Cheap Flights To Chicago

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Cheap Flights To Chicago

Overview
When to Go
Airport Information
Weather
Things to Do
Local Attractions
Must See Sights
Insider Tips
Getting Around

Overview
The thriving metropolis of Chicago is the third largest city in The United States and 26th largest city in the world based on population, and is commonly referred to as "the Windy City," "Second City," "Chi-Town" and "Chicagoland."

Founded in 1833, Chicago has a rich history. The city is situated in northeastern Illinois, near the southwestern edge of Lake Michigan. This location gives Chicago unique geography with large rivers and waterways that meander through and around the city. In the summer, when temperatures are in the 80s, visitors can enjoy the city’s 29 public beaches, numerous parks and outdoor attractions. Chicago winters, however, are often cold and harsh.

Chicago is a center for business, industry and finance. The city’s convention center, McCormick Place, is one of the largest gathering places in the country. However, for tourists, Chicago offers an abundance of parks, museums, cultural events, art, theatre and fine dining, not to mention more than 33,000 hotel rooms. Chicago hosts more than 46 million visitors per year.

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When to Go
Chicago is a great destination year-round. The warmer months are most ideal for walking around the famous Magnificent Mile, which is lined with upscale shops, hotels, restaurants, indoor shopping malls, theatres and art galleries. Chicago offers gorgeous parks and the Navy Pier with attractions, dining and shopping in a festive outdoor environment.

During warmer months, boat tours and water taxis are a wonderful way to explore the city. As the temperature begins to drop, however, tourists and residents alike tend to focus more on indoor activities, like theatre, museums and shopping. Regardless of when you visit, expect wind, which during the summer months can be pleasant and breezy, but makes walking around during the winter rather uncomfortable. The snow typically arrives in late-November, with winter temperatures lasting until March.

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Airport Information

O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Distance from Downtown Chicago: 17 miles
Drive time: 30 to 45 minutes (based on traffic)
O’Hare International Airport is the busiest airport in the region. It’s serviced by virtually all of the major airlines, so finding affordable flights to Chicago is generally an easy task, especially in the winter, when prices drop considerably. Direct flights are often available and you can generally fly round trip to and from either of Chicago’s airports, from any major U.S. city, for between $200 and $300. For more information about the Chicago area airports, visit flychicago.com.

Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
Distance to Downtown Chicago: 8 Miles
Drive Time: 15 to 30 minutes (based on traffic)
Chicago Midway Airport is smaller than O’Hare, and focuses on domestic travel. Some of the popular "discount" airlines, including Southwest Airlines, use this airport. A Chicago Transit Authority train station located within the airport making a 30-minute direct train ride directly into Chicago convenient; taxis, hired limousines/town cars, rental cars, and shuttle buses/vans are also readily available.

Visit Chicago Midway Airport for more information. .

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Weather
The weather in Chicago can change quickly, so dress in layers. In January, expect the weather to be windy, cold, wet and snowy, with temperatures between 14.3 and 26.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicago often gets up to 11 inches of snow in January alone. However, July’s average temperature ranges from a comfortable 63.2 to a warm 83.5-degrees Fahrenheit. Before packing, take a peek at the extended weather forecast for the dates of your visit. Visit www.weatherreports.com

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Things to Do

Tours
Whether you travel by land or sea, there are many unique, informative and entertaining tours in and around Chicago. Take a boat tour that showcases the city’s architecture, or explore the city on a bus tour, Segway, bicycle or trolley. The ChicagoTrolley.com website describes several popular land-based tour offerings, while ShorelineSightseeing.com offers details about boat tours.

The Ghost Investigations Tour is one of Chicago’s more unique tours, and takes you to the city’s most haunted sites.

Shop
Located along North Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, offers a seemingly endless selection of designer boutiques, indoor malls, restaurants, hotels and attractions. Staying at one of the many upscale hotels in this 10-block area makes shopping convenient as it’s within walking distance to the over 450 shops, attractions and restaurants. Chicago hosts a wide range of special events throughout the year in this area as well.

A short taxi ride from The Magnificent Mile is the Navy Pier, which also offers a memorable shopping, dining and entertainment experience along the waterfront.

Theatre
Unlike New York City’s Broadway or Boston’s Theatre District, Chicago has several theatres and performance halls scattered throughout the city. However, throughout the year, you can see touring versions of top Broadway shows, like Disney’s The Lion King, Rock of Ages, Billy Elliot: The Musical, and Wicked. Visit BroadwayInChicago.com for a listing of shows currently playing in The Windy City.

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Local Attractions

Museum Campus - Within Grant Park and clustered together along Shore Line Drive is a 57-acre complex of several popular museums. It’s easy to spend several full days exploring The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the other museums in the area.

Museum of Contemporary Art - Located close to The Magnificent Mile, this popular museum showcases the work of many of today’s most renowned artists.

Sporting Events - Attending a professional sporting event in Chicago is an unforgettable experience. Chicago’s home teams include the Chicago Bears NFL team, Chicago Bulls NBA team, Chicago Blackhawks NHL team, and Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs MLB teams. Last-minute tickets to sold-out games can often be obtained from licensed ticket brokers, like StubHub, but you’ll pay a premium.

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Must See Sights

Willis Tower SkyDeck - For one of the most spectacular views of Chicago’s skyline, visit the SkyDeck at the top of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). Located on the 103rd floor, the SkyDeck gives a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. It’s open 365 days a year, until either 8:00 pm or10:00pm, depending on the season.

John Hancock Tower - On the opposite side of the city from Willis Tower, this 100-story building also has an observation deck with a spectacular view of Chicago’s skyline. Due to the city’s high winds, the building has a very unique architecture because it is designed to sway. There are also shops and restaurants located inside. ()

Millennium Park - This 24.5-acre park is one of the city’s newest attractions. Here you’ll find lush gardens, modern sculptures, outdoor cafes and free live entertainment (during the warmer months). To find out about special events being held here, visit www.millenniumpark.org.

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Insider Tips

• For discounts up to 55 percent off of regular admission fees to a handful of Chicago’s most popular attractions and museums, pre-purchase the Chicago GoCard or Chicago CityPass.

• Bike & Roll offers bicycle and in-line skate rentals and guided bike tours originating from three popular locations: Millennium Park, Navy Pier and North Avenue Beach. During the warmer months, this is a great way to see the city, enjoy the fresh air, and get a workout at the same time.

• The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau’s website is an excellent trip planning resource. Learn about everything happening in Chicago during your visit, plus get hotel and dining recommendations. For a listing of free activities and attractions within The Windy City, visit ChooseChicago.com.

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Getting Around
Some travelers rent a car to explore Chicago, but especially during the warmer months, you can get anywhere by walking, taking a taxi or water taxi, or on the city’s mass transit system.

All of the popular rental car companies are represented at both Chicago area airports, and most have pick-up locations within the city itself.

If you only need a rental car for a few hours, a popular and low-cost option is ZipCar. Rates start as low as $7.00 per hour (which includes gas, parking and insurance), but an annual ZipCar membership is required. Taxis are readily available throughout the city, as well as the area’s airports.

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