Shopping in Style
Shopping began in Chicago on State Street with the opening of the original Marshall Field's department store in 1852 (under the Macy’s flag as of 2007). 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.

The first recommendation from the Burnham Plan to come to fruition was the double-decked Michigan Avenue Bridge. The bridge, which opened May 14, 1920, made possible the development of the famed retail and tourist destination, The Magnificent Mile.

The famed mile runs along Michigan Avenue from Oak Street to the Chicago River. Amid department store giants such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's are hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques offering goods from around the world. Oak Street, just west of Michigan Avenue, is a boutique shopper's dream.

An abundance of shopping can also be found at The Shops at North Bridge, Chicago Place Shopping Center, Water Tower Place, and 900 North Michigan Avenue Shops, Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, dozens of Chicago neighborhoods and The Shops at the Mart located at Chicago's Merchandise Mart on the banks of the Chicago River.

From Restaurants to Sports and Theater
Upon arriving, visitors never have to worry about finding a place to eat. Chicago features thousands of restaurants that offer culinary favorites to suit every taste, budget, and mood. Chicago is also proud to be home of award-winning restaurants and world-renowned chefs, as well as home to deep-dish pizza...one of Chicago's most important culinary contributions.

In the latter part of the 20th century, the city developed a reputation for diversity, resulting in many of the city's cultural celebrations, ethnic restaurants and neighborhoods that remain today. Ethnic groups, in particular Mexicans, Italians, Greeks and Polish people, gravitated toward the city in the early 1900s because of the inclusive environment. Add to this mix - soul food, French, Japanese, Asian, or Spanish - and Chicago offers a world of dining selections. Try Chinatown, Greektown, West Rogers Park, and Pilsen. These are all an important part of the fabric of the city.

Chicago loves its sports. Two major league baseball teams call the city home, the Cubs that play at Wrigley Field and the White Sox, who play at U.S. Cellular Field on the south side. The National Basketball Association’s Chicago Bulls, the National Hockey League’s Blackhawks and the Chicago Bears football team that plays at Soldier Field, are popular winter sports. Colleges and universities offer a solid line-up of sporting events too. Plus there are plenty of opportunities to fish and play golf.