As Frank Sinatra crooned, “Chicago is my kind of town,” and many tourists agree. Book a flight to Chicago and shop the Miracle Mile, step back in time at the National History Museum, tour the artist’s lofts in the heart of the city, and enjoy some cool jazz at one of Chicago’s many nightclubs.
Chicago rests on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of the American Midwest. Flights to Chicago land tourists at either Midway Airport or O’Hare International Airport, both about 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, but a car isn’t needed to get around. Take a taxi or hop the commuter rail from your Chicago flight to downtown and then tour the city by foot. Stop by the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the United States, and take an elevator ride to the Sears Tower Skydeck for unprecedented views of the city.
If you’re lucky enough to get a flight to Chicago near St. Patrick’s Day make sure to take a walk down by Lake Michigan, which is dyed green in honor of Chicago’s rich Irish culture.
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Chicago has an extreme climate with very hot summers and bitterly cold winters, its lakeside setting only slightly moderating the temperatures and adding some humidity to the atmosphere. Chicago has distinct seasons, with a short spring, when temperatures are moderate and nights frosty. Summers are hot, sunny and humid, from June to the end of September, and are prone to thunderstorms. August is usually the wettest month of the year. Autumn is a lovely time of year when the air is crisp and cool, with blue skies and sunshine. Winters in Chicago are icy and prone to cold, harsh winds. Snow is common.
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Chicago’s seasons are intense – it’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter – but savvy travelers can always find cheap flights to Chicago. Talk about the best times to travel to Chicago.
Peak Season:
Summer is the peak of the festival season in the Chicago area with major events taking place in the parks and neighborhoods every weekend, in spite of the heat and humidity from the Lake. September can be the most enjoyable and mild month of the year but there's less going on during this period.
Off Season:
January to March is when Chicago is least busy and deals on hotels and cheap flights to Chicago are usually attainable. However, true to its reputation as the “Windy City”, cold temperatures and brisk winds will make you want to stay inside for most of your visit.
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Both Chicago airports are located approximately 30-40 minutes from downtown Chicago, depending on traffic. After your flight to Chicago arrives, hop a taxi downtown or board the local commuter rail that takes travelers straight to the city.
Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
Distance: 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago
Drive Time: 40 mins
Chicago Midway (MDW)
Distance:10 miles from downtown
Drive time: 20 mins
Taxicabs are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the lower level curb front of all terminals. Shared ride service is available. There are no flat rates because all taxicabs run on meters. Expect to spend approximately $35 to $40 for a taxicab ride to downtown Chicago.
The airports are accessible via local mass transit lines, regional trains and buses, downtown and suburban shuttles and interstate highways. Most ground transportation access areas are located at the main entrance for each terminal.
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- Any shopping in Chicago has to begin on State Street, in the center of the Loop. The Marshall Field's flagship department store opened in 1852 there. Check out the famed “Magnificent Mile” along Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street for specialty shops and boutiques with designers from Paris, Milan and Manhattan blending with Chicago’s Gold Coast style.
- The Chicago Cultural Center houses one of the city’s official Visitor Information Centers and offers more than 600 free art programs annually.
- Along the shores of Lake Michigan, you’ll find Chicago's cultural delights including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Goodman Theatre, the Lyric Opera at the Civic Opera House building, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
- Chicago's lakefront is almost exclusively recreational park area from north to south, and features Grant Park, the home of Buckingham Fountain, the Petrillo Bandshell, the Grant Park Symphony (where free concerts are presented throughout the summer), and Chicago's annual two-week food orgy, the Taste of Chicago, where more than three million people "chow down".
- The beauty of Chicago springs from the tragedy of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 that claimed 300 lives, left 90,000 Chicagoans homeless and destroyed $200 million worth of property. From this disaster came the opportunity to plan and rebuild the entire city.
- Chicago is also home to the nine time world-championship football team, the Chicago Bears and to Wrigley Field, the second-oldest ballpark in the Major League baseball, build in 1914, just behind Boston's Fenway Park, built in 1912.
Talk about your favorite things to do in Chicago.
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Chicago's midwest placement makes it easy to get to from other cities in the midwest. If you're looking for cheap flights to Chicago during high tourists season, consider one of the alternative airports and take a drive to Chicago.
Airports in Chicago:
Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
Chicago Midway (MDW)
Alternative airports (distance in miles):
Milwaukee (75); South Bend (75)
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