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Everything's Wonderful About Chicago Except January


Incorporated in 1837, the Town of Chicago drew its name from a Native-American word meaning great. Thirty years later, 90,000 residents were left homeless in the Great Chicago Fire, which killed 300 people and left a devastating $200 million in damage. Nearly three million people call Chicago home, a mid-Western mixture of cultures and races. The city's motto, I will, is an articulation of its hopes and dreams as the city continues to grow in importance
Chicago boasts more than a handful of architectural achievements, from the towering Sears Tower to the Tribune Tower, whose base includes stones from famous buildings throughout the world. The city is a growing cultural haven; the Art Institute of Chicago houses a world-class collection, from Impressionist masters to more contemporary works in photography and ethnic art. And from the Art Institute, many of the city's major cultural and tourist attractions are within walking distance, including the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Hancock Tower.
The Field is Chicago's crowning museum of natural history, with exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to African culture to gems and minerals. Completed in 1973, the tower was built by 12,000 workers in fierce Chicago winds, which became a more significant challenge the higher the structure rose. It also presents a number of educational exhibits on Chicago history, the Great Chicago Fire and the city's founding fathers and mothers. The Hancock Observatory is not the tallest building in Chicago, but the 100-story Hancock Tower is worth a visit for its magnificent cityscapes and the interesting interactive exhibits on its 94th floor.
Whatever your taste in gardens, you will find it here. A visit to the Chicago Botanical Gardens is a learning experience as well; courses and lectures are almost always available, and a walk through the Endangered Species Garden teaches about preservation of plant species hovering on the edge of existence.
Chicago is famous for many things including it Jazz Music. You would be fortunate to listen to some at “The Green Mill” which is a popular Jazz venue and was also frequented by Al Capone who was a famous Chicago underworld leader in the 1920s.Whilst in the windy city, you should try a famous Chicago style pizza, which is a pizza with a really high crust around the edge and very thick toppings. Another food Chicago is famous for is its wieners (hot dogs). Spectacular lights brighten buildings along Michigan Avenue after dark. The Loop is a living architectural museum, where shimmering modern towers stand side-by-side with 19th-century buildings. The Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street, owes its name to the swanky shops that line both sides of the street.
The city's greatest tourist magnet reads like a to-do checklist: Navy Pier, the John Hancock Building, art museums and galleries, lakefront activities, and countless shops where you could spend a few dollars or thousands. The Magnificent Mile, a stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street, owes its name to the swanky shops that line both sides of the street. Shoppers cram the sidewalks in summer and keep the street bustling even in winter, when the trees are twined with thousands of white fairy lights and the buildings are lighted with colored flood lights.








Houston's Got You Covered

Houston was named after Samuel Houston (1793-1863), the politician and general who was at the forefront of Texas' fight for independence from Mexico. He later became President of the Republic of Texas; when Texas became part of the Union, Houston served as a Senator and later Governor of Texas.
Now the largest City in Texas with a population of over 1,500,000, Houston has much to offer both visitor and resident including more than twenty Universities and Colleges such as the distinguished University of Houston, the University of Texas-Houston Health and Science Center, Texas Southern University and Rice University. It’s also a world center of oil, natural gas, iron and steel, paper products, electrical and electronic machinery. Houston also offers the visitor a diverse cultural environment:
Museum of Fine Arts
The museum was established in 1987 by John and Dominique de Menil as a showpiece for their fine art collection, an eclectic mix including tribal cultures and the Byzantine era, Warhol and Matisse. www.menil.org
Holocaust Museum
A recent construction, the Holocaust Museum presents a stirring visual and audio account of the Jewish Holocaust. Houstongrandopera.org
Houston Ballet
The Houston Ballet, an internationally renowned company, offers over 100 performances a year, most notably its annual performance of the "Nutcracker".
Space Center Houston
The Space Center is the visitors' center for the NASA Johnson Space Center. The oldest commercial structure in Houston is the Kennedy Bakery located at 813 Congress Ave.
Houston Museum of Natural Science
It's hard to know where to start first at this museum but a truly unique experience can be found at the Cockrell Butterfly Center.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo takes place in The Astrohall which is one of the largest exhibition centers. Houston is a booming industrial city, ranging from oil and natural gas to paper products and steel. Whether you’re strolling through downtown, catching a rodeo or exploring one of its many top-notch museums, you’ll love the diversity that Houston has to offer. The locals help make the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo an amazing success. It is the perfect place to cool off from the Houston sun with fantastic water rides that’ll get you soaked.
Houston is filled with parks for you to explore. Located along the banks for the Buffalo Bayou, you’ll find seven stainless steel structures, which represent the foundations Houston was built on. You’ll find the Kennedy Bakery, the oldest commercial structure in Houston, as well as the Rice Hotel, where President John F. Houston is also home to many fascinating museums. Ranging from the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum to the American Cowboy Museum, the Art Car Museum to the National Museum of Funeral History, you’ll have a huge selection to choose from.
Houston has an amazing array of choices for entertainment. Houston is also well known for its amazing dining options. Whatever your tastes and budget, Houston has got you covered.






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