Top Reasons to Visit Chicago according to Frommer’s: Edible Adventures, Shopping and Culture

Located on Lake Michigan, Chicago is a city made up of eclectic neighbourhoods, sophisticated culture, and an amazing variety of foods, tourist sites and top shopping locations to keep your entire party entertained during your visit.

Where to Eat in Chicago

One of the top reasons travellers like to visit Chicago is to experience our many top restaurants and dining gems spread across the city. From Devon Avenue to Argyle Street, there are numerous food locales in Chicago with a variety of styles, flavours and atm

ospheres for every taste and budget. Culinary tours of the city are available for visiting foodies to help you get acquainted with the many eating options available to Chicago’s many visitors.

What to do in Chicago

Chicago is a city where a visitor would find it difficult to run out of things to do. No matter what you interests or vacation style, whether you’re travelling alone or with family and friends there’s plenty of Chicago attractions for every Chicago visitor to do when visiting our windy city including:

• City and architectural tours
• Bike, canoe and even segway tours
• High-end shopping in Downtown Chicago and the surrounding areas
• Culinary adventures across the city
• Scintillating night life
• Art galleries and well-developed art culture
• Destination worthy dining
• World class Chicago museums
• Chicago’s Navy Pier with, shops, dining as well as beaches

If you decide to visit Chicago based on Frommer’s well-respected opinions, you should plan on finding a hotel that situates you conveniently near all of the above tourist hot-spots. Our Ramada Chicago Hotel is a popular Chicago hotel located nearby Downtown Chicago and puts you and your family right at the epicentre of Chicago’s tourist industry. If need an extra incentive to visit Chicago and any of the above tourist recommendations catch your fancy, we have special hotel packages including:

• Chicago Bicycling Hotel Package
• Shopping Chicago Hotel Package
• Family Chicago Hotel Package

Contact our hotel near Downtown Chicago today to learn how we can make your trip to Chicago live up to Frommer’s high recommendations.

The RSNA also known as The Radialogicial Society of North America comes to McCormick Place November 27th through December 2nd, 2011. For years and years many of the conference attendees have chosen the Ramada Chicago Hyde Park as thier RSNA 2011 Hotel choice. Compared to other RSNA 2011 Hotels this hotel is only 5 minutes from McCormick Place and offers free transportation to McCormick Place. It is also convienent to public transportation like the CTA Bus or the Metra Train that will take you on a five minute commute to the inside of the convention center.

The Ramada Chicago Hyde Park is a full service hotel with a restaurant serving breakfast lunch and dinner every day. It has free wireless internet and offers free parking which can save you up to $50.00 a day in parking fees at other RSNA 2011 Hotels.

If your looking for a quite relaxing hotel that will save you money, be convienent and offer you panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline than the Ramada Chicago Hyde Park is your answer.

Each tour is lead by an expert guide that can help you better understand the stories and history of every building you see, and will explain how Chicago came to be the architecturally-rich city it is today. With several amazing architectural claims under its belt, including being the birthplace of the skyscraper, Chicago walking tours are a fabulous way to experience the highlights of the city including: the city’s many Art Deco skyscrapers, the Michigan Avenue Streetwall, and several more modern buildings, covering over 130 years of downtown Chicago’s  architecture.

Experience Chicago with Walking Tours.

Don’t want to walk the whole time? Why don’t you try the Elevated Architecture Tour which takes you around the city’s famous elevated trains and station platforms by foot and rail? Just looking to visit some beautiful and famous Chicago hotels? With 70 different walks to choose from, there’s no doubt that you can find one that will take you past the buildings and part of the city you’re most interested in. The tours’ casual atmospheres and knowledgeable docents mean that there’s no limit to what you can discover about Downtown Chicago’s vibrant history.

Chicago Hotel Packages: A Whole Day of Family-Fun

If you’re looking for a fun idea to compliment your day of walking tours, why not book one of our family-friendly Chicago hotel packages? Our packages include accommodation, breakfast, complimentary shuttle service when needed and some great free gifts to help you and your family get the most out of your visit to our downtown Chicago hotel.

If you’re interested in learning more, contact us, so we can help you get the most out of your Chicago hotel experience.

Grant Park Concert

For years and years people have been coming to Chicago to listen to the great concerts at the Grant Park Festival and they are always looking for a Grant Park Hotel.

