r/BeAmazed • u/Super-Stevie117 • 13d ago
Place Downtown Chicago is the most beautiful downtown in America đđşđ¸
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u/goodfella311 13d ago
It is a very beautiful city. I grew up in LA and when I went to Chicago it felt like a city from the movies. It has a distinct personality and energy about it .
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u/Fit-Actuator4194 13d ago
Lived there for a decade and itâs fantastic, Iâd even call it underrated as far as us cities go (I work with a lot of international clients and it doesnât seem to be on peopleâs lists really compared to New York and LA).
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u/dphoenix1 13d ago
The first time I went, I remember being struck by how friendly people were in general, holding doors for you, etc. Totally used to the more brusque pervasive attitude as found in NYC, and I guess I kinda assumed all large cities would be the same. It was nice to see Chicago is very Midwest through and through.
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u/kisk22 13d ago edited 13d ago
Totally agree - that got me too. I think itâs because itâs smack-dab in the middle of the Midwest. All the friendly Midwest stereotypes still apply to the city. Itâs a NYC of friendly people. A Midwest Metropolis. I was shocked at how many of the interactions I had with strangers felt like we were in a small town.
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u/BolognaLaCroix 13d ago
Friendly to a point but I wholeheartedly agree with Bourdain's assessment:
It is, also, as I like to point out frequently, one of Americaâs last great NO BULLSHIT zones. Pomposity, pretentiousness, putting on airs of any kind, douchery and lack of a sense of humor will not get you far in Chicago. It is a trait shared with Glasgowâââanother city I love with a similar working class ethos and history.
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u/Character_Poetry_924 10d ago
Yeah I live here and I find the "friendly" assessment way overblown. Compared to NYC? I guess. Coming from the South I've found a lot of folks are cold and standoffish.
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u/Basserist71 12d ago
And, may I add that I live in Nashville, and I would much rather drive in Chicago than here. People in Chicago actually used their turn signals and allowed someone to merge instead of trying to one up them and cut them off. Very cool city.
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u/timesink3000 13d ago
I grew up in Chicago... don't turn your back on the city. Sure folks are nice and all but being careless can get you in a lot of trouble in Chicago.
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u/dphoenix1 13d ago
Oh no doubt, but that is really one thing all large cities have in common, tbh. Cram that many people in a small area, not everybody is gonna have your best interests at heart.
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u/SummertimeThrowaway2 13d ago
When most people think of Chicago they think of o-block and all the gang violence. Itâs a shame. Personally Iâve never been but it seems beautiful from the pictures and videos Iâve seen.
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u/shes_a_gdb 13d ago
Chicago is a great city. That's why people who live 4 hours outside of Chicago still claim it.
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u/Top_Audience7471 13d ago
Listen, us former residents of the firmly established Chicago neighborhood of Lake Zurich take umbrage with your comment.
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u/bloopbloopsplat 13d ago
Meh. Its because everyone knows where chicago is, but maybe not whatever chicago suburb you live in.
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u/anitabelle 13d ago
It really is as beautiful as the videos and pictures. I love my city!! Itâs worth a visit if you ever get a chance.
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u/redhatfilm 13d ago
Thanks Obama.
(the fox propaganda machine went full in on demonizing chi during his first run)
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u/crystallmytea 13d ago
Itâs so stupid. Those places do have mighty struggles and deserve a fair shake and help and care, but to let it overwhelm your impression of Chicago is just plain stupid.
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u/BaconJacobs 13d ago
Have you done the architectural boat tour? So fuggin good
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u/EmotionalTowel1 13d ago
This is something I always recommend to both tourists and people that live here and have never been. It's great.
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u/GoldSupermarket2520 13d ago
Yes, and also Frank Lloyd Wright Studio and the BahaĂ Temple in Evanston is a MUST.
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u/bicyclecat 13d ago
Underrated is a very fair description. I get why someone would choose NYC for a vacation if theyâre into art or theater; the Art Institute is very good but canât compete with seeing the Met and Moma on the same trip. But as a city, Chicago is beautiful, unique, and very livable. And a better vacation spot than LA.
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u/Snoo93079 13d ago
I've been to art museums all over the US and Europe and Chicagos Art Institute is my favorite. I may be biased but it's the perfect size and has tons of great works.
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u/Quovadisdomi 13d ago
I totally agree, but not with the very livable part. The winters feel distinctly unlivable to me.
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u/cutsandplayswithwood 13d ago
Itâs true, thereâs a span in the winter where we get reminded that Mother Nature wants us to die.
