Chicago getaway
Chicago has been busy reinventing itself over the past two decades. Along Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, the city’s spectacular downtown skyline and beautiful walkways make it the ideal destination for a quick getaway. From Québec City, a daily direct flight takes you there in 2 hours 50 from June to October.
Chicago’s architecture has become a real tourist draw, with a surprisingly successful blend of Gothic buildings and modern skyscrapers.
Where to start? Well, a Chicago River tour is the best way to get a real feel for the city. In among the 100-storey buildings—Willis Tower has 108 of its own—locals spend the early morning kayaking before heading off to work, while streets bustle with cyclists on their way to the office. The Loop is the city’s business district, a magnet for skyscrapers but also home to leading museums, theatres, and a world-renowned symphony orchestra.
DON'T MISS MILLENNIUM PARK
Now that you have a feel for the local culture, it’s time to reach for your walking shoes: it only takes a day or two to walk around the city. The Chicago River is the heart of the city and your best point of reference. Take a stroll down by the canal with its stores, restaurants, and patios, while Millennium Park is well worth a visit lakeside. We love the famous Cloud Gate sculpture (nicknamed The Bean), its steel reflecting the sky, passersby, and surrounding skyscrapers to spectacular effect. Admire the dinosaur bones at the Field Museum of Natural History before stopping by Lurie Garden, the biggest downtown botanical gardens to grace any city in the world. Then, when evening comes, it’s time to head off to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a bandshell featuring rock, classical, and opera performances.
When it comes to museums, the Art Institute of Chicago is our favourite, with Seurat, Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir just some of the names belonging to a major collection of impressionists. Or perhaps you prefer something more contemporary? Along with a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, the MCA, there’s also plenty of public art to take in around the city, one of the most spectacular pieces being The Picasso at Daley Plaza. Three days in Chicago and you’ll be coming back for more!
The Chicago Theatre, is a landmark theater located on North State Street in the Loop area of Chicago.
Our addresses
RPM Italian
For the lounge vibe and wonderful pasta. Try the lobster ravioli and cuttlefish ink tagliatelle.
52 W Illinois St.
rpmitalian.com
Eataly
Chef Mario Batali’s enormous supermarket is the gourmet way to rediscover Italy.
43 E Ohio St.
eataly.com
Shoreline Sightseeing
The architecture tour is one of the most popular. From $20 to $40, 60 to 90 minutes.
600 E Grand Ave.
shorelinesightseeing.com
Written by Diane Laberge and published in Magazine Y No 1
To consult Magazine Y No 1 : Click here