Since 2001, the Festival has been presented through a unique collaboration of the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Grant Park Orchestral Association. The Grant Park Orchestral Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Festival’s programs and priorities. The Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus reach over one million people annually through free classical music performances and the Festival’s extensive community engagement program brings music education to young people from across the city each summer.

The Ramada Chicago Hotel is just two blocks from the Metra Train that will bring you right to Grant Park and all the activities that are happening. Metra Charges about $2.50 for a one way ticket and about a 10 minute ride. At the same time you may save up to 50% on your hotel rate compared to downtown hotels. You will also save $20.00 – 50.00 a night in parking fees by staying at the Ramada Chicago Hyde Park. So if your looking for a Grant Park hotel with great views of Lake Michigan thats close to everything check out the Ramada Chicago and enjoy your stay in Chicago.

For a complete schedule take a look at thier site: http://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/the-music/2011-season

Chicago Half Marathon

The Chicago Half Marathon & 5K takes place on Sunday, September 11, 2011. Over 20,500 participants will be competing in this annual marathon. Don’t miss your chance to participate in this 15^th annual event. The Chicago Half is the fifth largest half marathon in the U.S. and the 21st largest road race in the country.

The start and finish line of the Half Marathon and 5K will be in Jackson Park, just south of the Museum of Science and Industry at the intersection of Hayes & Richards. Jackson Park, once the site of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition , is over 600 acres and provides recreational opportunities for athletes, nature lovers and beach goers alike.

The Chicago Half Marathon gives you the chance to run on Lake Shore Drive! This scenic 13.1 mile course will start and finish in Jackson Park and showcase the south lakefront and the Jackson Park Golf Course. The Lake Shore Drive stretch offers beautiful views of the great Chicago Skyline.

Public Transportation in Chicago

Today is a great day here in Chicago! Its almost 60 degrees and were all taking off our coats and enjoying the sunshine. Its also St Patricks day and I celebrated by doing something I haven’t done in over 26 years. I walked two blocks from the Ramada Hotel and took the #6 CTA bus to downtown Chicago.

I had a blast. I waited about 10 minutes and the bus came right away. It took us on a lovely tour down Lakeshore Drive looking out over Lake Michigan. We then headed north on Michigan Ave all the way to Wacker Drive and we passed the “Bean” in Milinium Park.  For years I have told our guests to do this and I’ve got to say it was a great enjoyable experience and I met a bunch of people going to different attractions downtown and I was giving out directions and thoughts about what to see and do. So if you want an affordable chicago hotel with great transportation to all of the cities attractions give us a call at the Ramada and please don’t drink to much on this great American Holiday.

With great rooms overlooking Lake Michigan and with affordable rooms fans of Green Bay Packers have been staying with us for years. Contact directly our hotel near Soldiers Field to get our great rates for your stay in Chicago for the Soldiers Field Game between Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears!

Christkindlmarket 2010 is located at the intersection of Washington and Dearborn in downtown Chicago.

Christkindlmarket (Kringle Market) 2010 is open Nov 24-Dec 24, 2010;
Sun-Thur 11am–8pm; Fri-Sat 11am 9pm;
(Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve: 11am-4pm).

Admission is Free.

For the 15th year in a row, Daley Plaza will be hosting Chicago Christkindlmarket 2010 (aka Kringle Market), a traditional German Christmas Market, from November 24th to December 24th, 2010. Christkindlmarket 2010 will feature handmade gifts including ornaments, candles, woodcarvings, cuckoo-clocks, European chocolates, beer steins, toys, glass blown items and toys.

Featuring more than 50 vendors, Chicago Christkindlmarket 2010 will include both gift and food vendors. Traditional treats include hot cider, hot chocolate and spiced wine – with many German Christmas Market favorites such as bratwurst, schnitzel, strudel, potato pancakes and more. Kringle Market has been a holiday tradition in Chicago for 15 years and is a great experience for anyone wanting to get out in the city during the season.

Christkindlmarket (Kringle Market) 2010 also provides a great opportunity to view Chicago’s 2010 Christmas Tree and Santa Claus at Daley Plaza.

Christkindlmarket 2010

See, taste and hear the holiday cheer. Experience a traditional Christkindlemarket (Kringle Market) 2010, based on the century old markets in Germany, in the heart of downtown Chicago. Christkindlemart (Kringle Market) 2010 features German and International vendors who display hand crafted ornaments, toys and unique gifts as well as traditional German foods, sweets and beverages.

The market is just a short ride from our hotel.