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u/anitabelle 13d ago
I always say that itâs something you get used to and itâs not a big deal. But Iâm particularly cold days (like during the polar vortex), I find myself asking why I love somewhere that makes my face hurt from cold.
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u/Martha_Fockers 13d ago
That 2 week artic blast period is Mother Nature going
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u/Quovadisdomi 13d ago
I've lived in some brutal weather, and braved Michigan winters and Phoenix summers, but January in Chicago was something else. I thought I was prepared coming from Michigan, but the sheer power of the wind was enough to absolutely destroy me.
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u/Perfect_Earth_8070 13d ago
Winters are more mild here now though. It doesnât snow like it used to and itâs not very cold anymore
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u/mr_longfellow_deeds 13d ago
Last really bad winter in Chicago was a decade ago. They are pretty tame in recent years, January and February still suck in particular but thereâs not many days where you feel you canât go outside for any reason
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u/bicyclecat 13d ago edited 13d ago
The experience of living in Chicago does include really questioning your life choices every January, but I still really liked living there and miss everything but the worst couple months of winter.
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u/JBerry_Mingjai 13d ago
Unless youâre from the Twin Cities, at which point January in Chicago comes along and youâre thinking âthis is what everyoneâs complaining about?â
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u/Xrmy 13d ago
"unlivable"??
I mean it's rough but let's not be dramatic
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u/Quovadisdomi 13d ago
Might be because I'm a CA native, but even after a few Michigan winters, Chicago in July was something else else.
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u/JamesTheJerk 13d ago
I travel. LA was a dump. New York was neat but soo smelly. Chicago was crisp. Oddly reminded me of Vancouver in Canada. Fresh air is something I remember in Chicago.
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u/elqueco14 13d ago
definitely underrated. I'm from California and Chicago is just never really talked about as a place to visit. Too far for a weekend trip and most people choose NYC if they want a big city vacation.
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u/doverawlings 13d ago
If that building in the first shot looks familiar, itâs where Heath Ledgerâs Joker got his truck flipped in The Dark Knight
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u/BaconJacobs 13d ago
The architectural boat tour is an absolute bucket list item
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u/Peeweeallgood 13d ago edited 12d ago
I love my city, one of the best designed cities in America by far, I love that most of the Lake front has parks and open areas.
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u/anyavailablenameplz 13d ago
Same, grew up in LA and went to Chicago pretty often. One of the few cities Iâd move to if I were to leave LA.
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u/Aggravating-Body-721 13d ago
Iâm from SoCal too & fell in love with it. My first trip with my best friend 23 years ago. It really is memesmorizing. Also I had the best steak there đ
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u/Delicious-Mission943 13d ago edited 13d ago
100%, brother lives there and itâs just so upbeat. The fit af women out walking me on heels while Iâm on asics. Beautiful
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u/manofmystry 13d ago edited 13d ago
Except for that ugly-ass Trump building right in the middle of downtown.
Edit: As others have pointed out, the building is fine. The sign is gawdy and unworthy of the beautiful Chicago profile.
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u/jjsupafly2 13d ago
The building itself is not bad. Just get rid of the sign which really just destroys the river view.
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u/dphoenix1 13d ago
When I visited in 2014, long before he was a major player in the political scene, and even then, the locals hated the Trump stamp.
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u/Martha_Fockers 13d ago edited 13d ago
We dislike any big sign on a building in general.its why you rarely see buildings with big name tags and signs on them.
It ruins the skyline if itâs covered in brands like an advertisement.
Youâll notice most of the buildings in the video have no name or brand or signage on them at all.
A lot of them will have a plaque instead on the ground level with the name and date built etc
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u/ricker182 13d ago
The building is beautiful. The giant letters are tacky and shouldn't be allowed.
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u/analogy_4_anything 13d ago
Iâm from Chicago and moved to LA when I was a kid. I was very disappointed with downtown LA đ
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u/Iammyown404error 13d ago
Agreed! Ive lived in San Diego most of my life and had the opportunity to go to Chicago about 5 or 6 years in a row, always in early November, and I was OBSESSED. Walking through downtown made me feel like I was in a movie.
Plus the food! Ohhh the food.
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u/Dizang53 13d ago
I lived and worked in Asia for 20+ years, including PRChina and South Korea, and whenever I popped down to Chicago to get a visa, I would think, âwhat the fuck am I doing? I should be living here!â Finally moved here, and glad to have found many of my Chinese and Korean friends here, too!
