Expedia's Travel Guide to Chicago
Choose Chicago
Visitor’s Guide and Calendar of Events
Navy Pier
Swissotel’s Lakeside gazes out over the Navy Pier, which offers a diverse collection of dining, cultural attractions, events, and entertainment.
Attractions include the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Chicago Children’s Museum, and displays of public art, including a whimsical bronze statue of Bob Newhart as TV psychologist Bob Hartley.
The Centennial Wheel and the historic Carousel lead a collection of classic amusement rides.
Various tours and cruises launch from the Pier. Architecture and sightseeing cruises along the river or lake shore are especially popular, including lunch or dinner cruises.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago’s famous bronze lions flank the entry to a building originally constructed for the Columbian Exposition of 1893. Nine major expansions have followed, with the latest, the Modern Wing, increasing the museum’s size by nearly 35 percent in 2009. The permanent collection has expanded from plaster casts to nearly 300,000 works in a wide range of fields.
The Magnificent Mile
Chicago’s answer to Rodeo Drive or Fifth Avenue, the Magnificent Mile is the thoroughfare linking the Loop with Chicago’s Gold Coast. With over 400 shops and stores and 250 restaurants, the “Mag Mile” is a premier dining and shopping destination. Several of the tallest buildings in the world are located in the Magnificent Mile district. Landmarks along the Magnificent Mile include the Wrigley Building, the Tribune Tower, the Chicago Water Tower, and the Allerton and Drake Hotels.
Food of Chicago
Few cities in the world are as famed for the invention of delightful foods as Chicago, and no visit to the city is complete without seeking out a few of the classics in their places of origin or greatest glory.
This is the city where Chef Lou Malnati invented Deep Dish pizza, now available across the city.
Consider sampling the humble brownie where it began in 1893: behind the peacock doors of the Palmer House.
Or a more recent innovation, Shrimp DeJonghe at Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House.
Eli’s Cheesecake is deservedly famous.
And, then there’s Chicago’s obsession with Cheese and Caramel Popcorn.
What to expect from the weather
March weather is notoriously unpredictable in the Windy City. Temperatures have started warming up after the cold winter, the river and lake are no longer frozen, but you might still encounter cold temperatures (and even snow). Pack a travel umbrella, dress in layers, and make sure to check weather forecasts right before your travel dates to know what to expect.
