Why Chicago should be your next US destination

So, you’ve hit up LA and New York, but don’t know where to go for your next American adventure? The answer is: Chicago.

This midwestern metropolis on the shores of Lake Michigan is in many ways the quintessential big American city. Everything about it screams USA – wide streets lined with gleaming office towers, broad-shouldered businessmen who look like they played football in college, jazz, blues and comedy clubs galore, giant burgers, deep-dish pizzas and cupcakes to die for. Everything’s supersized, larger than life and you’ll quickly find yourself swept up into the hustle and bustle.

So, what’s on offer?

Singin’ the blues

Into music? It’s time to hit up the city’s best jazz and blues clubs. Serving up ice-cool cuts since 1968, Kingston Mines in Lincoln Park is Chicago’s biggest and oldest continuously operating blues club and is exactly what you want from a music institution of its stature – it’s played host to some of the biggest names in blues, including Koko Taylor, Nora Jean Bruso, and Magic Slim. With two separate stages and live shows every night of the week, you’ll definitely catch something great.

Art house

Galleries your thing? No visit to Chicago is complete without a trip or three to the Art Institute of Chicago. Declared the world’s best museum by TripAdvisor, it houses by far one of the world’s most impressive collections of modern and contemporary art. Here you’ll find classic works such as Grant Wood’s American Gothic and Paris Street; Rainy Day by the French artist Gustave Caillebotte. Or, check out the the small but perfectly formed Museum of Contemporary Art.

If you’re more the outdoorsy type, there’s an abundance of public art on display, including the iconic, monumental Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park – otherwise known affectionately as ‘The Bean’.

Comedy central

Don’t forget to leave an evening free for a trip to The Second City, the home of improvisational comedy – for real, improv was actually invented here. It’s impossible to list all the comedy greats who learned their craft inside these hallowed walls, but the rollcall of alumni includes Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Bonnie Hunt, Stephen Colbert, Halle Berry, Sean Hayes, Amy Sedaris, Jon Favreau, Hinton Battle, Jack McBrayer, Dave Foley, and Kevin McDonald.

The love (architecture) boat

If there’s one Chicago attraction that should be mandatory for all visitors, it’s Chicago’s First Lady Architecture River Cruise. Taking a relaxed route along the meandering Chicago River, you’ll learn an astonishing amount about the jaw-dropping buildings lining the waterway. Jaunty commentary and stunning views – not to mention a bartender who pours a mean hot toddy in winter – make it a must-do activity.

Catch a game

Whether you’re a mad keen sports fan or don’t know a baseball from a basketball, get yourself along to a sporting match while you’re in the US, because they really know how to put on a show. The atmosphere is like nothing we’ve experienced locally – Yahoo Lifestyle checked out an NFL (that’s American Football, for the uninitiated) to watch the Chicago Bears, and everything from the half-time entertainment to the energy of the crowds made for a spectacle and a half. The easiest way to grab tickets is through US Sports Tickets, an Australian online ticket platform providing real-time access to live ticket inventory to US sport games.

Eat street

Let’s face it, you don’t go to the States for salads (although they did invent the Caesar, so…). Instead, get stuck into the great American classics: hot dogs, Chicago deep-dish pizza, and icing-laden cupcakes. Want a little taste of all the best bits? Try out the Bikes, Bites and Brews tour, run by Bobby’s Bike Hire, which gives you all the good stuff plus a sweet ride around some of the prettiest and most historic parts of town. It’s one of the top tours booked through Expedia, and it’s easy to see why.

Fancy something a little more high end? Stop by Café Spiaggia for sublime handmade pastas and a sensational wine list, or Publican Anker for fabulous people watching, simple, beatifully presented pub fare and glorious cocktails.

Speaking of cocktails, book in for a lesson at the hard-to-find Violet Hour. Located sneakily behind what looks like an ordinary piece of construction hoarding, here you’ll learn to shake things up with the best of them. Maybe go easy on sampling your own wares though – two many classic Old Fashioneds and you won’t be able to find the door to get home.

Where to stay

The Omni Chicago Hotel is right smack bang in the thick of it all on Michigan Avenue aka the Magnificent Mile – the biggest and broadest of all the city’s streets. Having recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation, it’s the only hotel in the whole city whose rooms are all suites, giving you plenty of space to move around (or fill up with shopping from your jaunts down the street).

Oh, and also…

Get to grips with the best of the city’s offerings with a Chicago Greeter tour. More than 200 friendly, knowledgeable volunteers are available to show you around the place, and if you book ten days in advance, you can lock it in for free.

Get a birds-eye view of the city at Skydeck Chicago, the very same one where Ferris Bueller and his mates took a break from their famous day off.

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Before you go

Esta: Anyone flying into the United States needs this visa. You need to purchase this online for $14 before you go.

Tips: You must tip 20% of your bill at restaurants and 15% of your cab fare. It’s always nice to carry a few dollar bills to give hotel staff.

Flight time: It’s a biggie from the east coast of Australia but United will get you there in two flights and under 20 hours.

As one of the world’s most well-known brands, Expedia offers a wide and growing array of booking options, along with simple, user-friendly technology and tools to help travellers find the best travel deals for Chicago.

*To find the cat, look at the empty space between the couple at the forefront of the painting. Miaow!

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