The Loop

The Loop is the centre of downtown Chicago, named after the Chicago transportation lines that loop in its centre. If you’re taking advantage of Chicago’s public transportation (which I strongly recommend) all roads lead to the Loop, so it’s the most accessible place to get to in the city. Chicago is where the skyscraper was born, so head downtown to see some amazing architecture, either by walking through the streets or taking one of the many architectural boat tours that goes through the Chicago River.

Whether you want to visit the Art Institute, Theatre District or Harold Washington Library (if you like dragons on roof, this is for you), the Loop is the place to get to, even if it gets pretty dead at night. Definitely check out Millennium Park for the art, the Bean (if you’re not interested in looking at a large metal bean then watching people admire a large metal bean is pretty interesting) and the weird rectangular prisms with videos of people’s faces that occasionally spit water. As for food, the Loop isn’t exactly a wealth of interesting options, but Xoco is one of the best Mexican-inspired restaurants around (and the prices aren’t bad), while Pierogi Heaven is a cheap option if you’re in for some Polish fast food. Russian Tea Time is one of the more interesting high-end experiences, but be prepared for some overly authentic Russian attitude. Some waiters tend to turn their noses up at you if you’re not planning on blowing your wallets.