Chicago

There’s a reason Chicago has a style of pizza AND steak named after it. This town knows food. You can find delectable and delicious treats at hole-in-the-wall eateries, or savour exquisite culinary masterpieces from renowned chefs all in the same day. 

Whether you want to step back in time to gaze up at a T.Rex or a Titanosaur at the Field Museum, or want to pull Ferris Bueller-style escapades at the Art Institute of Chicago, you can fill your day with culturally-enriching experiences at this city’s many museums, theatres, art galleries, aquariums and more.

Take in the great Chicago outdoors, starting with the 18-mile-long Lakefront Trail featuring sandy beaches and calming green spaces. Or walk, run, or bike your way along The 606 or stunning Grant Park. In the mood for music and festivities? Gear up for Lollapalooza, the Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Millennium Park Summer Music Series, and so many more free experiences.

Public transit

The fast and easy-to-use ‘L’ train will get you where you need to go anywhere in Chicago. With 145 rail stations across town, you can hop on this above- and below-ground train using the Ventra Transit Card, and go from the hotel to shopping to dinner and back. If you want to try the more than 129 bus routes, you can use the same reloadable Ventra Transit Card to cruise around Chicago all day long.

By Bike

A city with 24/7 bike-share services available is clearly made for cycling. You can ride through Chicago using the more than 200 miles of bike lanes sprawling across town. Just find one of the 580 Divvy bike sharing stations and hop on one of the nearly 6000 bikes waiting for you.

By Car

Be sure to get your hands on a map of Chicago’s downtown and download one of the many parking apps to help you secure a spot when you’re in town. You can also just grab a taxi or use one of the ride-share services in the city. 

Chicago is warm and humid in the summer months with temperatures around 25 degrees most days. In the spring and fall, you’ll enjoy balmy 12-to-20-degree days. And Chicago winters are mild with most days hovering just below the freezing mark, a nice change of pace from Canadian winters.