In Western Hemisphere

Willis Tower from Chicago Chinatown.
Image via Wikipedia

At first, you may find it odd that so many people visit the Willis towers to visit the Sky Deck and the Ledge just to see how the world looks from such a height. You can have a view of fifty miles and four different states from the Sky Deck. However, for a person who has flied by plane many times, this should not be a big deal, right?

Well, the Willis tower and Sky Deck is not just about the view. It is also about knowing more about the city of Chicago. Once you reach the observatory, you will be flooded with information about the city. If you are visiting the city for tourism purposes, then it is the best way to start your trip.

Each and every person will get information related to their favorite area of interest. If you like sampling different types of food, then you will be guided towards various ethnic restaurants in the city. If you love roaming around, you will be given an overview of the transportation system and how you can make use of the same to get around in the city. From the most popular tourist destinations to events and other attractions in the city – you can get all the information you want for free.

Of course, it goes without saying that there will be entertainment and relaxation options on the observatory itself. There are many things that you can do on the observatory like souvenir purchases. You can even get yourself photographed near a huge replica of the Willis tower.

You can also interact with touch screens that will give you a view of the city of Chicago in detail. From use of technology to enjoying plain old human skills – there are many reasons why the Willis tower should be your first destination once you have wished the city of Chicago.

Navy Pier In Chicago – Dance, Acrobats And Shopping. The Whole Deal

No vacation in Chicago can be called complete unless you enjoy something out of the ordinary that you otherwise would not enjoy at home. The ledge at Willis tower is certainly something that you would not experience anywhere else in the western hemisphere. However, if you want something more fun, relaxing and entertaining, you can check out the Navy Pier and enjoy the performance of Chinese acrobats.

The Pepsi Skyline Stage hosts the wonderful acrobats who can come up with the most dazzling moves without even breaking into a sweat. This is a great way of spending quality time with your family enjoying the feats of human endurance. The acrobats move in a graceful manner and yet operate at top speed.

If you want to groove to the sound of music and if you want to let go of all the built-up stress and pent up energy, you can enjoy live music at the Bud Light Stage in the garden of the Navy Pier. The open environment combined with live music and the cool breeze of the lake is going to make a wonderful de-stressing experience.

If you want to have a feel of the water, you can ride any of the cruise boat rides that leave from the south dog of the Pier. The cruise boats are the only shipping activity that continues in the Pier today.

Don’t you want something to remind you of the wonderful time you had in the Pier? You can check out numerous retail shops in the family pavilion and buy lots of stuff ranging from souvenirs to utility objects like sunglasses and books. These shops are open throughout the year. Of course, it remains to be seen whether you would get time to take your eyes off the wonderful sights and sounds of Chicago to read the book.