FLIGHTS TO CHICAGO

FLIGHTS TO CHICAGO was established in , Built by in .

The City of Chicago, is the third-most populous city in the United States, and the most populous city in both the state of Illinois and the Midwestern United State. It is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago has over 2.7 million residents. it is popularly called the county seat of Cook County. Chicago is a large city with an area of 60,000?hectares, and the city is traversed by the Chicago and Calumet rivers. Chicago has ?extensive parklands, including 3,000 hectares of city parks attract an estimated 86 million visitors annually. Chicago has the third-largest gross metropolitan product in the United States, and the city has also been rated as having the most balanced economy in the United States, due to its high level of diversification. Chicago city has a long list of interesting places to visit. A few of them are the Field museum, Garfield Park Conservatory, Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, Millennium Park, Lincoln Park zoo, Museum of Science and Industry, The 606 and a host of others. There are also a lot of festivals that take place in Chicago and they include:The Chicago Blues Festival, Ribfest Chicago, Mamby On The Beach, Taste Of Chicago, Square Roots Festival, Ruido Fest, West Fest, Potchfork Music Festival to mention but a few. BEST TIME TO BOOK A FLIGHT TO CHICAGO The best time to book a flight to Chicago is about 11-12 weeks in advance. When flights are booked earlier ?than 81 days before departure, the fares are likely to be high. The fares gradually reduce up until the about 30 days to departure. At this point the fares are hiked. The worst time to buy a ticket is before the flight. However, for any given flight, the actual best time to buy might vary, depending on the market, the time of year, the day of week, and other factors. During peak season, the fares are way higher than the off-peak periods. The visitors trooping in to Chicago are alarming, and hence the flight fares are usually high. Also, flights might be all booked up, and it may even be difficult to get tickets as flights might have all been booked. PEAK SEASON Chicago experiences four distinct seasons.the summer, winter, autumn and spring, but the Summer is the peak season. The summer is between June and September. The weather, hot and humid, is usually very favorable compared to all other cold and rainy periods all through the year. The temperature is usually between 27 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. Most of the outdoor festivals?hold in summer, and ?summer marks Chicago's peak tourist season. Chicago tourist would definitely love this summer period, as many festivals hold during this period. During this period, the fares for flights are about 21% higher than the usual fares. Intending visitors to Chicago must endeavor to book their flights in advance or risk paying almost double the amount when the season starts. When the season begins, there is a possibility of flight unavailability. Spring and autumn are also good times to travel. The crowd is lesser, and the temperature is cooler, with light rains. OFF-PEAK SEASON The off peak season is the cheapest time to visit Chicago. The off peak season is also an off-tourist season. The crowd from summer is non existent during this period. Fares are cheap, and the general cost of living actively falls. There are also special events that hold in this period like the ChristKindMarket - a large German-themed Christmas fair in December. However, this period is usually freezing cold with temperatures dropping down to? 29 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon and 14 degrees Fahrenheit during the night. Intending visitors have to come with thick coat, boots, socks, gloves and head warmers. Flights during this period are not usually booked up and unavailable except that the winter storm could sometimes prevent airports from functioning properly. There are usually delayed flights, and this could be terrible for travelers. BEST TIME TO VISIT TO?CHICAGO Chicago is one of the cities that has its climate categorized as humid continental, and hence, the ?city experiences four distinct seasons. Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn. Summers are warm, hot and often humid, with a July daily average of 75.8 ?F (24.3 ?C). Winters are cold and snowy with few sunny days. January is Chicago's coldest month with a low temperature just below freezing. Spring and autumn are mild seasons with low humidity. Th e best time to visit Chicago?is the late spring - April and May, and late?summer between September and October. During these periods, the weather is relatively warm, there is lesser crowd compared to summertime, and hotel rates are cheaper. Visitors should have light coats and umbrellas as there may be rains once in a while. Chicago experiences an influx of people during summertime (June-August), and so the prices of items, and, room rates are excessively high. Flights and hotels have to booked in advance for this season.?Most of the Chicago festivals occur during this period. In June, the Festa Pasta Vino Festival that celebrates Italian food and culture while offering authentic cuisine and wines accompanied with live performances. Also, the Taste of Randolph Street Festival holds and it comes with live music, and a lot food. July welcomes the Taste of Chicago Festival where more than?50 local restaurants offer their signature dishes with lots of music. August offers the ?Street Food Artistry? Festival which celebrates street-inspired dishes and includes cooking demonstrations. ?Taste of Greece Festival and ?Elvis is Alive? race are other two most attended events. Visitors in December or January should endeavor to cover up with thick coats, socks, boots, head and hand warmers as the temperature is always very low. AIRPORTS IN CHICAGO There are two major airports in Chicago - Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and the ?Midway International Airport. CHICAGO O'HARE INTERNATIONAL ?AIRPORT Chicago O'Hare International Airport (IATA: ORD, ICAO: KORD, FAA LID: ORD), also known as O'Hare Airport, Chicago International Airport, Chicago O'Hare, or simply O'Hare, is an international airport located on the Far Northwest Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the main airport serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It is operated by the City of Chicago Department of Aviation Chicago O'Hare was once the busiest airport in the world by the number of takeoffs and landings in 2014, ahead of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As of 2016, O'Hare is the sixth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, the third-busiest in the United States, and the busiest in the Midwest. O'Hare also has eight runways, more than any other major international airport. There are 5 terminals in Chicago O'Hare Airport. Terminal 5 is O'Hares international terminal for flights from international destinations. The terminal has a gate that can accommodate the worlds largest passenger aircraft, Airbus A380, and the has 5?lounges for relaxation AIRLINES OPERATING FLIGHTS TO CHICAGO FROM O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

