In June the eyes of the world’s sports fans will be focused on the Olympia Fields Country Club for the 105th United States Open. For those golf enthusiasts lucky to be there it will also be an opportunity to rediscover one of America’s great cities – Chicago.
Olympia Fields, hosting its first U.S. Open since 1928, is an American institution. The spectacular 1920s clubhouse with its giant clock tower is an instantly recognizable cathedral of golf. Much of the course is of the same vintage. The sloping greens are particularly challenging. And if that’s not enough, the organizers have made the bunkers even deeper.
The Open is far from being the only reason to visit the USA’s third-largest city. For a start it contains some of America’s greatest architectural achievements. It was here in 1885 that the first skyscraper was built and it still has three of the world’s ten tallest buildings – the Sears Tower, the Hancock Center and the Amoco building.
With miles of beaches along Lake Michigan as well as some great parks, there’s always plenty to do outdoors. When the weather’s not so comfortable the Windy City’s also brimming with great theaters, restaurants and art galleries.
Urban blues music was born on the city’s Southside and its spirit lives on in the huge variety of bars and clubs. The rock scene continues to thrive, as can be seen from the bands it has produced in recent years including the Smashing Pumpkins and Wilco.
But the best thing about Chicago is the people. Unlike many other big cities they’re basically a friendly bunch. Check out their city. You’ll find the capital of the Midwest has much to recommend it.
When To Go
Chicago is a city with real weather. Summers are hot. Winters are cold. Breezes off the Great Lakes can be cooling, but they also bring humidity. Although spring and fall might be best for temperatures, summer is definitely tourist time when the whole city seems to move outdoors. Whenever you come, bring something waterproof.
Five things to do
There’s always a great buzz in the Windy City with something special going on. It’s not choosing what to do that’s the problem, it’s deciding what not to do.
The Navy Pier is a place where you could easily spend a week without ever becoming bored and there’s plenty indoors if the weather turns nasty. Here’s just a short list of the piers attractions: the Children’s Museum; 440-seat IMAX theatre; Crystal Gardens 32,000-square-foot indoor botanical park; 150-foot-high ferris wheel; 1,500-seat Skyline Stage outdoor performance pavilion; the Festival Hall exhibition space, not forgetting numerous shops, restaurants and attractions along with an 18-hole miniature golf course (you didn’t think you could escape that easily!) The east end of the pier also provides one of the best views of the spectacular city skyline.
The best place to experience that skyline close up is the Sears Tower, 1,454 feet and 110 floors high. On a clear day you can see 80 miles and four states. But the recently renovated building offers much more than that. A host of special effects provide a great introduction to the city.
If you want something a little more cultured, bring your comfortable shoes to explore one of the world’s great galleries, the Institute of Art. It may be best known for its stunning collection of impressionists and American art, but don’t miss the modern photography or African sculpture. Admission is free every Tuesday.
They say that the best things in life are free, which must put the Lincoln Park Zoo way up there. There’s no charge to see over a thousand animals – from antelopes to zebras and everything in between. And there’s nearly always something special going on for the kids.
The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival is another great free deal. Every Tuesday at dusk from July 15 through August 26 you can join around 20,000 people in Grant Park to watch a classic movie on a massive screen. Pack a folding chair, a blanket and some popcorn. Alcohol is banned.