Although New York, Los Angeles and Miami are the winners of many awards, numerous travel enthusiasts believe that the good old Windy City can proudly claim the title of the best destination.
This time, however, no elaborate plans were set up for the trip; there was merely a serious wish to see for oneself whether Chicago is really all it is held to be.
After getting the first impression of the city, the whole story turned out to be more captivating than anticipated.
Taking a Flight of Fourteen Hours for the Purpose of Answering One Question
Flying to Chicago from Taipei was not just a simple weekend trip as the direct flight took around fourteen hours, crossing numerous time zones.
The biggest problem was not the flight itself but adjusting to jet lag. If one ends up sleeping a lot on this trip, then arrival will be only in the middle of the night, leaving one unable to change to local time. The plan was to stay awake through the flight, land tired, and go to sleep right away in hopes of resetting the body clock.
As is often the case, reality turned out to be different from our expectations. Although sleep was inevitable, there was enough excitement from visiting a brand new city to ignore fatigue.
The Easiest Entry into the US
There was about to be a surprising moment even before leaving the airport.
Known for long wait times, US immigration was very fast this time. To summarize, it took only a couple of minutes instead of the usual queue of about one hour I experienced at previous visits to New York.
Luggage was offloaded quite quickly, the signs in the airport were easy to see and recognize and soon enough I was ready to figure out how to get to downtown Chicago.
Finding an ATM was harder than expected but it seems that getting an Uber was the best solution.
The trip took about thirty minutes and proved one thing: Chicago’s skyline is as breathtaking as in pictures.
First Chat With A Local Individual
On the journey, the Uber driver shared an honest view of the city.
But the downtown and popular tourist destinations are usually considered safe. Just like in other major American cities, what matters in terms of safety is the part of the city one visits.
That impartial answer already gave a different perspective from the overly sensational claims made about Chicago being America’s “murder capital.”
A Shocking Hotel Mishap
The first night didn’t go quite right.
Buying an easy breakfast sandwich from the lobby did not seem dangerous at all. Using the automatic mode to heat the food sounded great.
However, a few minutes later, the smoke filled the room.
So instead, the microwave burnt the food so much that it activated the fire alarm in the hotel. Thus, instead of relaxing after a long international trip, the night turned into evacuation due to smoke with hotel employees coming to help.
Not precisely what anyone anticipates.
Downtown Chicago Feels Different
TThe morning of the next day finally heralded the dawning of the explorations of the city.
One thing was clear very fast.
Downtown Chicago is considerably more tranquil compared to Manhattan.
The buildings are still towering over the skyline, yet the streets don’t seem overly packed with people. Moving from one site to the next is easy, vehicle movement is in order, and the impression is that the place is surprisingly clean.
Considering the vastness of the city with its almost 3 million people; the atmosphere seems calmer than that one might expect.
The Legendary Chicago Theatre
One of the first locations the sightseeing tour has to take place near the famous Chicago Theatre.
Its shining negative sign is probably what gained the monument the greatest visibility in the city and made it pop on innumerable pictures.
Though there’s some construction nearby, obstructing the picture-perfect view, the building has an old-fashioned charm that reminds visitors of the long history behind it rather than only the fact that this is a collection of modern skyscrapers.
A Ride on Chicago’s Iconic Elevated Train
For those who manage to visit Chicago for the first time, taking a ride on its famous elevated train is a must.
Getting a ticket turned out to be a rather complicated affair.
First, the card-sorting machine did not want to even consider contemplating the gold card from a reputable bank. Then, electronic payments didn’t work either. Eventually, cash was the only option.
The elevated tracks opened the most fascinating views of skyscrapers and gave the whole aging train set a unique feel.
The Starting Point of Route 66
It surely brings up the feeling of taking an entire trip across the country someday.
Chicago’s Deep Dish Pizza is Actually Delicious
The first thing that associates Chicago with its deep-dish pizza.
Though it is a pizza, it looks more like a pie with the layers of cheese and tomato paste inside.
It takes an almost extraordinary amount of time to order and receive fresh pizza.
Deep-dish pizza is supposed to take about 40 minutes to be cooked, nevertheless, when the cheese is pulled at the table, one sees that the time spent was well deserved.
It tastes differently from traditional pizza.
One doesn’t taste the dough.
It was halfway through the meal at which point it became evident that finishing the pizza was almost out of the question.
Chicago deep dish pizza should be experienced by every traveller at least once despite the fact that the typical standard pizza is probably better for daily consumption.
Millennium Park and The Bean
Cloud Gate, or “The Bean”, turned out to be one of the busiest spots in the city.
The reflective surface creates incredible optical illusions while also reflecting a stunning skyline of Chicago.
Visitors gathered around the sculpture from all sides, and though the park was very crowded, it was not chaotic at all.
Live music, food vendors, open green spaces, and people enjoying their time all created an atmosphere of friendliness and hospitality rather than fuss.
Lake Michigan does not seem like a lake.
Being at the banks of this lake gives a concept of being by the ocean.
Combined with the scenes of sailboats, marinas, and tall buildings behind the shores, it clearly makes the place one of the most beautiful places in Chicago.
Walking along the shores also revealed an unexpected pleasant surprise.
It felt very cozy in the city.
There were not many vicious beggars and almost no tents as people usually expect.
Trying Out the Original Chicago Hotdog
Chicago’s second delicacy could not be overlooked.
In contrast to the minimalist hotdogs in New York, the Chicago hotdog comes with excessive use of mustard, onions and relish, tomatoes and pickles, and many other ingredients.
Every ingredient adds a taste to the dish.
The sausage remains the same but all other aspects are changed and it makes the dish special.
As for me, the simpler version of New York has its own unique taste, but it is important to taste the one in Chicago first before trying to compare the two.
Cleaner than NYC?
A persistent question came to mind multiple times throughout the day.
Is Chicago really cleaner than New York?
After arriving at downtown, walking around the parks, the waterfront, and public transit for hours, the answer was pretty clear.
The sidewalks appeared to be more organized.
Public areas gave a sense of being well kept.
Signs of city lunacy were sparse and, overall, going around town was easy.
Naturally, all cities have their shady districts but the general impression of central Chicago was very positive.
Is Chicago Safe for Tourists?
Safety is often the first thing to discuss about Chicago.
This time, though, downtown did not feel dangerous at all.
Of course, it is not true for all areas, but if you stick to the hotspots, keep your cool, and always watch your surroundings, your experience will likely be trouble-free.
Just like group travel tips state, one should learn about the districts of a city before exploring it.
Chicago is not trying to compete with New York in the loudness category; it gets people attracted in different ways.
The view from the top of the skyscraper is absolutely breathtaking. Its public areas are very welcoming. The food, the various forms of transportation allow travelers to get around easily once they get to know the city. More importantly, it is much more chill than Manhattan.
New York may not have a counterpart when it comes to energy and the iconic view of the skyline.
Still, Chicago is much better-balanced than many other places where travelers can enjoy the city’s top-notch architecture, delicious food, something to see by the water, and all this without feeling the heaviness of big city life.
If you are doubting whether a trip to Chicago will be worth it, remember that the answer is definitely yes.