AIRLINES	DESTINATIONS
Aer Lingus	Dublin
American Airlines	Atlanta, Austin, London Heathrow, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Miami, Los Angeles?
Air Canada	Toronto ? Pearson
American Eagle	Oklahoma city, Houston, Detroit?
British Airways	London Heathrow, Lagos
Air France	Paris, Lagos
Frontier Airlines	Las Vegas, Orlando, San Francisco
Japan Airlines	Tokyo -Narita
KLM	Amsterdam
Lufthansa	Frankfurt, Munich, Lagos
Qatar Airways	Doha
Turkish Airlines	Turkey-Ataturk
United Airlines	Beijing, Newark, London-Heathrow, Nashville, New York, Minneapolis, Lagos
Emirates	Dubai- International
Etihad Airways	Abu Dhabi

  MIDWAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Chicago Midway is International Airport (IATA: MDW, ICAO: KMDW, FAA LID: MDW) is a commercial airport on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, 13 km from the Loop.?Midway Airport is the second-largest passenger airport in the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as the state of Illinois, after O'Hare International Airport on the Northwest Side. Midway International Airport was initially Chicago's main airport. With the opening of O'Hare International Airport, Midway?airport suffered a decline in traffic but later experienced significant traffic growth.?Traffic at Midway is currently dominated by budget support Southwest Airlines. Midway is the Dallas-based carrier's largest focus city, as of 2013. Midway has 43 aircraft gates on three concourses (A, B, and C) The 3 concourses and their gates, concourses A - 17 gates, B - 23 gates, C - 3 gates.

AIRLINES	DESTINATIONS
Delta Air Lines	Atlanta, Detroit, Lagos
Delta Connection	Detroit, Minneapolis/ St. Paul
Porter Airlines	Toronto ? Billy Bishop
Southwest Airlines	Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Albany, Cleveland, Denver, Las Vegas
Ultimate Air Shuttle	Cincinnati-Lunken
ViaAir	Brason
Volaris	Durango

  HOW LONG IS A FLIGHT TO CHICAGO

MAJOR CITIES IN USA	AVERAGE DISTANCE FROM CITY TO CHICAGO	AVERAGE FLYING TIME FROM CITY CHICAGO
New York City	?790 miles / 1,271 km	?1 hour, 49 minutes
Los Angeles	?2,106 miles / 3,244 km	?3 hours, 31 minutes
Houston	?1,082 miles / 1,741 km	?2 hours, 4 minutes
Seattle	?2,063 miles / 3,320 km	?3 hours, 31 minutes
Philadelphia	?761 miles / 1,225 km	?1 hour, 44 minutes
San Diego	?2,077 miles / 3343 km	?3 hours, 31 minutes
Phoenix	?1,756 miles / 2826 km	?2 hours, 57 minutes
Detroit	?283 miles / 455 km	?48 minutes
Austin	?1.121 miles / 1,804 km	?2 hours, 11 minutes
Boston	?982 miles / 1580 km	?2 hours, 12 minutes
Washington	?2,028 miles / 3,264 km	?3 hours, 27 minutes
Orlando	?1,154 miles / 1857 km	?2 hours, 21 minutes

