9 Reasons Why I Love Chicago
I’ve been all over the United States.
I’m the daughter of a New Yorker, and my dad was born and raised in San Francisco– but I’ve lived on all corners of the country and seen quite a bit in between; enough to make up my mind despite my parent’s opposing coast preferences.
New York may be the city of all cities, but when it comes to my favorite one in the U.S. – it has to be Chicago.
View of Chicago from the John Hancock Tower; August 2017.
View from the DuSable Bridge, otherwise known as Michigan Avenue Bridge in Chicago; August 2017
Walking the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s main shopping street, in August 2017.
I hope my list of reasons why I love Chicago convinces you to take a trip to the Windy City…
…which by the way, is nothing in comparison in terms of windiness to Wellington…
… okay, Chicago – it’s hard to not talk about all the cities I’ve been to at once, sometimes.
1. It has the Energy of a City on the East Coast…
When we first visited Chicago as a family in the summer of 2012, I said to my mom,
“You know what? It’s kind of like New York, but calmer –”
About to put the New York styled folded pizza in her mouth, she said,
“– No, this is not New York – maybe a small, mini New York –”
“– No, I know – that’s what I was about to say, that it’s like a miniature New York.”
“A mini mini New York.”
It’s hard to convince a native like my mother, but there’s no denying that Chicago has a hyper atmosphere that will remind you of Manhattan at times…
Chicago is city enough to be called New York City’s little (little) sister.
… okay, maybe not to the extent of the craziness that occurs in Midtown – but you will feel its greatness in the air just as you do in the Big Apple.
2. … but the Friendly, Humble Personalities of Mid Westerners.
It’s not that New Yorkers aren’t friendly… it’s just that they know what they want, and they have other things to do than to attend to you if you don’t already have your question prepared and pre-spoken in your mind before you open your mouth.
Alright… sometimes…most times… New Yorkers just don’t have the time to give you the time of day; and tourists take it as rude.
I must admit… people native to Chicago are more likely to strike up a conversation with you – because while they’re from a big city – they reside in the Midwest; where people are known to be humble.
3. Deep Dish Pizza is Awesome
The first time I went to Chicago in 2012, we went to Giordano’s (a place well known for good deep dish pizza).
My fourteen-year-old-self didn’t like waiting an hour and a half for it... but now looking back as a twenty-one-year-old, I will say – it’s worth the wait.
Now, I’m into the plant-based trends these days – so the last time I went to Chicago in 2017, I looked for some dairy-free deep dish pizza… and found it.
Kitchen 17 is a hair away from the city center, but don’t let its quiet nature fool you: the area is still good and perfectly safe to venture out to.
Their fake cheese was so good, that I gave my compliments to the chef… which takes a lot for me to do.
TL; DR: make sure to eat deep dish pizza when you’re in Chicago.
4. Navy Pier was a Great Childhood Memory
Navy Pier from the water is low key the epitome of what I think all American cities look like – minus the charming ferris wheel.
It was a lot of fun in 2012; arcade games, shopping, fireworks on the fourth of July…
The view of Chicago & Navy Pier from a water taxi on Lake Michigan; July 2012
… but when I went back in 2017, it was empty.
Navy Pier in August 2017
Still, whether you hop on a water taxi or take the trip down there – it’s worth a visit, especially in the middle of summer.
5. The Parks
Whether it be Grant Park or Millenial Park… both are big, green – and have massive backdrops of Chicago’s stunning skyline.
Near Millennium Park in Chicago; August 2017
Dare I say: better than the view of Manhattan’s skyscrapers from Central Park.
6. Their Neighborhoods
Like L.A. and Miami – Chicago is huge… meaning, it has a lot of suburbs… but even their suburbs are cool.
When I last went to Chicago with my mom in 2017, we took a trip to Oak Park to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.
My mom & I at Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in August 2017
It was fun to walk the neighborhoods with the newly built houses with modernized architecture!
7. Their Mass Transit, the “L” – is Fun
There’s just something about the “L” that’s amusing… I’m not sure if it’s the color-coded map, it’s quirky name, how you can see the city as you ride it, or what…
Chicago calls their metro system, the “L”.
The cityscape from the ‘L’ in Chicago; August 2017
… but it is. It’s just a reliable and fun way to navigate Chicago.
8. The “Bean” is so Irrelevant but Somehow Still Cool
The “Bean”, its real name being ‘Cloud Gate’ (but let’s face it – the bean is so much more fun to say), is really just that…
… a sculpture shaped like a bean.
Me at the bean in August 2017.
However, the way it somehow reflects the cityscape is intriguing, and makes for a great picture (especially if you’re trying to be artsy on Instagram).
“The Bean”, otherwise known as Cloud Gate in August 2017.
9. Its Skyline is Out of this World
Remember when I said Chicago has some New York in it?
If words won’t do it for you, perhaps pictures, will…
The best places I can recommend to go for views of the city are the John Hancock Building and the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower).
View of Chicago from the John Hancock Tower; August 2017
View of Chicago from the Willis Tower’s Observation Deck; August 2017
All in all, I think Chicago is overlooked far too often by foreign travelers planning to visit the states, and should absolutely be put on their list so they can see just how different all the cities in the states are.
If you’re looking for other things to do in the U.S., click here.