Indian summer in October and November is not unheard of, but neither is an April blizzard; prepare yourself for the city’s schizophrenic weather system by packing layers.
Skip the rental car company
Chicago traffic is miserable, even on its best days. Comfortable shoes and a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) pass are all you need in this pedestrian-friendly city.
Take your butt outside
Illinois finally became a smoke-free state on January 1, 2008. This means that cigarette smoking is now prohibited in public places, including restaurants, nightclubs, and bars.
Eat like a local
Saganaki (flaming cheese), the jibarito (skirt steak and cheese on crisp plantains), and Italian beef sandwiches were all invented here. Visit Greektown, Humboldt Park, and downtown, respectively, to sample these Windy City staples.
Become grid savvy
Chicago is easier to navigate than an excel spreadsheet, and street signs are numbered to help you get your bearings in relation to downtown. For example, if you're at 1600 N Wells St., it means you're 16 blocks north of the Loop. If you're at 800 W. Armitage Ave., it means you're 8 blocks west of the Loop, and so forth.
Top 10City Hotels from Under $100 These city hotels offer great location, plenty of character, and even a few luxe extras – all at surprisingly affordable rates!
Top 10Kid-Friendly Museums These venerable institutions convey some serious learning under the guise of childish fun
SpotlightChicago The best of the Midwest is everyone's kind of town