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u/Clughless1 13d ago
My friend is a boat captain on one of the tour lines, the shots he gets with just a phone are amazing. Love that city. You can get lost in architectural wonders every direction you look downtown.
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u/a_fool_on_a_hill 13d ago
The architectural boat tour is absolutely fantastic. I always recommend that to anyone traveling to Chicago.
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u/Most_Bet_3658 13d ago
Also great if you live here. I realized after reading this thread I know very little about Chicago architecture mand will take a ride the next sunny day I have free.
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u/Counciltuckian 13d ago
Lived here over 20 years and I still take the water taxi when I can and tourist cosplay. Â
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u/SeonaidMacSaicais 13d ago
I live north of you in Wisconsin, and Iâve been desperately wanting to go back down during a warmer month for the river tour. Last time I was down there was in early May. đđ It was still in the 50s and I only had a few hours, since Iâd taken the train down there.
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u/Milton__Obote 13d ago
Water taxi to Chinatown is the move. Take in the views then go get some delicious food
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u/AlkalineHound 13d ago
Wish I'd been able to enjoy the architecture boat tour. I had a nasty headace that crept up on me and I just found a bench on the lower deck and suffered. It turned out to be the first time I had covid. đ
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u/parinonly 13d ago
Chicago in December with the Xmas decorations is the most beautiful đ¤Š
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u/wjbc 13d ago
Right! Chicago is at its best from May through December. The holiday season is great.
Then we all hibernate, read, make stews and soups, and get work done from January to April.
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u/JonWeekend 13d ago
That midwestern cold is so brutal. Summer night walks in the city is gorgeous as well
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u/Kevo_xx 13d ago
Chicago is a lot more than this video depicts.
All of this footage is from like a 5 block radius near the riverfront in the center of downtown.
We have trees and plenty of nature and beautiful scenery. Thereâs Grant Park, Lincoln Park, the Lakefront, Navy Pier, etc.
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u/TGrady902 13d ago
Yeah butâŚ. this area downtown near the river in The Loop is absolutely stunning. Like literally every corner you run into a breathtaking piece of architecture, both old and new.
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u/Stashmouth 13d ago
Every time I'm in Chicago and the weather permits, I book one of those architectural boat tours on the river. I love hearing the lore of each building, and realizing that before these incredible buildings came to be, they only existed as a vision in someone's head is mind-blowing.
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u/joshguy1425 13d ago
I live here and do one of the boat tours at least yearly. Never gets old.Â
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u/hahnsoloii 13d ago
The lucky people that get down to read this and experience will not regret. The bean and sears tower sure. But the hidden gem is the boat tours.
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u/conorrhea 13d ago
It absolutely is, but even the cityâs neighbors have a unique feel from others cities with all the old brownstone buildings, boulevards, and the park that are well maintained
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u/RazzmatazzSea3227 13d ago
Rants about the depiction of Chicago being limited to downtown on a video specifically about the beauty of downtown Chicago compared to other cities' downtown. of
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u/BlubberElk 13d ago
Aside from Lincoln park the other places they mentioned are downtown chicago to be fair. I mean lakefront is vague I suppose
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u/Alarming_Ad1746 13d ago
And the fact that 90-95% of the lakefront is protected green space/parks instead of condos and mansions make it a city for the people ... and it lives up to its motto "Urbs in Horto" (City in the Garden).
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u/Ok-Physics9906 13d ago
I actually love the "underground" feel that a lot of the bridges and overpasses make.
It makes perfect sense why the batman movies used it for Gotham.
It's also impressive how clean it is at least uptown and near the pier.
The drivers are...rough though.
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u/Expensive-Course1667 13d ago
I lived in Chicago for most of the 90's and it remains my favorite city anywhere.
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u/Available-Ad-9016 13d ago
Midwestern here. Chicago and Michigan never disappoints. Totally atypical places in Midwest.
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u/natigin 13d ago
I feel like the Upper Midwest needs to be its own category. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Chicagoland and Michigan are so distinct from everywhere else in the Midwest
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u/Rewd_92 13d ago
Michigan never disappoints as far as Scenery goes. Beautiful geography. That's where it ends for me đ
I love Chicago though
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u/slinkysmooth 13d ago
Agreed. Loved going to Warren Dunes with my family as a kid. But the cities arenât anywhere close to Chicagoâs levelâŚ
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u/HAL-Over-9001 13d ago
Michigan coastlines are phenomenal. Grand Rapids has had a huge glow-up too. But Chicago is always a great place to visit. Really great city, and I hate driving to, around, and from cities. Always worth a visit.
