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  • Chicago is situated in the Great Lakes region of the American Midwest,

  • in the state of Illinois.

  • Rising from the edges of Lake Michigan,

  • Chicago began as a tiny trading post at the mouth of the Chicago River,

  • and has boomed into a modern global center of commerce and culture.

  • The Windy City has always been driven by an unshakable optimism and can-do attitude.

  • The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed half the city,

  • was seized upon as an opportunity for the metropolis to reinvent itself.

  • What followed was the biggest building boom in US history

  • and a skyline that is almost beyond beautiful.

  • Start your visit in The Loop -

  • the central business district encircled by the 'L', Chicago's elevated train line.

  • The streets within The Loop are a showcase of architecture,

  • from the world's first high-rises, to the cloud-piercing towers of today.

  • Willis Tower held the title of world's tallest building for almost 25 years.

  • Take the 60-second ride to the Skydeck.

  • On a really windy day you might even feel the building sway a little,

  • but don't panic, it was designed to do just that.

  • The Loop also contains some amazing outdoor sculpture

  • and an historic theater district which makes the area feel

  • like a cross between a museum and a film set.

  • Running north from The Loop is the Magnificent Mile,

  • where you'll be able to gaze up at even more wonders

  • from the Chicago School of architecture.

  • Looking a little out of place is the Old Water Tower,

  • a lone, but much-loved survivor from the Chicago Fire.

  • Shop 'til you drop in the upscale boutiques

  • which line The Magnificent Mile's wide boulevards.

  • And when it's time to refuel,

  • sink your teeth into a deep dish pizza - an old Chicago favorite.

  • Following the south bank of the Chicago River

  • and winding between the canyons of glass and steel,

  • The Riverwalk offers a relaxing change of pace from the downtown bustle.

  • Still within The Loop is Millennium Park.

  • Once the site of railway yards and car parks,

  • the area has been transformed into what critics have hailed as 'the future of parks'.

  • The centerpieces of this visionary space are the

  • Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the BP Footbridge.

  • The park showcases a number of public sculptures,

  • including a futuristic stainless steel archway to the city, Cloud Gate,

  • or as it's affectionately known to locals - 'The Bean'.

  • Just across the road is The Art Institute of Chicago

  • whose exterior is a work of art in itself.

  • Set aside at least a day to explore this treasure-house of

  • European, American and Asian masterpieces.

  • There are plenty of treasures to be found outside The Loop.

  • Just to the west is one of Chicago's hidden gems,

  • the Garfield Park Conservatory, an inner-city haven for nature lovers

  • and a first-date favorite for Chicago couples.

  • In nearby Oak Park, step inside Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio,

  • where for 20 years he pioneered an entirely new architectural vision for America.

  • Unity Temple is just a short stroll away.

  • Completed in 1908, this Lloyd Wright masterpiece

  • is widely regarded as the world's first modern building.

  • While you're in Oak Park,

  • stop by the birthplace of one of Chicago's most famous sons, Ernest Hemingway.

  • In the nearby museum,

  • fans of the novelist can read from his childhood diary and original manuscripts.

  • Down by The Loop's waterfront,

  • the historic Navy Pier offers entertainment for all ages.

  • The pier is also the place to climb aboard

  • one of the many lake and river cruises on offer.

  • Just south of Navy Pier, The Field Museum houses over

  • 20 million specimens from the world of natural history.

  • Say hello to Sue, the largest and most intact skeleton of a

  • Tyrannosaurus Rex ever unearthed.

  • The museum might look a little familiar,

  • after all, it was the home base for Indiana Jones in the blockbuster movie series.

  • A little further south along the waterfront

  • you'll find the Museum of Science and Industry -

  • known by generations of school children as 'the best field trip ever!'.

  • Here you'll get to explore the inner workings of man and machine,

  • and discover the secrets of natural phenomena

  • like tornadoes, lightning and avalanches.

  • Chicago's largest green space is Lincoln Park,

  • a seven mile stretch of shoreline which runs north from The Loop.

  • It's home to nature reserves, a conservatory,

  • and monuments to many of the nation's heroes,

  • including the park's namesake - Abraham Lincoln.

  • The park also features the Lincoln Park Zoo

  • which has been entertaining and educating visitors since 1868.

  • The zoo features two sections specifically designed for children,

  • and best of all it's free.

  • The park is also home to the Chicago History Museum.

  • From gangsters to baseball, this is the place to visit

  • if you really want to know what makes this unique city tick.

  • As the sun sets, Chicago truly lights up.

  • But don't plan on going to bed early,

  • the city offers some of the best jazz, blues and theater in America.

  • So come on over to Chicago, the memories you'll take away will last a lifetime -

  • no matter how hard the wind blows.

Chicago is situated in the Great Lakes region of the American Midwest,

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