  GETTING AROUND CHICAGO Chicago city has a visitor centre that helps gives important information about the city to visitors. This helps the visitors plan their movement around the city. The centre is in Chicago's downtown loop. However, getting around Chicago city is not a thorn in the flesh. There are several ways to get around the city, and these options are available based on distance, location and cost implication. The available options are by bus, 'L' train, Metra rail, Taxi, water taxi, bike, car or on foot. 'L' Train This transport service is operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and the L is short for ''elevated train''. This is one of the cheapest way to get around Chicago city. The L system goes to 145 stations around the city, and connects the city through above-ground, street-level and subway trains . The train colors are either red, blue, brown, green, orange, purple, pink, and yellow representing the subway network's 8 lines, but not all of Chicago's 8 ?L' lines are "elevated." ?The L train also serves the two Chicago airports (O'Hare and Midway) . The blue and red line run for 24 hours, while the other 6 lines commence operations from 4 or 5 am, and come to a close at any time between 11 pm and 2 am. The Blue Line, connects the O'Hare international airport and downtown, and the Red Line, with service between the North and South Sides via downtown. COST: One-day pass is $10, 3-day passes cost $20, and 7-day passes cost $28. METRA COMMUTER RAIL The Metra commuter rail is ?most reliable for trips to the suburbs of Chicago city. This highly efficient Metra commuter rail train connects outlying suburbs to downtown and is an easy way to get into the heart of the city fast. The 11 lines go beyond the Loop, stopping at the North, South and East Chicago before reaching the suburbs. The trains are available all through the week from 4 am till after midnight. COST: One-way ride - $3.50 to $10.50 depending on the distance covered. Week Pass - $8 (unlimited travel on Saturdays and Sundays). TAXIS The Taxi is an easier way to get around Chicago. The taxis easily reach locations like restaurants, lounges, theaters, and even those beyond downtown. The taxis also easily reach residential areas unlike the trains that have their specific stop. ?It is easy to hail a taxis, and there are a lot of them available to serve visitors in the Loop, at the two airports, on the Magnificent Mile, on the Gold Coast, in River North, and in Lincoln Park. There are also electronic ways of hailing taxis through a mobile app. Passengers can electronically pay the E-Hailed taxicabs.?Credit cards are accepted in all taxi cabs by city mandate. COST: Taxis charge a base rate of $3.25, plus $2.25 for each additional mile and $0.20 for every 36 seconds of time elapsed. If a gas surcharge is in effect, a sign will be displayed inside the taxicab and a surcharge may apply. Tolls are an extra charge. Taxis charge $1 for the first additional passenger over age 12 and under age 65; each additional passenger after that is $0.50. It is standard to tip the driver about 15-20% of the fare, plus $1-2 per bag if the driver helps you with luggage. Please note that all fares and taxes are subject to change. Sample taxi fare between downtown and O'Hare Airport is $40-50 and between Midway Airport is $30-35. A cheaper option would be to use a ride-sharing service like Lyft or Uber. WATER TAXI The water taxi is an interesting way to get around the city. Chicago Water Taxi by Wendella Boats and Shoreline Sightseeing are the two companies that offer fast, affordable and fun connections between Chicago's top tourist destinations on water. During the warm weather season, travel on these fun water rides to popular visitor sites such as Chinatown, Museum Campus, Willis Tower, Michigan Avenue, Union Station and more. The Chicago Water Taxi operates on a closed loop route on the Chicago River shuttling passengers between Madison Street on the south branch; La Salle Street and Michigan Avenue on the main branch; and River East on the main branch in Ogden SlipWater taxis are only available during late spring (April and May) till late summer. During the summer, departures and arrivals are scheduled on Monday thru Friday from 7 am through 7:12 pm, Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. through 6:14 p.m. and on Sundays and Holidays from 10:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. COST: Single ride - $3.00-8.00, Day pass -$11.00-29.00. Averagely the fare is between $8 - $23 depending on the day, the route, and the company. BUS The bus service operates on approximately 130 bus routes and ?the operate on several express routes during rush hour. The bus goes through several destinations in the city. They operate 24 hours a day, but some of them resume operations ?by 4 or 5 am and quit activities between 11 pm and 2 am. The bus is the best way to get around the city?along the lakefront where the trains don't run. The buses are to be taken from the bus stops which are easily identified by the blue and white signs. The Express routes are only offered on weekdays, during rush hour. COST: Single ride - $2.25 if paid in cash and $2 if paid using Ventra card. