Things to do in Chicago

4 million in the wider Chicagoland area. The city runs on Central time, switching from CST to CDT on the second Sunday of March. Two airports serve it: O'Hare, reached by the Blue Line in about 40 to 45 minutes, and Midway, reached by the Orange Line in about 25 to 30 minutes.

Downtown, known as the Loop, holds Millennium Park and the free Cloud Gate sculpture alongside the paid Art Institute of Chicago. Lakefront beaches only open from late May to early September, and winter days hover around 0C. 5 hours away), and Starved Rock State Park.