Illinois Hostels
As the third most populous city in the United States, nothing about Chicago is small – including its architecture, museums, or breathtaking cityscape. The Chicago hostel is located in the heart of the city’s downtown, next to the commercial center and near Lake Michigan. Often referred to as the “third coast” of the United States, Lake Michigan’s soft, off-white sand beaches are popular destinations for tourists and residents alike. Unveiled in July 2004, Chicago’s Millennium Park is a well-known civic center located in Chicago’s lakefront. A revitalized section of the city’s Grant Park, Millennium Park is the site of festivals, concerts, and various events, and is known for several architectural masterpieces, among which the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, designed by Frank Gehry, is the home to the Grant Park Music Festival, the nation’s last remaining free, municipally-supported outdoor classical music series. Cloud Gate, a three-story tall public sculpture by Anish Kapoor is an elliptical shape made out of stainless steel. Highly reflective, Cloud Gate reflects Chicago’s skyline, cityscape, and passersby. A third highlight of Millennium Park, Crown Fountain, the concept of artist Jaume Plensa, is an interactive public fountain animated by a constant display of lights and electronic images on its two towers. Crown Fountain is best known for its streaming display of 1,000 Chicago residents’ faces, with the illusion of water flowing from the mouths of the images.
A can’t-miss Chicago event is its annual Taste of Chicago event, held for two weeks in late June and early July. Held in Grant Park, the event is the world’s largest food festival, and features both Chicagoan – including Chicago-style pizza, hot dogs, sausage, and cheesecake – as well as international fare. Festival events include live music and nightly performances, including the July 3rd Independence Eve fireworks display, hailed as one of the most impressive fireworks displays in the nation.
Chicago has four distinct seasons with a humid continental climate. July is typically the warmest month (average high of 85 degrees and average low of 65 degrees), while January is typically the coldest (average high of 31 degrees and average low of 17 degrees). Chicago’s yearly precipitation averages 37 inches, with summer being the rainiest season and prone to frequent thunderstorms. Chicago winters average about 37 inches of snow.
