Chicago Hotels

Perhaps no other city in the United States better exemplifies the "American Spirit" than Chicago. Born as a trading post with Native Americans, grown by generations of immigrants, reborn after the devastation of a fire that consumed the entire city, and remade with a vision for the future; the "city of big shoulders" opens its arms to newcomers and tourists alike. By all means arrange to stay in one of the Chicago hotels on the lakefront. There are many hotels in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, but a lakefront address during your stay lets you see the best of the city from your own window.

The downtown area is known as "the loop"; and you need not stray too far from it. The spectacular lakeshore will not only provide you with an easy geographic reference point, but a great place to begin you exploration. In an effort to protect the lakeshore, Grant Park was established to keep the city growth back from the lake. As a result, residents and visitors to the park can enjoy the lake and the park with the backdrop of some of the tallest buildings in the world just behind them. It is no wonder that the Chicago skyline is one of the most photographed in the world. At the south end of the park you will find the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium and the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Further to the south is the renowned Museum of Science and Industry.

A short cab ride to the north takes you past the major club district of the city at Rush St. and North Ave, as you make your way toward another lakefront park. Lincoln Park provides local residents with everything from picnic space to lagoons. It is also the home to Lincoln Park Zoo. The city's larger zoo, Brookfield, is just a short train ride to the west of the city. As long as you are in Lincoln Park, you should pay a visit to the Chicago Historical Society. It's just across the street from the Moody Memorial Church, named after the man who founded the YMCA in the years after the great Chicago Fire.

Shopping and dining opportunities are plentiful throughout the city. Because of the international heritage of its residents, Chicago is made up of dozens of ethnic communities which have brought the best of their cultures and cuisines to the city. No matter your taste, you are bound to find it here.

Whether your interests involve the arts, architecture, sports, or recreation, you are sure to find it in Chicago.