This book offers insider information on the finest Chicago has to offer - from deep-dish pizza, stunning architecture, and world-class shopping to the very best in attractions, nightlife, and restaurants. It includes outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not, along with exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget. It also includes off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions. The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews. "Frommer's". The best trips start here. Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. And avoid tourist traps. At "Frommer's", we use 150 outspoken travel experts around the world to help you make the right choices. Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com.
Table of Contents
List of Maps. 1. The Best of Chicago. 1 The Most Unforgettable Travel Experiences. 2 The Best Splurge Hotels. 3 The Best Moderately Priced Hotels. 4 The Most Unforgettable Dining Experiences. 5 The Best Museums. 6 The Best Nightlife Experiences. 7 The Best Places to Hang with the Locals. 8 The Best Free (or Almost Free) Things to Do. 9 The Best One-of-a-Kind Shops. 10 The Best Chicago Websites. 2. Planning Your Trip to Chicago. 1 Visitor Information. 2 When to Go. Chicago Calendar of Events. 3 Getting There. 4 General Travel Resources. 5 Specialized Travel Resources. 6 Staying Connected. 7 Tips on Accommodations. Fast Facts: Chicago. 3. Getting to Know the Windy City. 1 Orientation. The Neighborhoods in Brief. 2 Getting Around. 4. Where to Stay. 1 The Loop. 2 South Loop. Family-Friendly Hotels. 3 Near North & the Magnificent Mile. 4 River North. 5 The Gold Coast. 6 Lincoln Park & the North Side. 5. Where to Dine. 1 The Loop. Family-Friendly Restaurants. 2 The West Loop. Ethnic Dining near the Loop. 3 The Magnificent Mile & the Gold Coast . Only in Chicago. 4 River North. Dining Alfresco. 5 Lincoln Park & Old Town. 6 Wrigleyville & the North Side. 7 Wicker Park/Bucktown. 6. Exploring Chicago. 1 In & Around the Loop: The Art Institute. the Sears Tower & Grant Park . Oprah in Person. 2 The Earth, the Sky & the Sea: The Big Three. in the Grant Park Museum Campus. 3 North of the Loop: The Magnificent Mile & Beyond . 4 Lincoln Park Attractions. 5 Exploring Hyde Park: The Museum of Science & Industry & More. 6 More Museums. 7 Exploring the 'Burbs. 8 Kid Stuff. 9 Sightseeing Tours. 10 Staying Active. 11 In the Grandstand:Watching Chicago's Athletic Events. 7. Shopping. 1 Shopping the Magnificent Mile. 2 More Shopping Neighborhoods. 3 Shopping A to Z. 8. Chicago After Dark. 1 The Performing Arts. 2 Comedy & Improv. 3 The Music Scene. 4 The Club Scene. 5 The Bar & Cafe Scene. 6 The Gay & Lesbian Scene. Index. General Index. Accommodations Index. Restaurant Index. List of Maps. Chicago & Vicinity. Chicago Layout. Where to Stay in Chicago. Dining in the Loop, West Loop, Magnificent Mile, Gold Coast & River North. Dining in Lincoln Park, Old Town & Wrigleyville. Dining & Nightlife in Wicker Park/ Bucktown. Chicago Attractions. The Loop Sculpture Tour. Lincoln Park & Wrigleyville After Dark.
Author Biography
Elizabeth Canning Blackwell began life on the East Coast, but 4 years at Northwestern University transformed her into a Midwesterner. She has worked as a writer and editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, Northwestern University Medical School, the Chicago Tribune, and North Shore, a lifestyle magazine for the Chicago suburbs. She also has written for national magazines on everything from planning the perfect wedding to fighting a duel. She lives just outside the city with her husband, daughter, and an extensive collection of long underwear. A Chicago-area native and the son of a Trans World Airlines employee, Michael Austin caught the travel bug at a profoundly young age (around 9, he guesses). Today he is a freelance writer specializing in food, wine, and, naturally, travel. His stories and personal essays have appeared in Esquire, GQ, Outside, and the Chicago Tribune Magazine. Most recently he collaborated with Oprah Winfrey's personal chef, Art Smith, on Back to the Family, a cookbook featuring reflections on sharing meals with loved ones. A James Beard Award finalist for feature writing, Michael lives in his favorite city, Chicago.
