About Chicago
Chicago, is the third-most populous city in the United States with over 3 million residents. Situated along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a major center of transportation, industry, politics, culture, finance, medicine and higher education.
Chicago, commonly known as the "Windy City", has an enormous number of hotels, attractions and entertainment to fit all tastes and budgets. From Lake Michigan to Sears Tower
Sears Tower, the Magnificent Mile to Wrigley Field, plus a thriving blues music scene, Chicago has it all.
The city is the financial, business, and cultural capital of the Midwest. Originated in 1833 at the site of a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed, it soon became a transportation hub of North America. By the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, it was one of the ten most prominent world cities, a position it continues to hold.
With 29 miles of lakefront property, Chicago includes 15 miles of bathing beaches, 18 miles of lakefront bicycle paths and is home to three of the world's tallest buildings. The Windy City has over 40 museums, 150 theaters, 200 annual parades and over 6,000 restaurants. Chicago also houses the world's largest public library, Harold Washington Library Center, with over 2 million books.
In Chicago, be sure to enjoy sites like the Magnificent Mile, which is a one-mile stretch of shopping galore, and Millennium Park, located on a sandy beach.
Chicago has fantastic nightlife including lounge bars, live music venues, piano bars, dance clubs, gaming and billiards, enticing casinos and many more. In addition, Chicago is widely recognized for its fierce passion for sports. Now, it adds one more striking triumph as contending host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Why Chicago?
Chicago has received numerous awards praising the city as a great travel destination from its delectable dining to its family-friendly attractions. It is a place where people come together for business. In recent years, many events that relocate to Chicago have enjoyed a record-breaking increase in attendance. More people travel to Chicago for overnight business trips than any other destination in the country. The city has more than 300,000 business establishments, including 30 Fortune 500 headquarters.
Chicago specializes in manufacturing, business service professionals, a high-tech workforce and passenger air services. Chicago has three accessible airports: O'Hare Airport, Midway International Airport and Gary-Chicago airport.
With its stunning lakefront, varied structural design and multi-ethnic culture, Chicago attracts millions from around the world every year. It has been named America's Best City for Dining. Its 5,500 restaurants include everything from premier steakhouses to renowned deep-dish pizza restaurants and every conceivable ethnic cuisine.
Key Chicago Metro Area Facts
Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST)
Convention Center: McCormick Place Convention Center
Airport: O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
| Population | 2,896,020 | Destination Type Listings |
| Hotels | 380 | • Beach Destinations |
| Hotel Rooms | 130,000 | • Golf Destinations |
| Restaurants | 5,500 |
Chicago Climate Information
Chicago, like much of the Midwest, has a climate with a wide range of weather conditions. The city experiences four distinct seasons. In July, the warmest month, high temperatures average 84 °F (29 °C) and low temperatures 63 °F (17 °C). In January, the coldest month, high temperatures average 29 °F (-2 °C) with low temperatures averaging 13 °F (-10 °C).
The ideal time to visit the Windy City is summer or fall. The summer months offer an endless selection of special events and outdoor activities, as well as the biggest crowds and hot, muggy weather. However, autumn days are generally sunny and the crowds are smaller at major tourist attractions.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High -°F | 65 | 71 | 88 | 91 | 93 | 104 | 104 | 101 | 99 | 91 | 78 | 71 |
| Avg High -°F | 29 | 34 | 45 | 58 | 70 | 80 | 84 | 82 | 75 | 63 | 48 | 35 |
| Avg Low -°F | 13 | 18 | 28 | 39 | 48 | 57 | 63 | 62 | 54 | 42 | 31 | 20 |
| Rec Low -°F | -27 | -17 | -8 | 7 | 24 | 36 | 40 | 41 | 28 | 17 | 1 | -25 |
| Rainfall - in. | 1.7 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
Value season: If you're looking for the cheapest hotel rates and don't mind being indoors, travel to Chicago between December and March. Another added bonus: you won't have to wait to get into museums and other city attractions.