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) passes?which range between $10 and $28 depending on the number of days covered, are also valid for use on the bus. CAR Chicago has a logically defined road network that makes it relatively easy to drive around. All the major car-rental companies have offices at O'Hare and Midway, as well as locations downtown. Visitors need to go to rental shops and make payments based on the duration of use. Visitors moving around in this medium in the summer must be prepared for the rush hour traffic jam. The cost of gasoline vary between $3 and $4 with taxes already incorporated in the printed price. It is advised that visitors on a day trip should fill their tanks outside town because gasoline costs more in the city. Parking in Chicago is at a premium so visitors should be ready to pay up. Parking is limited t 2 hours through out downtown. The parking receipt is to be pasted on the car's dashboard. It is important for visitors to properly understand the implications of hiring a car, and be ready to stand by all the driving and parking rules. Cars are towed if they are parked on major routes during rush hour, and that implies extra payments. BIKE Getting around o a bike is a unique option ?for visitors in Chicago. There are designated routes for bikes which makes it very easy to get to some major places in the city. There is a bike system that makes it possible to grab a bike anytime. Biking is almost impossible during winter because of the low temperatures. COST: One-day pass -$9.95 for the first 30 minutes of?use is included in the cost of the pass, and you will be charged $2 to $8 more for every additional half hour. On Foot This is by way the cheapest means of getting around some parts of the city. It is however not very feasible for long distances. It involves no taxes or no extra costs. Some of the interesting places to visit in Chicago are reachable on foot, and many of the festivals happen in places visitors can walk too. GETTING FROM CHICAGO AIRPORT TO CITY CENTRE There are a number of ways of getting from Chicago airports to the centre of town. The options are by train, by rented cars, airport shuttle, taxi, bus, and limo. The train is relatively the cheapest way to move from airport to city centre, and they take about 45 minutes at the cost of $5.00 from O'Hare, and they take about 25 minutes at the cost of ?$2.25 from Midway Airport There are taxis outside the airport terminal dispatchers, and they take 35 minutes from O'Hare, and between 20 - 30 minutes from Midway. For buses, depending on the destination of the visitor, it could cost around $17.00 per head from Midway and around $56.00 per?O'Hare. The Continental Airport Express provides door to door shuttle service. This shuttle services both airports in Chicago, and they are able to take visitors to their hotels. They depart every 5-10 minutes starting at around 6:00 AM in the morning and will run until 11:30 PM at night. The cost could be as low as $14 for one-way, and it could increase based on the distance. The Limo service is an airport limousine luxury service. They always operate round the clock, and are always available. The reservations can be made ahead of time and your can meet visitors at their flight. This option is definitely more expensive than the other options. STAYING IN CHICAGO The best places to stay are in the Loop District in downtown Chicago, where you?ll find most of the major sights and attractions. The other areas are the Westside, Uptown,and O'Hare. Staying in the Loop The skyscrapers corporate headquarters delineate the area of the Loop District - the heart of the downtown area, named so because of the train-line loop that encircles it. This part of the city always makes a statement with the bustling of locals, the coffee shops, and the beautiful environment.?Magnificent Mile is the main shopping avenue and runs along downtown. Other attractions include the imperious Sears Tower, Grant Park, and Buckingham Fountain. Staying in the Loop district is albeit expensive but it is definitely worth the cost. Staying on the Westside The Westside of Chicago is the city's most diversified quarter. This area of Chicago has a variety of restaurants that serve intercontinental cuisines. The area has shops, murals and beautiful monuments.?The Pilsen neighborhood, just northwest of Chinatown in Bridgeport, is a classic example of Chicagoan diversity. As the traditional entry point for immigrants, there are a particularly high number of offbeat vintage shops and restaurants serving eclectic cuisine. Places to stay here, cost a little lesser than in