Chicago is the one of the best cities in the world to visit. From the food, architecture, museums, free festivals, shopping, and sports teams, Chicago has it all. No matter what time of year you visit there is always something to do or see:
January is very cold in Chicago, so indoor activities are recommended. One suggestion is to see the best team in the NBA this year, my Chicago Bulls...
The Bulls' players introduction is always colorful!
February is known for Valentine's Day. Last February, in honor of Valentine's Day and the "Take Care Of Your Heart" campaign, 140 decorated hearts were displayed on Michigan Avenue.
This photo was taken the week after the massive blizzard of February 2, 2011. We were getting more snow on top of the 20.2 inches we had just received.
This was my favorite "heart" on Michigan Avenue, representing the Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab restaurant. Amazingly, this photo was taken exactly one week after the photo above. Warmer temperatures had melted much of the blizzard snow.
March brings St. Patrick's Day. Every year the Chicago River is dyed green...
and the fountain in Daley Plaza flows green, too.
April brings the return of the yellow water taxis on the Chicago River...
and boaters start bringing their boats to the various harbors along Lake Michigan...
May is one of the best months to visit Chicago. Michigan Avenue is abloom with thousand of tulips in a myriad of splendid color...
June brings warm temperatures and blue skies to Chicago. A stroll through Millennium Park is a must-do...
See your reflection in Cloud Gate, fondly known as "The Bean".
Then leave Cloud Gate and walk over to the beautiful Lurie Garden, my favorite Chicago spot. The flowers are just beautiful...
From the purple salvia...
To the purple coneflowers.
In July visitors can stuff themselves at the Taste of Chicago food festival. In previous years the Taste of Chicago ran for 10 days, beginning on a Friday and ending on the following July 4th weekend. However, due to higher costs and lower crowds, starting this year the Taste of Chicago will be held for just five days, July 11-15, 2012 in Grant Park. I'm not sure if that is a good idea. Now the crowds will be even worse because it's only during one weekend!
While in Grant Park, stroll over to Buckingham Fountain.
Just south of the fountain is a lovely garden...
The warm months of August are a perfect time to visit the number one tourist attraction in Chicago: Navy Pier.
Ride the 150-foot Ferris Wheel to see grand views of the city skyline or ride the musical carousel...
Or feel like a kid riding the Wave Swinger...
September brings somewhat cooler temperatures but it can still be warm enough to catch one of our professional baseball teams; hopefully one of them will be in playoff contention!
You can catch a Cubs' night game at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field (my team!)...
Or check out the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field (husband's team). Yes, we have a mixed marriage in more ways than one!
In October head over to Daley Plaza. In the cooler, autumn days you can still check out the weekly Farmer's Market which is held every Thursday from May through October.
You can purchase everything from flowers...
To fresh produce...
To homemade jams and jellies...
If you are in Chicago on October 31, make sure to check out the fountain in Daley Plaza. It's dyed orange for Halloween (looks like orange juice shooting up in the air!). Also, Chicagoween takes place in Daley Plaza when it becomes "Franken Plaza" for the last week of October. Lots of fun for the kids!
The autumn colors continue in November. Michigan Avenue again sparkles with multiple colors of mums planted in interesting designs...
I love the whimsical fall decorations...
Even the curvaceous river walk of Trump Tower is decorated with colorful chrysanthemums...
And finally there's Chicago in December. The holiday season actually begins in November with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. This annual tradition of the lighting of the tree lights on Michigan Avenue usually takes place on the Saturday night before Thanksgiving. Over one million white lights twinkle on the trees on Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street, a full one magnificent mile of holiday beauty!
The stores on Michigan Avenue are festively decorated...
"Big" kids will love peeping into these Christmas windows:
Apple Store
Of course being a Europhile, a visit to Chicago at Christmas is not complete until you visit the Christkindlmarkt in Daley Plaza. Reminiscent of the famous Christmas markets of Germany, since 1997 the Christkindlmarkt has been held in Daley Plaza. The market begins on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving with the lighting of the city's Christmas tree...
And through Christmas Eve, thousands of people enjoy strolling past the stalls
looking at the beautiful ornaments...
and other handmade items for sale...
while enjoying delicious traditional German food washed down with traditional German beer.
It's hard not to get in the Christmas spirit if you visit Chicago in December. Everywhere from the parking garage of Trump Tower...
to even City Hall is decorated for the holiday season.
Thinking of visiting Chicago, but budget-conscience? Well, most of the activities which I mentioned above are FREE: Strolling down Michigan Avenue anytime of year, walking through the Taste of Chicago, walking through Millenium Park and the Lurie Garden, seeing Buckingham Fountain and gardens of Grant Park, walking down Navy Pier, the Farmer's Market in Daley Plaza, Chicagoween in Daley Plaza, the Christkindlmarkt in Daley Plaza and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. In addition to these activities, Chicago also has the Blues Festival, Jazz Festival and Air and Water Show which are also FREE!
All photos in this blog post were taken by me, most of them during my walk from Union Station to my job at Michigan Avenue and Chicago Avenue. (Yes, that's over three miles a day!) For those not familiar with Chicago, that gives me the opportunity to walk over the Chicago River not once but twice, through Daley Plaza, around the riverwalk of Trump Tower and down Michigan Avenue from the Wrigley Building to Chicago Avenue. I love having my pocket camera with me to capture the great city of Chicago all twelve months of the year.
For more information on the city of Chicago visit http://www.explorechicago.org/.
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