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Insight Guides Chicago
A revolutionary new travel guide from Insight Guides, the pioneers of the illustrated guidebook. Packed with expanded editorial coverage, a bounty of practical information and fresh, exciting photography, graphics and mapping, the next generation of Insight Guides sets the new standard by which travel guides will be judged.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 1998
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June 3, 2010
I had to spend a good deal of time in Chicago this spring because of my husband's work. As a trip, it was kind of backwards. It wasn't, "Let's plan a trip somewhere and plan what we want to do." It was, "We're going to be in Chicago for a couple of weeks, now what?" Hence, I needed some books about the city. Don't get me wrong, the internet is great, but I like reading an actual book about where I'm going.
This book was a very comprehensive guide. I loved the sections on the history of the city. There were so many maps and photographs, it's a souvenir of the city all by itself.
My only complaint (which might have bumped it down to four and a half stars) is that I wish there was more about seeing the city with kids. That would be my comment about most of the guide materials I looked at. All the magazines and a lot of the guide books seemed to be written for swinging singles. I had a lot of fun with the kids at places that were downplayed in the guide materials. I think a lot of people, including the "natives," are missing out.
The only other thing I wanted to add, in case anyone out there is thinking about going to Chicago, is about the weather. The guide book talked about how people usually didn't want to brave the cold to visit Chicago in winter, but it was a great time to avoid crowds. I wish they could have given a little more warning about the weather in spring. It was freezing! Both during the week we were there in April and for most of the time we were there in May it was way cold and windy. I had taken some long sleeve shirts for myself for the trip in April, but I needed to buy a sweatshirt from a gift shop because it was in the 40s and 50s. During the full 15 days in May that we were there, I think it only got up into the 70s on 3, maybe 4, of those days. The rest of the time we were all wearing sweatshirts. And even in the 60s, the wind could be biting. But, like they said, no crowds.
This book was a very comprehensive guide. I loved the sections on the history of the city. There were so many maps and photographs, it's a souvenir of the city all by itself.
My only complaint (which might have bumped it down to four and a half stars) is that I wish there was more about seeing the city with kids. That would be my comment about most of the guide materials I looked at. All the magazines and a lot of the guide books seemed to be written for swinging singles. I had a lot of fun with the kids at places that were downplayed in the guide materials. I think a lot of people, including the "natives," are missing out.
The only other thing I wanted to add, in case anyone out there is thinking about going to Chicago, is about the weather. The guide book talked about how people usually didn't want to brave the cold to visit Chicago in winter, but it was a great time to avoid crowds. I wish they could have given a little more warning about the weather in spring. It was freezing! Both during the week we were there in April and for most of the time we were there in May it was way cold and windy. I had taken some long sleeve shirts for myself for the trip in April, but I needed to buy a sweatshirt from a gift shop because it was in the 40s and 50s. During the full 15 days in May that we were there, I think it only got up into the 70s on 3, maybe 4, of those days. The rest of the time we were all wearing sweatshirts. And even in the 60s, the wind could be biting. But, like they said, no crowds.
Displaying 1 of 1 review