Fall Travel to Chicago, Illinois by Ann Hattes

Chicago, home to world-class museums, great jazz and blues clubs, a "Magnificent Mile" of shopping, three of the world's tallest buildings, and the only city in the U.S. with a completely non-industrialized waterfront, was recently ranked the number one city for business travel in the U.S.

The sixth annual Chicago season of fall events and holiday celebrations -- from October through December -- features family fun for all ages. Visitors are invited to take a ride on a Haunted "L" and celebrate Chicago's visual arts community during Chicago Artists' Month: Artists at Work, October 1 - 31, plus attend performances, plays and events that celebrate the holidays.

For those who prefer a pre-planned itinerary, Immersion Weekend packages include two-night stays in first-class downtown hotel accommodations and exciting itineraries. "The Music of Broadway" Immersion Weekend (November 1 - 3) includes pre-show receptions, lectures and tickets to the original revue, The Swinging Sounds of Richard Rodgers at Chicago's Symphony Center on Friday night and tickets to the musical cabaret, Her Turn on Saturday night.

The "Chicago for the Holidays" Immersion Weekend (December 6 - 8) offers visitors the chance to visit Chicago and take care of their holiday shopping, along with tickets to the Chicago Cultural Center's holiday cabaret A White Christmas - A Tribute to Rosemary Clooney.

Chicago, the birthplace of the world's first skyscraper, became a prime destination for architects after the Great Fire of 1871, when the city rose like a phoenix from its ashes. In the process, Chicago's architecture helped to change the look of every American city.

"Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood," counseled Daniel H. Burnham. Thanks to the genius of Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others, Chicago is a living museum of architecture. For a detailed look, the Chicago Architecture Foundation (312-922-3432; www.architecture.org) offers more than 50 walking or bus tours.

SIGHTSEEING

Navy Pier

Visitors find that they can travel the world in the city's neighborhoods with Chicago Neighborhood Tours. The four to six hours long tours depart from the Chicago Cultural Center (312-742-1190; www.chgocitytours.com). The city's diversity is also displayed in exhibits at the Polish Museum of America, Swedish American Museum Center, the Ukrainian National Museum, and the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum.

Spend an entire day exploring Museum Campus, a park-like area just south of downtown on the lakefront and home to the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum and the John G. Shedd Aquarium. For one package price, CityPass (707-256-0490; www.citypass.com) offers a ticket booklet with passes for these three facilities plus the Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry and the Sears Tower SkyDeck.

Sue, a four-story Brachiosuaurus and the world's largest mounted dinosaur, stands at the Field Museum. A coalmine, captured WW II German submarine, and 16-foot walk-through pulsating human heart beckon at the Museum of Science and Industry.

For spectacular views of the city, weather permitting, take a sightseeing boat tour on Lake Michigan,ride the 15-story ferris wheel at Navy Pier, and/or take the 105 story elevator to the top of one of the world's tallest buildings (1,450 feet).
Navy Pier (www.navypier.com), Chicago's #1 tourist attraction, is a unique year-round 50-acre park that is home to the Children's Museum, Shakespeare and IMAX Theaters, and a variety of shops and restaurants. Just east of downtown, this pier which extends almost a mile into Lake Michigan served as a military training site during World Wars I and II.

Within the spray from Buckingham Fountain and the screech of the "L" trains in the Loop lurks the ghostly presence of the city's great capitalists like the Pullmans, the Fields, and Wrigley. Plan a tour of the Pullman Historic District (773-785-8181; www.pullmanil.org), built by George M. Pullman as an industrial town in 1880. Access to transportation played a key role in the development of Chicago sitting as it does at the crossroads of the nation for auto, rail and air travel.

TRU's Lobster Cannelloni, Petite Herb Salad, Saffron Vanilla Beurre Blanc

Chicago, home to award-winning restaurants and world-renowned chefs, has thousands of restaurants offering tastes from around the world at excellent prices.

For example, Bin 36 (www.bin36.com) where more than 50 wines are available by the glass, makes learning about, and dining with wine fun, affordable and approachable.

Chicago's TRU, ranked as one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World (Conde Nast Traveler, 2000) ensures that guests are happiest right before they leave with delectable creations by "Dessert Diva" Gale Gand. Gand's world-class desserts have won her top awards in 2001 as the James Beard Dolce Best Pastry Chef and the Best Pastry Chef at Bon Appetit's "Best of the Best" Awards. After a theater show, stop by TRU to experience the newly introduced Dessert Collection Menu, a flavorful presentation of elegant-yet-whimsical creations.

Le Meridien Lobby

From brand new properties to newly renovated hotels, Chicago tops the charts in luxury, hospitality, variety and service.

Le Meridien, crowning the Shops at North Bridge, has introduced PJs to hold Le Phone, Le Pager and Le Palm for road warriors so guests no longer have to battle the 'no pocket problem' as they lounge in their rooms or head to the gym.

For those traveling with very young children, don't forget that Westin and Sheraton (www.starwoodhotels.com) have introduced new custom-designed cribs developed to be ultra-safe, stylish and comfortable. While the little one might enjoy the Heavenly Crib, parents luxuriate in Westin's signature Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath.

The Chicago Time Out Guide (Penguin), written and researched by a team of resident writers, is a great guide to the city. Whatever your style, Romantic Days and Nights in Chicago (Globe Pequot Press) suggests some of the coolest spots for pampering and romance.

From romance to culture to pampering, Chicago has it all.