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Re: Is Chicago worth visiting as a tourist on a US trip

11 by Kniferide
I've been to New York a few times an I like it, but after the first time I felt like I was fine if I never went back. I'd go to Chicago any time and want to go again. I lived there for 12 years and would again. It's a way better hang especially if you know some people to show you around or meet up with, which shouldn't be too hard for you. Milwaukee can also be a blast, you can even go for a day and be back to Chicago for dinner. The US is fucking enormous though. It's not a "lets hop in the car and go visit Chicago" trip from New York unless you are cool with a 13-14 hour, extremely boring drive, but I bet flights are pretty cheap, and Chicago has a robust Train and Bus System. You can kinda get anywhere pretty easily. If a train/bus doesn't get there, a cab or uber can. Good Bike town too. Flat.
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Re: Is Chicago worth visiting as a tourist on a US trip

13 by Geiginni
New York is an American city that tried its best to evoke European pre war urban identity, in terms of architecture and urban landscape.

Chicago is a uniquely American city that owes very little to European urbanism, in terms of architecture, layout and planning, with the advantage that Chicago’s development took place before the entrenchment of car culture in defining American urban fabric.

What I’m trying to say is that Chicago will give you a uniquely American urban and architectural experience that is rich in history and texture, without the mid-to-late 20th century hellscape that is LA, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, etc…

IIRC you are or were an architect? Chicago gives you Mies, Wright, Sullivan, Burnham, Graham, and more recent greats like, Goldberg, CF Murphy, Netsch, Bunshaft, the rest of the SOM crew, the Weese brothers and Jeanne Gang. If any city defines and continues to define American architectural heritage, it’s Chicago.

Re: Is Chicago worth visiting as a tourist on a US trip

15 by zorg
Geiginni wrote: Wed May 29, 2024 8:43 pm New York is an American city that tried its best to evoke European pre war urban identity, in terms of architecture and urban landscape.

Chicago is a uniquely American city that owes very little to European urbanism, in terms of architecture, layout and planning, with the advantage that Chicago’s development took place before the entrenchment of car culture in defining American urban fabric.

What I’m trying to say is that Chicago will give you a uniquely American urban and architectural experience that is rich in history and texture, without the mid-to-late 20th century hellscape that is LA, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, etc…

IIRC you are or were an architect? Chicago gives you Mies, Wright, Sullivan, Burnham, Graham, and more recent greats like, Goldberg, CF Murphy, Netsch, Bunshaft, the rest of the SOM crew, the Weese brothers and Jeanne Gang. If any city defines and continues to define American architectural heritage, it’s Chicago.
Exactly. New York is like it’s own country. A mash up of world culture. Chicago gives you an authentic American experience, without needing to deal with hillbillies. Bring yer gun!

Re: Is Chicago worth visiting as a tourist on a US trip

16 by Dave N.
Chicagoans are the Texans of the Midwest. They love their flag. They think it’s the center of the universe. They like to pretend that it’s not as racist as it actually is. Oh, the skyline! Oh, the museums! Anyone from Chicago will probably tell you it’s essential.

Bypass NYC, LA, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Austin, etc. Stick with mid-sized cities if you must do cities. Go to as many national parks as you can. State parks, too. College towns are fun. EXPLORE THE WEST! Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado…that’s where you go to get your mind blown in ‘Merica. The big cities are all cesspools, no matter how important they tell you they are.

Re: Is Chicago worth visiting as a tourist on a US trip

17 by Gramsci
Geiginni wrote: Wed May 29, 2024 8:43 pm New York is an American city that tried its best to evoke European pre war urban identity, in terms of architecture and urban landscape.

Chicago is a uniquely American city that owes very little to European urbanism, in terms of architecture, layout and planning, with the advantage that Chicago’s development took place before the entrenchment of car culture in defining American urban fabric.

What I’m trying to say is that Chicago will give you a uniquely American urban and architectural experience that is rich in history and texture, without the mid-to-late 20th century hellscape that is LA, Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, etc…

IIRC you are or were an architect? Chicago gives you Mies, Wright, Sullivan, Burnham, Graham, and more recent greats like, Goldberg, CF Murphy, Netsch, Bunshaft, the rest of the SOM crew, the Weese brothers and Jeanne Gang. If any city defines and continues to define American architectural heritage, it’s Chicago.
Excellent breakdown. Yes, I am/was an architect… I manage the design software now.

Part of my interest in Chicago is definitely the urban environment. FLR builds especially. Your comments about Chicago being uniquely American is a good sell.

I also expect to eat extremely well.
clocker bob may 30, 2006 wrote:I think the possibility of interbreeding between an earthly species and an extraterrestrial species is as believable as any other explanation for the existence of George W. Bush.

Re: Is Chicago worth visiting as a tourist on a US trip

19 by Wood Goblin
Dave N. wrote: Wed May 29, 2024 11:18 pm Chicagoans are the Texans of the Midwest. They love their flag. They think it’s the center of the universe. They like to pretend that it’s not as racist as it actually is. Oh, the skyline! Oh, the museums! Anyone from Chicago will probably tell you it’s essential.

Bypass NYC, LA, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Austin, etc. Stick with mid-sized cities if you must do cities. Go to as many national parks as you can. State parks, too. College towns are fun. EXPLORE THE WEST! Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Montana, Colorado…that’s where you go to get your mind blown in ‘Merica. The big cities are all cesspools, no matter how important they tell you they are.
I know you’re sour on Big American Cities, but if that’s the experience someone wants to have, then mid-sized cities and college towns—as great as they can be—won’t offer that experience. And if you’re specifically seeking architecture, then yes, Chicago is essential.

The thing with college towns is that they can be great places to live without necessarily being great places to visit.

I definitely agree on the national parks, but those only make sense if you’re planning to visit the west. Even then, the larger ones now require a fair amount of pre-planning, whereas the cities don’t.

Also, the Chicago skyline is beautiful, and the Art Institute and architecture tours are incredible. They’re almost impossible to overrate.

Re: Is Chicago worth visiting as a tourist on a US trip

20 by zorg
Nate Dort wrote: Thu May 30, 2024 8:42 am I'd argue the architecture in Detroit is as important and interesting as any other city in the US, at least as far as early 20th century stuff goes. The number of large, ornate buildings that were built here in a 20 year period is crazy. Lots of cool industrial art deco stuff to see.
That's a very narrow band of interest. Are you really suggesting that he should visit Detroit instead of Chicago, because that's not a good idea.
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