downtown. Staying in the Uptown Uptown is an intriguing neighborhood where Chicago's rich history and ethnic diversity intersect.?Historic landmark districts in Buena Park, Sheridan Park and Uptown Square are just some of the architectural highlights.? On Argyle Street and the surrounding blocks, you can do a tour of Asia with destination restaurants serving up Beijing duck, sushi, traditional Chinese dim sum and Vietnamese specialties like banh mi and pho. Adding to the variety are ethnic grocers mixed among Ethiopian, Lebanese, Indian cuisine and more. Staying in O'Hare This area is very ideal for businessmen, with many conferences held here in hotel meeting rooms. It is not very far fro Downtown Chicago, and the CTA Blue Line is am perfect transport link to the city centre. The O'Hare international airport is located in this area. The area is relatively beautiful. The cost of staying here is fair. GREAT PLACES TO VISIT IN CHICAGO There are definitely awesome places to visit in all areas in Chicago. Millennium Park Millennium Park is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. It's prominent features are the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States; the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa; the contemporary Lurie Garden designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel; and Anish Kapoor's hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture. Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the North and Monroe Street to the South. Navy Pier The Navy Pier originally opened in 1916 as an amusement area and shipping facility but is now one of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions. Today, the Navy Pier is made up of 50 acres of gardens, attractions, shops, restaurants, concert venues, and parks. There is a 150 ft Ferris wheel and an historic carousel in Navy Pier Park. Visitors can also watch a film at the 3D Imax Theater, watch actors perform the classics at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, or visit Crystal Gardens, a one-acre, six-story, indoor botanical garden. Also located here is the Chicago Children's Museum. The Pier hosts year-round festivities, including the Chicago Festival in August. Cruise ships leave from here on various sightseeing excursions. Wrigley Field Even when baseball?s not in season, there?s plenty to do at this legendary stadium, erected in 1914 and reinvigorated by an ownership change in 2009. Seasonal tours offer an insider peek at the Friendly Confines when the Cubs are on the road or away for spring training. Art Institution ?Of Chicago You could spend the next four years getting to know this encyclopedic institution, which owns more than 300,000 artworks and artifacts from all over the world and every era from antiquity to the present. Our favorite pieces include the Japanese prints, fragments of local buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Thorne Miniature Rooms. We?re also in love with Renzo Piano?s light-filled Modern Wing, which is the perfect place to enjoy the Art Institute?s architecture and design collection, modern and contemporary art, and gorgeous views of Millennium Park. Shedd Aquarium Shedd Aquarium is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois in the United States that opened on May 30, 1930. The aquarium contains 32,000 animals, and was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world with 5,000,000 US gallons (19,000,000 l; 4,200,000 imp gal) of water. ? the John G. Shedd Aquarium is home to more than 1,500 species of sea life, including 32,500 fish, as well as an array of birds, insects and amphibians. Located on Lake Michigan, it is surrounded by Museum Campus Chicago, which it shares with the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.? The Field Musuem Of National History Originally called the Columbian Museum of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History was founded in 1893 to showcase the biological and anthropological collections gathered for the World Columbian Exposition. The name changed in 1905 to honor Marshall Field, the department store owner, art patron, and major benefactor of the museum. The permanent collection features approximately 20 million artifacts and specimens covering a variety of disciplines including geology, botany, zoology and anthropology. Of special note are the permanent displays on Ancient Egypt and the cultures of North, Central and South America and "Sue," the world's largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. Special rotating exhibits take place on a regular basis throughout the year. Museum of Science and Industry The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) is located in Chicago, Illinois, in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood between Lake Michigan and The University of Chicago.Among the museum's exhibits are a full-size replica coal mine, German submarine U-505 