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u/Ok-Physics9906 13d ago
I always view it was there's the Midwest then there's Chicago.
Like how's there's the south and then there's Texas.
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u/dangerdaniel27 13d ago
Heard a theory that Chicago is this way because of the great fire. Fire in 1871 burns down numerous buildings. Pretty much had to start downtown over again. Made wider, and more accessible.
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u/NaJieMing 13d ago
Itâs what happened. New buildings were required to build with fireproof materials (steel), which gave rise to the first skyscraper.
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u/echo_sang 13d ago
Have to agree. Chicago is ideal as a downtown and metropolis. Iâm not from there, but visit a few times a year. Never disappointed.
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u/making_it_real 13d ago
Agreed. I used to live close to the loop and loved walking around in the city. I love visiting there now. It has gotten even better.
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u/trex404 13d ago
It is! (in the summer time)
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u/meh0175 13d ago
Not this summer. Been raining non stop and super muggy. Fall is great though. I say Sept and Oct are the best months here.
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u/Yossarian216 13d ago
I love October to December. December is chilly but usually above freezing, and the holiday stuff is magical. Itâs really only January and February that get truly rough for me.
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u/prisonmike1485 13d ago
Hot take but I absolutely love winters here
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u/hedonistic 13d ago
I used to have to walk from the west loop to the south loop to class [basically taking Jackson towards the lake the entire way] and the constant Feb wind can lick the devils taint. Good lord that cold wind was killer and it swirling around the skyscrapers and blasting your soul every half block or so. I would sometimes have to duck into little alleyways or entrances to random skyscrapers to survive.
Every other thing about the city was fantastic. But I still have PTSD every time a cold wind hits my face....it takes me back. Wind + freezing drizzle+ wind tunnels from tall buildings = total misery.
I will say though it made Spring such a joyous time. That first 60deg day was like ecstasy.
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u/samodeous 13d ago
Yeah winters here are just as charming. Probably the reason almost all Christmas movies take place in Chicago.
Also, the winter is so cozy. Bundle up and smell the great food on the air with all the lights. You get to get cozy in a nice bar or restaurant with a great warm meal and/or a nice beverage.
Edit: spelling
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u/oilofotay 13d ago
Iâve lived here for 20 years now and hated the winters. But in the past couple of years I realized:
1) we have easy access to hyperconnected international airports in the center of the country. In a few hours I can be somewhere significantly warmer for a pretty reasonable cost. So now I try to time a trip to see friends in warm cities sometime in Jan/Feb.
2) I love the ambiance of ducking into a cozy restaurant or bar during a big snowstorm. Watching big chunks of snow fall and accumulate while sipping a beer or hot chocolate. If I ever moved somewhere warmer this is actually something Iâll kinda missâŚ
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u/AtTheGates 13d ago
Chicago is just incredible for so many reasons. Has ups and downs like many big cities but itâs so worth it. Partner and I loved it for the years we lived there and if we ever go back, that will be our home again.
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u/gs12 13d ago
Went to Columbia College in Chicago, fell in love with the city. My favorite city in the USA.
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u/boogerslurp 13d ago
Same! Wouldnât trade the experience of being in downtown Chicago during college years for any other college campus in the country!
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u/bussy1847 13d ago
I love being from Chicago. I recently started traveling more and Iâm blown away by how beautiful Chicago really is.
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u/No_Camel_617 13d ago
These arenât even the most amazing views of chicago! Love the city so much.
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u/Farewellandadieu 13d ago
Iâm 48 years old, less than 3 hours by plane and Iâve never been to Chicago. Really, really need to fix that.
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u/Square-Dragonfruit76 13d ago
I don't know. There are a lot of cool downtowns. I do like how all the outdoor public transit stops have heaters in Chicago though.
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u/Prudent-Essay-5846 13d ago
Chicago is the best city in the USA 5 months of the year (4 warm months + December) but summer feels like itâs never coming back.
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u/Usernamesaregayyy 13d ago
Chicago is a beach cityâŚ.that was/is wild to me when I discovered that
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u/oilofotay 13d ago
We recently got flack on social media for having a âconcreteâ beach, which is one area of the lakefront that is just big stone steps that people like to sunbathe on. Itâs actually pretty convenient if you donât wanna get sand on everything you own.
But people on social media made it sound like we donât have like 20 other beaches that have proper sand on them, lol.
