How to Time Your Trip to Chicago

The Windy City serves up baseball, culture, great shopping and much more. This will help you decide when to take your trip to Frank Sinatra's kind of town.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Travel Clothes
• Local Guidebooks To Chicago
• Maps
• Airline Tickets
• Rental Cars
• Travel Services
• Cameras
• Film
• Maps
• Cameras
• Rental cars

General Considerations

1. Decide what time of year you'll visit. For comfort, try to stick to spring and fall, when the weather is mild.

2. Avoid a winter holiday here if you'd like to walk around the city. They don't call it the Windy City for nothing.

3. Find out which of Chicago's many festivals or events might interest you.

4. If visiting during the summer, it's best to line up accommodations well ahead of time. This is Chicago's high season for tourism.

5. Check the weather forecast shortly before leaving, and pack accordingly.

Seasonal Events and Attractions

6. Cheer on the Chicago Cubs and sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at historic Wrigley field.

7. Hang your head and cry while listening to traditional Chicago blues, especially on the South Side. The Chicago Blues Festival, typically held in June, is a great time to visit Chi-Town.

8. Enjoy a view of the skyline at sunset on a Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise.

9. Gasp at the stunning view from the top of the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the world.

10. While away a morning at the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the world's best art museums, and then grab a bite at its lovely cafe. Don't miss Seurat's famous "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand Jatte."

11. Gaze into the world of exotic marine creatures at Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium.

12. Catch a comedy show by the popular Second City comedy troupe. Alumni include Dan Ackroyd, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Gilda Radner and Martin Short.