Essential Chicago

Architecture, food and music defines essential Chicago for me. There’s so much history here spanning Native Americans, gangsters, to jazz and blues music. Not only is this stuff in the history books, but its alive in the streets. A walk around the city brings the imagination alive wondering what it would have been like in the grand era, and the architecture and food of Chicago gives the backpacker reason alone to remember this city.

 

3 things to do and see

There’s so much to do in Chicago that it’s a bit overwhelming. The city is also large, so getting from one thing to another could require some pre-planning to make the most of the day. Public transportation is not only cheap, but its very fast and reliable so don’t bother renting a car, but if you are looking for that check out carsharing websites such as zipcar.com. Things that people must see are not easily numbered, but these are a few things that are essential Chicago:

 

1. Walking Around  Grab a small (20L) backpack with a camera and some water inside, and go walk around. You might be surprised how fun Chicago’s streets are, and how friendly everyone is. Start downtown and pick a direction, or get on a train and get off somewhere random. The history doesn’t have to be read, it can be seen in the architecture. A walk down any neighborhood leaves any onlooker with the impression of an impressive era sometime in the not-so-distant-past. Chicago has huge numbers of cultural groups here, so you may find yourself clicking in and out of cultural neighborhoods. Some notable things to check out on a walk around Chicago include the Chicago Bean (aka Cloud Gate), the historic Chicago Public Library (now called the Chicago Cultural Center) and Kingston Mines, a blues joint from the late 60’s in a really awesome neighborhood serving up good music and lively Chicago nightlife. There’s usually a cover of around $5 for people dressed in business attire.

 

 

2. Frank Lloyd Wright Architectural Tour  This city maintains some of Frank Lloyd Wrights best, and even if you’re not a fan of incredible organic and completely original architecture, its still nevertheless interesting and represents a part of Chicago’s unique character. A majority of the commercial work is downtown, whereas his private residence and some really amazing private homes are found in the neighborhoods, such as Oak Park. You don’t have to get an organized tour to appreciate the genius of FLW, as it’s everywhere however those interested in the specifics of the style and a background behind the imagination of the architect may opt to sign up for the inexpensive and very informative tours that operate out of Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, or the famous Robie House. For more information on FLW Chicago tours, check out this website : http://www.gowright.org/

 

 

3. Old Chicago Central Library Commissioned in 1897 to be the city’s central library and as a memorial for the Grand Army of the Republic, this classic building is a ton of fun to walk around and its uniquely Chicago. The dome located here is the largest Tiffany dome in the world, and is very impressive. This place is located just across the street from Cloud Gate in what is now called the Chicago Cultural Center.

 

 

Chicago’s Sub-$50 Accommodation

Travelers looking to stay in Chicago have a number of options, a majority of which exceed $100. For travelers who are looking for the sub-$50 mark, there are a couple options:

1. Hosteling International  |  http://www.hichicago.org/  |  $32+ per night

This large-scale HI operation is your standard sterile box-style bunk bed hostel dorm with no character. The number one advantage of this place is the fact that it’s A. less than $50 a night, and B. it’s centrally located downtown, just adjacent to Chicago’s public library, Buddy Guy’s Blues Club, and all the rest. Excellent location and can be fun during the summer months, but otherwise this is a fairly weak hostel.

2. Airbnb Listings  |  we stayed here: airbnb.com/users/show/272671  |  $11 to $5,000 per night

If you’re looking to save money and stay in Chicago like a local, Airbnb is a great option. Not only can you browse hundreds of listings of various price points, but you can also choose your location, so we chose to go this route. We stayed in a beautiful and historic Chicago home decorated with art and rare artifacts from around the world, and it was located in a great neighborhood near Asia town, downtown light rail line, and The Green Lantern, a must see for any Chicago tourist. The hosts were extremely knowledgeable and were able to give us the local lowdown. Make sure to check out reviews, or your experience could be a dice roll on this site.

 

 

3. Couchsurfing  |  couchsurfing.org  |  free

The popular shared space website is fun and interesting in Chi-town, and you’re sure to meet some really interesting people. I’ve used Couchsurfing in Chicago multiple times without any problems whatsoever, and even made some new friends. For traveling couples however, this is not the best option.

 

The Chicago Diner!

Chicago is famous for food, so when you’re here don’t miss out on the best. There are so many amazing places, so research isn’t necessary, just walk around! However, you absolutely can’t leave Chicago without going the incredible Chicago Diner, as this place is simply incredible. This all vegetarian, mostly vegan menu won’t disappoint, and the restaurant is located in one of Chicago’s hipster hangouts. The menu can be found here.

 

What’s Interesting About Chicago?

• Chicago is the third largest city in the United States
• Home to the worlds largest public library
• The Uptown Theater is the world’s largest stand alone theater
• Chicago is the world’s 4th most powerful city economically
• Lots of things were invented here including roller skates, elevated railways, and the zipper
• Christopher Nolan’s Gotham City was shot in Chicago

Photography in the Windy City

All my photographs of Chicago were taken on a Canon EOS 5D with a Canon 17-40mm L, Canon EOS 50mm 1.8 and a Canon 70-200mm L IS F/4 without photoshop. Don’t be encumbered with a tripod in Chicago, as there’s a lot to see and being light and mobile capturing whatever comes your way will not only be more fun, but it won’t get in the way of experiencing the city. Make sure to bring a down jacket and gloves for early morning sunrise shots, as Chicago often gets frigidly cold at night and it’s really windy here.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments and I’ll be sure to respond! : )