Destination

Attractions
In addition to world-renowned museums, Chicago is home to a variety of spectacular attractions including Navy Pier, the city’s lakefront playground offering the serene setting of the Crystal Gardens and the magnificent beauty of the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows. The Navy Pier also boasts the 150-foot high Ferris wheel, a musical carousel, the Chicago Children’s Museum, a variety of restaurants and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Other attractions that you won’t want to miss include Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park, the Hancock Observatory, and the Sears Tower Skydeck.

Shopping
A visit to Chicago would be incomplete without a shopping spree! Shopping in Chicago began on State Street (that great street!) with the opening of the original Marshall Field’s Department store in 1852. State Street is also home to another famous Chicago department store, Carson Pirie Scott, where customers are drawn into the entrance of the store by the ornate ironwork designed by Chicago architect Louis Sullivan in 1899. A shopping spree must include a visit to the famed “Magnificent Mile,” location of our Conference Hotel, which runs along Michigan Avenue from Oak Street to the Chicago River. Amidst department store giants, Marshall Field’s, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s, are hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques offering goods from around the world.

Architecture
Visitors from around the world come to Chicago, the birthplace of the modern building, to admire its architectural marvels. From historic landmark buildings to contemporary technological masterpieces, Chicago is built of the unique and innovative designs that have shaped American architecture. The city is a living museum of architecture thanks to the work of such greats as Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Helmut Jahn and hundreds of others. To learn more about Chicago’s acclaimed architecture, the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers more than 50 walking or bus tours, conducted by knowledgeable guides. If you’d rather sightsee by boat, an architectural boat cruise on the Chicago River shows bridge houses and Loop skyscrapers from a wonderful vantage point. If you prefer a self-guided tour, “Audio Architecture,” a taped walking tour of the Chicago Loop, is available for rental from the Chicago Office of Tourism at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Easy to Get Around
Chicago\'s a big city, but it\'s remarkably easy to get around. All the convention facilities, hotels, cultural institutions, shopping, dining and entertainment are concentrated in a relatively small area. Everything can be easily reached by walking, public transportation, or short cab rides.
• The city\'s rapid transit system provides quick, safe rail service to downtown from both O\'Hare International and Midway airports.
• A dedicated busway allows for fast, non-stop transportation between downtown and McCormick Place.
• A free trolley offers shuttle service between Navy Pier and downtown destinations.
• McCormick Place provides more than 8,000 parking spaces.
• The city is served by more than 6,700 taxis to provide quick access to your destination
• Chicago Transit Authority (Public Transportation) - http://www.transitchicago.com/
• City of Chicago - Exploring Chicago - http://egov.cityofchicago.org/