captured during World War II, a 3,500-square-foot (330 m2) model railroad, the first diesel-powered streamlined stainless-steel passenger train (Pioneer Zephyr), and the Apollo 8 spacecraft that carried the first humans to orbit the Moon. The museum has over 2,000 exhibits, displayed in 75 major halls. The museum has several major permanent exhibits. Access to several of the exhibits (including the Coal Mine and U-505) requires the payment of an additional fee. The Museum is definitely a must visit. Michigan Avenue and the Magnificent Mile Michigan Avenue is probably one of the most attractive boulevards in America. The city's famous Magnificent Mile is a section of Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River, with numerous galleries, boutiques and luxury shops. Some of the attractions along here include the John Hancock Center, the Wrigley Building, and the Tribune Tower. Michigan Avenue splits between North and South designations at Madison Street. Garfield Park Conservatory Built in the early 1900s, the Garfield Park Conservatory is an historic, publicly owned botanical garden, operated by the Chicago Park District. The gardens grow plants which are used in the numerous city parks and gardens. The glass and metal prairie-school structure was designed by noted landscape architect Jens Jensen. His revolutionary design has been referred to as "landscape art under glass". Some of the highlights include the Children's Garden, the Demonstration Gardens, and the Monet Garden, based on Claude Monet's garden at Giverney, France. Adler Plantetarium The Adler Planetarium is a public museum dedicated to the study of astronomy and astrophysics. It was founded in 1930 by Chicago business leader Max Adler. It is located on the northeast tip of Northerly Island at the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. The Adler is America's first planetarium and part of Chicago's Museum Campus, which includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and The Field Museum. The Adler's mission is to inspire exploration and understanding of the universe. The Adler is home to three full size theaters, extensive space science exhibitions, and a significant collection of antique scientific instruments and print materials. In addition, the Adler boasts the Doane Observatory, one of the only research-active, public urban observatories. This lakeside observatory is the only place in Chicago where the public can see planets, stars, and galaxies up-close and in person. The Adler Planetarium has a lot on display and they include Planet ?Explorers, The solar system, The universe: A walk through space and time,The Historic Atwood Sphere, ?Telescopes: Through The Looking Glass,?Mission Moon,?Astronomy In Culture,?Bringing Heavens To Earth,?Universe In Your Hands, and?Space Visualization Laboratory (SVL). Sears Tower While some may argue that the skyscraper, renamed Willis Tower in 2009, has lost a bit of its swagger since it lost its status as the world?s tallest building, the Sears Tower remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chicago. Completed in 1973, the 108-story structure features some of the fastest elevators in the world, covering as much as 1,600 feet per minute. A 70-second ride takes visitors to the 103rd-floor Skydeck where they can feel the building sway beneath them on a windy day. The Skydeck offers of sweeping views of Lake Michigan and glimpses of the states of Michigan and Wisconsin beyond Buckingham Fountain Located in Grant Park, the Beaux Arts-style Buckingham Fountain was designed by architect Edward Bennett after the Latona Fountain at Versailles. The font is famous for its grand size and for the height of its spray, which can reach as high as 15 stories. The fountain?s four water-spouting sea horse statues are said to represent the four states that surround Lake Michigan, while the fountain?s pool symbolizes the lake itself. The fountain was donated to the city by Kate Sturges Buckingham, a patroness of the arts who inherited her family?s massive fortune at the age of 32. Known as ?Chicago?s Grandest Spinster,? she bequeathed the Buckingham Fountain to Chicago as a memorial for her brother in 1927 and established a trust fund for the fountain?s continuous operation as well. Lincoln Park Zoo Lincoln Park is a 6 mile stretch of green space along the edge of Lake Michigan, and Chicago's biggest park. This popular park is home to the lovely Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the country. Also located here are the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and the Chicago History Museum. For those who simply want to enjoy the outdoor space there are playing fields, bike trails, jogging paths, and beaches. Visitors can see a number of significant statues and pieces of public art within the park grounds including Augustus Saint Gaudens' Standing Statue of Lincoln (1887). COST OF THINGS IN CHICAGO

