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Built on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago (the 'Windy City') is also known as the birthplace of the blues. As well as a thriving jazz and blues scene, the city is home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Theater and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Oprah Winfrey, the richest lady in showbiz, runs her studio here.

Chicago is also home to the Chicago Bulls, and Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player in the world, once lived here. Ernest Hemingway, one of America's greatest writers, was born in Chicago, as was Frank Lloyd Wright, America's renowned architect.

Chicago Attractions

The Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60603
Tel: +1 312 443 3600

Home to one of the country's leading art colleges, it also houses a vast and extensive collection of artefacts from throughout the ages. Amongst the collection of paintings are famous works by some of the biggest names in 19th and 20th century painting. Renoir's Two Sisters is housed here, as is Georges Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. There are also many works by other masters amongst which Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cézanne are just a few. The museum also has a large section devoted to contemporary American art.

The Loop
Chicago, Illinois

A living museum of architecture, The Loop is Chicago's central business district and where the world's first skyscraper was built. It now boasts the Sears Tower, North America's tallest building, and the Monadnock Building, the tallest load-bearing masonry structure in the world.

Sears Tower Skydeck
233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606
Tel: +1 312 875 9696

Until 1996 this was the tallest structure in the world; now it's the second. In 1996 a building erected in Kuala Lumpur robbed the tower of its title, although the building still has the world's highest roof. It's the place to go for spectacular views of Chicago.

Chicago Board of Trade
141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604
Tel: +1 312 435 3500

The Chicago Board of Trade was established in 1848 and is the world's oldest and largest futures exchange.

The Field Museum
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605
Tel: +1 312 922 9410

The Field Museum contains an Egyptian tomb, a superb collection of American Plains Indian artefacts and in 2000 it acquired Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered.

Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611
Tel: +1 312 595 PIER

Originally built for commercial shipping, this large pier was completely overhauled in the early nineties. Now, what was a dirty and derelict area boasts many shops, an IMAX cinema, big wheel, restaurants, an ice rink and other exciting activities for the pleasure seeker.

Museum of Science and Industry
5700 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60637
Tel: +1 773 684 1414

World-famous museum with 800 interactive exhibits.

Shedd Aquarium / Oceanarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605
Tel: +1 312 939 2438

The world's largest indoor aquarium features more than 6000 aquatic animals.

Magnificent Mile
North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611

This is Chicago's most prestigious area, lined with distinguished shops, boutiques, opulent hotels and exclusive residential and office buildings.