A major metropolis in the middle of America’s heartland, Chicago is where Midwestern charm meets sophisticated city life. Close to destinations all around North America, conveniently located in the middle of the U.S., Chicago is a competitive and accessible city, ideal for young professionals from around the world. Here are a few of our favorite reasons to live in Chicago.
Living in big coastal cities like New York City and Los Angeles can make travel to other U.S. destinations costly and time-consuming. If you’re based out of Chicago, no North American destination is that far away. Thanks to Chicago’s international airport, flights to around the world are also easy to score.
Chicago is one of the world’s most important business centers with a highly diverse economy. From marketing professionals to entrepreneurs, art and design majors to journalism students, there are a number of incredible opportunities in Chicago for students and young professionals with a variety of backgrounds. This robust job market with a number of competitive industries makes it an ideal terrain for a career-boosting professional internship.
Home to the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Museum of Mexican Art and the Smart Museum of Art, Chicago has a number of beloved and well-respected spaces to view some of the world’s best collections of art.
Chicago has a number of iconic food traditions, like the delicious deep dish pizza, which make living in this city a foodie’s delight. Tasting a well-made Chicago pan pizza is life-altering while a classic Chicago hot dog, “dragged through the garden”, has a number of tasty toppings that will keep you coming back for more. Moreover, the world’s biggest outdoor food festival open to the public, Taste of Chicago, is also based in Chi-town.
Apart from Chicago’s fabulous art museums, there are many other interesting places to expand your horizons in the city. The Chicago History Museum is a great place to learn about the city’s development and history, with many permanent and temporary exhibits. In Hyde Park, the Museum of Science and Industry is a wonderful place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Also notable are the Field Museum and the
DuSable Museum of African American History.
If you’re looking for a “take me out to the ball game” moment, Chicago is a great place to be, jam-packed with top-notch sports infrastructure. Watch a Cubs game at the historic Wrigley Field, the second-oldest baseball stadium in the United States. If you’re a football fan, catch the Bears play at Soldier Field. For basketball, you can see the Bulls play at United Center Arena.
Chicago is home to an interesting mix of people, which makes for a positive experience living in the city. Unlike other major cities, in Chicago locals tend to be a bit warmer, thanks to the regional Midwestern charm. The mix of city sophistication and down-to-earth friendliness makes those long Chicago winters worth it.
Chicago is an ethnically diverse city with large black and Latino populations, not to mention travelers and immigrants from all over the world.
Living in Chicago means you’re never too far from a park as the city has 552 of them. Thanks to the city’s positioning along Lake Michigan, there are 15 miles of bathing beaches, a number of bike paths and Navy Pier, a great place for an afternoon walk.
Chicago offers top-tier entertainment for everyone. With cinemas, theaters, music venues and dance clubs throughout the city, there’s always something to do and somewhere to go. The Loop is a particularly lively part of town, famous for its unique night life and energy.
Chicago has a fascinating history. Once Native American territory, this area has seen incredible development over the last 200 years. From the Great Chicago Fire to the World’s Fair and the days of prohibition and Al Capone, there’s so much to learn about the city’s legacies and development.
Chicago has a reputation for its incredible skyscrapers and historic buildings. Structures like the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station, Marina City, the John Hancock building and the Buckingham Fountain make this city special.
Sources: https://www.timeout.com/chicago/attractions/10-best-chicago-museums-top-institutions-to-visit-in-chicago, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago#Demographics, http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/chicago?page=1, https://tourist2townie.com/culture-food/7-reasons-why-chicago-is-the-greatest-city-in-america/, https://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/things-you-didnt-know-about-chicago?utm_term=.bmNR9d6w1#.rr7a7Jov5
Photos
1. based on Chicago’s Near North Side, by vxla, CC-by-2.0
2. based on Summertime on Navy Pier, Chicago, by Nicole Yeary, CC-by-2.0
3. based on Navy pier amusement park – Chicago, United States – Travel photography, by Giuseppe Milo, CC-by-2.0