The Chicago Traveler

May 29th, 2008

Weekend Quickies

• The annual German festival Mayfest is stuffed with plenty of brats, beer, and bands. The official opening ceremony on Friday features a traditional keg tapping and May Queen crowning. Prost! (May 29-June 1)
• The 24th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival is three days of more than 50 performances on three stages in Millennium Park. […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

March 27th, 2008

Seven Wonders of Illinois

The Illinois Bureau of Tourism asked the state’s residents and visitors to nominate their favorite destinations in Illinois. In May of 2007, seven of these were selected as the Seven Wonders of Illinois.

• Chicago: Wrigley Field. The atmosphere, neighborhood, and fans put this stadium in a league of its own. It’s not just a ballpark; […]

By Matt B -- 4 comments

March 21st, 2008

"Top Chef: Chicago" Goes to the Zoo

This season of the Bravo network’s Top Chef was filmed here in Chicago, exposing competing chefs from all over the country to all the culinary treats the Windy City has to offer.
This week’s Quickfire challenge required each of the chefs to create a dish using no more than five ingredients (excluding salt, pepper, sugar, and […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

March 19th, 2008

Rend Lake

Despite what many Chicagoans would like to believe, there is more to Illinois than just the Windy City. Rend Lake is one of Southern Illinois’ foremost vacation spots, offering an incredible array of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy golfing, hunting, fishing, boating, waterskiing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, swimming or just relaxing on the beach.
Rend Lake […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

March 3rd, 2008

Shedd Aquarium

With about two million visits annually, the John G. Shedd Aquarium is one of the most popular cultural attractions in Chicago, second only to the Field Museum of Natural History. This massive indoor aquarium holds 5 million gallons (19 million liters) of water and is the home of 2100 species of fish, marine mammals, birds, […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments

February 17th, 2008

Starved Rock State Park

I was born and raised an urbanite, but even I can appreciate the magnificence that nature has to offer. When city dwellers want to get away from the lights and the noise, many of them head to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, approximately 75 miles (121 km) southwest of Chicago. The park has 13 […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

February 11th, 2008

Lincoln Park Zoo

Founded in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo is among the oldest zoos in the country, providing entertainment and education for free to visitors of all ages. The winding paths in this 35-acre attraction lead to a multitude of indoor and outdoor exhibits, all located just off Lake Michigan. Open year-round, the zoo is also dotted with […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments