scene, although it’s comedy where Chicago tends to excel. The Second City club has been the training ground for the likes of Jim Belushi, Bill Murray, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert. It runs improvisational comedy classes for those who want to try their hand, plus sketch show revues in the evening. secondcity.com Not that Chicago is short of things


to do after dark, and there are plenty of options for those who veer more towards action than words. The Chicago Bears in American football, Blackhawks in ice hockey and Bulls in basketball all have a strong pedigree, but during the summer, baseball is king. The White Sox are the idols of the South Side, but the Cubs have the mythos, partly due to playing at the atmospherically old-fashioned Wrigley Field.


◗ SEE: ART AND ARCHITECTURE The obvious starting point for any Chicago adventure is Millennium Park, which has impeccable views of the skyline and some of the world’s greatest public art. The Bean, which is


Those who fancy their chances of conquering vertigo can step out on to see-through floors for a daredevilish photo


officially Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, is an ever-curving, super-reflective mirror that makes people and places look different with every step. Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain, meanwhile, features videoed faces on giant walls made of glass bricks. And, every now and then, the faces pucker up and shoot water jets from their mouths. Millennium Park leads to the more


formal Grant Park, which stretches along the shore of Lake Michigan. At the other end is the Field Museum – arguably the best choice if you’re limiting yourself to just one museum in the city. It covers topics ranging from ancient Egypt to Native American totem poles, but the highlights have


a natural history focus. You won’t be able to miss Sue, the largest T-Rex ever discovered. fieldmuseum.org The massive Shedd Aquarium is


practically next door, and is also covered by the commissionable CityPass, which costs $98 for nine days and gives free VIP or fast-pass entry to five of Chicago’s top attractions. citypass.com


Also included within the pass is the


Skydeck, the observation platform on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower. Originally known as the Sears Tower, it was once the world’s tallest building. The Skydeck allows visitors to take in the Chicago skyline from 412 metres up – you look down on skyscrapers, and it’s possible to see four states on a clear day. The highlights are the window booths with see-through floors, which those who fancy their chances of conquering vertigo can step out on to for a rather daredevilish photo opportunity. theskydeck.com From up there, though, you can’t quite make out the detail, which is


BELOW LEFT: Museum Campus


BELOW:


Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate


BOTTOM: Chicago Bears


54 travelweekly.co.uk 15 December 2016


PICTURES: NICHOLAS JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY; ADAM ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY; CHOOSE CHICAGO


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