Little Known Facts About The City Of Chicago

 One of the top vacation spots in America's Midwest for decades has been the city of Chicago.  Known as the Windy City, Chicago has been attracting millions of visitors every year for decades based on the huge amount of activities and attractions that can be found within the city.  From the shopping areas located downtown to the attractions that line the city's Lake Michigan shoreline, and more, deciding on the city of Chicago as a destination for a vacation or long weekend is a no-brainer.  Here are some little known facts about the city of Chicago.

Chicago is well known for many things, but most people don't know too much about the city's public parks. There are more than 550 parks that are managed by the Chicago Park District. These parks vary in size and features, but cumulatively cover more than 7,000 acres of area.

Chicago's popular Navy Pier attraction is home to a number of different attractions including retail shops, a ballroom, a concert stage, eating establishments, ferris wheel, IMAX theater, and more. The pier that all of these features sit on was originally built to be a cargo facility for freighters shipping various materials on Lake Michigan. It's original name was Municipal Pier #2, which is slightly entertaining in that Municipal Pier #1 was never constructed.

Lake Shore Drive is one of the most popular and busiest roadways in Chicago, in fact it is famous to those that have never even visited the city.  This freeway type of road runs along the Lake Michigan shoreline for virtually its entire length in the city of Chicago.  Its original name was Leif Ericson, named after the famous Norse explorer, and it wasn't rechristened Lake Shore Drive until 1946.

 The Palmer House Hilton is the second largest hotel in Chicago based on the number of guest rooms available.  The original Palmer House Hotel opened on the same spot on September 26th, 1871.  It burned to the ground thirteen days later as one of the many buildings lost in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

 The Chicago Bears are one of the most famous and recognizable football teams in the National Football League.  The Bears have won numerous league championships and turned out several notable players and coaches like George Halas, Bronko Nagurski, Gale Sayers, Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, Dan Hampton, and more.  There have actually been three other major professional football teams in the city though that no longer play there because the leagues they belonged to folded.  The Chicago Blitz played in the city during the early-to-mid 1980s as part of the United States Football League.  The World Football League of the 1970s actually had two different franchises in the city during its two plus years of existence, the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Winds.  The Bears though have remained in the city since they first moved there in 1921 after having played their initial two seasons in Decatur.

 During the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, the first ferris wheel was built by George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr.   The first ferris wheel took about 20 minutes to complete two revolutions.

The Sears tower is one of the fastest elevators in the world traveling at 1,600 feet per minute. From the Sears tower Skydeck you can see four states: Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The Sears Tower used to be the world's tallest building until 1998 when the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia took over.

 With delicious local foods such as the deep dish pizza, incredible hot dogs, and an annual food festival called the "taste of Chicago", the people of Chicago are considered some of the fattest people around and always near the top on fat city surveys.

The city of Chicago offers more than enough to satisfy even the pickiest of travelers. Visit Chicago with Travelocity and use a travelocity promotional code for additional savings. Those looking for outdoor recreation or spectator sports need look no further than the water recreation available on Lake Michigan and the amazing amount of professional and amateur sporting events available in the area. Those looking for a more cultural experience can always visit one of Chicago's world class art galleries or museums. There are of course also wonderful opportunities to enjoy first class dining, great tourist attractions, and a vibrant nightlife too. Visiting Chicago is a great decision for anyone trying to decide on a destination for their next vacation. It never fails to disappoint.