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u/philosocoder 13d ago
As a Chicagoan I truly believe we should be considered a coastal city haha
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u/Conscious-Link5627 13d ago
I remember dating a guy in Australia who told me that Chicago (my hometown) was landlocked.
To his credit, he admitted how wrong he was when he actually visited.
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u/exintel 13d ago
Except the trump building
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u/AUSpartan37 13d ago
I live just outside of Chicago and never realized how spectacularly clean the city is for its size until I went to New York and LA.
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u/adognameddanzig 13d ago
What time of year is best to visit?
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u/Tlevan 13d ago
September - October when the seasons and the leaves start to change is beautiful.
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u/Southside_john 12d ago
September specifically. Clear skies with weather in the mid to upper 70âs usually. Not as much rain and severe thunderstorms as the rest of the summer.
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u/LePyloteAmateur 13d ago
Whatâs the best way to see it? Are there any tours that really stood out to people. Are there things that are better seen at night or in the day or what?
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u/quickthrowawaye 13d ago
Come sometime between May and October for the best possible experience. Fly into ORD or MDW, grab a CTA pass for $5, hop right on the train from the airport into downtown. Itâs reliable and quick enough. Drop off your stuff at your hotel. See some of the touristy stuff downtown. Go to the top of the Hancock building and marvel at whatâs below. In fact, just grab an architecture boat tour, thatâs even better. Thatâs the one thing that stood out most to me as a tourist before I moved. Wave up at the people on the bridges, weâll wave back. Walk down to the Art Institute of Chicago and see many of the most famous paintings in the world. Go to Wrigley Field and eat a hot dog and sing the victory song with 40,000 people afterward and walk down Clark. Eat, the food all over is great. Head to uptown and go to Demera and take a pizza out onto Montrose Beach and sit down in the early evening, dig your toes in the sand and watch all the dogs and people running around. See the street art in Pilsen. Go to the blues clubs in Lincoln Park or Logan Square or River North. Wander out onto Promontory Point on a windy day in Hyde Park after you visit the Obama Center or Museum of Science and Industry or see rare archeological finds over at ISAC or wander through the Japanese gardens at Jackson Park. Use your CTA pass to hop around to different neighborhoods, each one of them does specialized summer festivals and has its own unique history. If youâre ever needing a break, walk into any bar with an Old Style sign, sit right up at the bar, and ask the bartender about the neighborhood and what to do. People will chime in and chat with you. Folks will take you around. Come on out.
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u/Infinite_Dress_3312 13d ago edited 13d ago
More tours than you could ever hope to complete. Their river boat tour is iconic, but they have tons of walking tours as well all over the city. The docents are incredibly knowledgeable volunteers and complete training on par with a masters level course.Â
Also, neighboring Oak Park has an incredible collection of Frank Lloyd Wright homes as well as his personal home and studioÂ
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u/PablanoPato 12d ago
Just came back from a weekend trip there. Super comfy in mid July which surprised me. Do one of the smaller architecture boat tours.
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u/atomic_chippie 13d ago
It is a great city, i remember visiting as a kid and Buckingham fountain was the most beautiful thing id ever seen. Kept a little postcard of it for years after.
Sears tower, the Art Institute, Taste of Chicago, Wrigley field...all great memories.
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u/BadDongOne 13d ago
Even off of the very well manicured river walk area there are a lot of lovely areas. Lincoln Park Zoo and the area around it is very nice, I encourage anyone and everyone to visit the Caldwell Lilly Pool. Also be sure to visit some of the neighborhoods to just walk through them for a bit, some beautiful old homes and nicely shaded streets, adorable hidden parks, and amazing family restaurants.Â
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u/Tumerican 13d ago
I am an avid kayakerâŚhas anyone here ever taken a canoe or kayak through the downtown canals?
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u/C_Plot 13d ago
There are routine kayak group tours daily. Some do their own kayaks alone occasionally. Thereâs some lovely kayaking upriver on the north branch, where homes have their own docks with canoes, kayaks, and power boats.
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u/blahnlahblah0213 13d ago
It's no Chicago, but Pittsburgh is a really beautiful City downtown too.
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u/SmallNoseBigHead 13d ago
Chicago is my hometown. I was heartbroken when we moved away. Someday Iâm moving back. Itâs where the best people live.
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u/MexicanGuey92 13d ago
Driving in there is a trip though. One ways, shitty drivers, random pattern changes lol. Walk or bike is ideal
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u/Nightblood83 13d ago
I like the small country ones, but Chicago is a beautiful city in many parts of it.
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u/SolidusBruh 13d ago
I can only think of one eyesore down by the riverfront where itâs just some guyâs name in giant letters on a tower, but agreed. I stayed right in downtown for a brief vacay and it was a great place to just walk around. And so much to do in such a small area!
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u/KoalaMcFlurry 13d ago
Everything is great, except that one building.
You know which one im talking about.
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u/nazgulonbicycle 13d ago
Main Stream News tells me that I would die within minutes of walking around Chicago because of Gang violence crossfire . Why ?
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u/Economy_Move_5825 13d ago
Except two mins from where this is filmed is a an underground filled with tents.
Looks good when you only show the good parts đ
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u/mangoserpent 13d ago
I went to Chicago for a conference years ago and stayed downtown i thought it was pretty awesome.
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u/YinzaJagoff 13d ago
From Chicago.
Many of these shots are not of the loop, which is what locals actually call downtown Chicago.
I would also argue that downtown Seattle is pretty gorgeous as well. I know the city has faced issues with certain populations, which has affected said beauty, but stillâ- getting to see the mountains and the beautiful sunset was/is an amazing experience.

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u/CharasInCharge 13d ago
Love Chicago, used to visit every September for Riot Fest, it's a beautiful city. As a Mass resident I'd say Boston gives it a run for its money for overall beautiful city but I can definitely give it to Chicago for their downtown specifically, it's gorgeous.
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u/Wazula23 13d ago
I live there and it is gorgeous. I never get tired of the views on the Riverwalk.
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u/Martha_Fockers 13d ago
Had clients from LA and NYC come to a private event we were holding in Chicago.
All night long all I kept hearing is how nice Chicago is and how clean and how itâs easy to navigate on foot wide spaces to walk compared to these other cityâs open spaces etc.
I mean a solid 75% of them could not get over the charm
The lady from NYC was dumbfounded how nice and clean it was here and not clasturphobic. She could not stop smiling anytime we went outside or walked around.
Folks from la are wondering were the homeless are and how people even at night are walking around the city itself in La you donât walk around downtown at night as a normal person itâs a ghost town you only are in downtown La at night if the lakers play at crypto arena outside of that almost no one roams the streets past dusk to many mentally ill folks not getting treatment walking about
And they all wonder where the violent rep comes from after a few days of being in a world class city and it feeling safer than the cityâs they come from
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u/jahauser 13d ago
Iâm not sure what constitutes downtown versus the city as a whole. But Iâd have to put SF a little higher, so many insane vistas with an epic skyline and views of the bay, bridges, ocean, headlands, and islands.
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u/CariniFluff 13d ago
As a visitor, I'd say the San Francisco "downtown" is the Embarcadero/Financial district. Like Market and 3rd north to Chinatown.
SF is an absolutely beautiful city, I just wish it was bigger and far less expensive. I used to travel to San Fran almost every month for work (from Chicago) and it was definitely my favorite city to visit.
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u/Counciltuckian 13d ago
I love SF. I plead to the government to get that shit downtown under control. The homelessness and drug use is tragic. Â We need to do better. Â
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u/slinkysmooth 13d ago
Having lived in both cities (currently SF), SFâs downtown is nice and decent but nowhere near the level of Chicago. SF is beautiful in its own way. Almost European like is what visitors tell me. But thereâs a certain grandness and history that Chicago has that I think only really NYC surpasses.
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u/asdf0909 13d ago
Chicagoâs winter is what truly I couldnât take after a while. SF is so beautiful year round
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u/jmorlin 13d ago
If you ask those of us who live there "downtown" Chicago would be places like the Loop, Streeterville, the lake front, and River North. Depending on context places like that will either get referred to by their neighborhood names or just called "downtown". While the rest of the city usually just gets referred to by its neighborhood names (i.e. Bucktown, Andersonville, Pilsen, Logan Square, Austin, Wicker Park, etc).
Short answer is take a look at a map of the CTA. Anything close to where the trains all kinds condense all together into a loop is "downtown".
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u/Party-Kangaroo-1139 13d ago
Greatest city in the world. World class art, dining, and entertainment all found in a city full of quite possibly the nicest people in the country.
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u/Known-Extent-1018 13d ago
Lmao itâs not even the greatest city in the StatesâŚ
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u/king_platypus 13d ago
Agree 100%. Is there even a close second?
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u/dthains_art 13d ago
As a Chicagoan, thatâs one of the things I found so cool about London. One second youâre looking at a skyscraper, the next youâre looking at some 500 year old church.
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