THE US CHICAGO DESTINATIONS


C


anvassing for opinions about Chicago tends to


generate two responses – those who love it and those who haven’t been. Los Angeles may have the


movies, Boston the history, Washington DC the museums and New York the shopping, but Chicago’s combination of heart, attitude and striking looks tends to win out. People come for the


architecture, and quickly find themselves in love with the big, mid-Western personality.


◗ SELL: EASY RIDER The US has no shortage of city- break options, but Chicago’s strength is that it doesn’t feel like hard work. The claustrophobic intensity that can make Manhattan feel a grind after a few days isn’t there – the pavements are wider and it feels as if there’s space between the skyscrapers. The city brims with energy, but it doesn’t burn you out. Chicago is especially strong as part of an open-jaw ticket, as two of the US’s best-known road trips start there. Route 66 snakes its


Chicago’s strength is that it doesn’t feel like hard work. It brims with energy, but doesn’t burn you out


way west towards Los Angeles, while the Great River Road follows along the Mississippi River through the musical heartlands of Memphis and the Delta.


And it’s music that’s one of Chicago’s undisputable selling points. The city is the home of house music, but its most famous export is the electric blues. When African-Americans made their way north up the Mississippi looking for jobs, they brought their music with them, and it took on an urban edge. Legendary blues clubs – most notably Buddy Guy’s Legends – are still going strong. buddyguy.com Chicago’s cultural power doesn’t stop at music either. There’s a thriving theatre


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