ITEMS	AVERAGE COST
Basic Lunch including menu	$14
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (Big Mac Meal or similar )	$7
1 liter whole fat milk	$0.83
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer	$2.40
1 bottle of red wine	$15
Bread (2 people)	$2.04

 

HOUSING	AVERAGE COST
Monthly rent 900 sq ft furnished accommodation in expensive area	$1,889
Monthly rent 900 Sq ft furnished accommodation in normal area	$1,482
Monthly rent 480 Sq ft furnished accommodation in expensive area	$1,578
Monthly rent 480 Sq ft furnished accommodation in normal area	$1,038
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ?) for 1 person in 480 Sq ft	$99
Internet 8Mbps (1 month)	$45

  CHICAGO TIPS/ ADVICE Visits in Chicago need to be aware of the following information so as to enjoy the city maximally. Communications Most hotels, coffee shops and public libraries offer high sped wireless access. some hotels charge ?nominal fee,?usually less than $10. So visitors in Chicago can enjoy the internet round the clock. Hours of Operation Generally, business hours are from 9 am to 6 pm from Sunday to Wednesday, and closing hours are much later from Thursdays to Saturdays. Most stores close for Christmas, New Year's, and Easter Sunday.?Major chains have outposts that are open 24 hours, and Pharmacies open as early as 8 am. Money ATMs are plentiful. You can find them in banks, grocery stores, and hotels, as well as at drugstores, gas stations, and convenience stores. The sales tax here (9.25%) is one of the highest of any U.S. city. Tickets Visitors can avoid the long lines at Chicago museums by buying tickets online at least a day in advance. The most popular architecture tour, led by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, always sells out?be sure to buy tickets in advance. Taxes Taxes are compulsory in Chicago, ?and they are charged on items purchased or services received At restaurants?, visitors are expected to pay approximately 10% for meal tax. The hotel tax is 16.4% in the city, and slightly less in suburban areas. Tips Tipping is like a culture in Chicago and in the U.S, so visitors should tip 15% for adequate service in restaurants. ?Taxi drivers, bartenders, and hairdressers expect about 15%. Bellhops and porters should get about $1 per bag; hotel maids about $1 to $2 per day of your stay; and valet-parking attendants $1 or $2. Time Chicago is in the central time zone. It's 1 hour behind New York, 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles, 6 hours behind London, and 16 hours behind Sydney. Parking Parking in Chicago is not free especially at restaurants?and shops. Payments are only valid for two hours. If cars are parked on busy routes during rush hours, cars would be towed off. FLIGHT FROM LOCAL CITY TO CHICAGO

LOCATION	AIRLINES	AVERAGE COST	FLIGHT DURATION
New York City	Delta Airline, American Airline, jetBlue	$300	2 hours 51 minutes
San Francisco	Virgin America, American Airline, United Airline	$420	4 hours 15 minutes
Boston	Spirit Airline, American Airlines, United Airline, JetBlue	$311	2 hours 57 minutes
Seattle	Spirit Airline, American Airlines, United Airline, JetBlue, Alaska Airline	$486	?3 hours 57 minutes
New Orleans	Spirit Airline, American Airlines, United Airline, JetBlue, Alaska Airline	$219	2 hours 32 minutes
Los Angeles	Frontier Airline,?Spirit Airline, American Airlines, United Airline	$299	4 hours 25 minutes
Atlanta	Spirit Airlines, Delta Airline, United Airline, American ?Airline	$237	2 hours 10 minutes
Denver	Frontier Airline,?Spirit Airline, American Airlines, United Airline	$229	2 hours 37 minutes
San Diego	Spirit Airline, American Airline, United Airways	$427	4 hours 21 minutes
Lagos	Delta Airline, Lufthansa, United Airline, Air France, British?Airways, KLM	$1643	15 hours 55 minutes

    PEOPLE WHO LIKE CHICAGO ALSO LIKE ? Visitors who like Chicago also like the following cities. New York, Philadelphia, London, San Francisco, Boston, Lagos, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Edinburgh, Manchester, Madrid.

CITIES	PLACES TO VISIT
Los Angeles	?Universal Studios Hollywood, Getty Center, Griffith Park, Hollywood Boulevard, Disney Land
Frankfurt ? Germany	Romer, Goethe House, Main Tower, Stadel, Frankfurt Cathedral
Boston	Freedom Trail, Boston Common, Fenway Park, Public Garden, New England Aquarium
Madrid - Spain	Plaza Mayor, Bluen Retiro Park, Royal Palace of Madrid
Manchester	John Rylands Library, National Football Museum, Museum of Science and Industry
Edinburgh	Hollrood Place, HMY Britannia, Aurthur's Seat, Mary King's Close, Princes Street Garden
San Francisco - California	Union Square, Chinatown, Pier 39, Fisherman?s Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Golden Gate Bridge
Philadelphia	Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Eastern State Penitentiary
London	London Eye, Tower of London, St Paul?s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey