Welcome to our guide to the best travel resources for exploring Chicago! If you’re planning a trip to Windy City, you’ll want to make sure you have all the necessary information to make the most of your trip. From navigating the city’s diverse neighborhoods and iconic attractions to finding the best restaurants and accommodations, planning a trip to a new place can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top travel guides and books specifically designed to help you travel smart in Chicago.
Whether you’re looking to avoid crowds, discover hidden gems or want the inside scoop on the city’s must-see attractions, these resources have you covered. From comprehensive city guides to personalized travel journals, there’s something for every type of traveler in our roundup. And with tips and recommendations from local experts and seasoned travelers, you can be confident that you’re getting the best advice for making the most of your trip.
So pack your bags and get ready to experience all that Chicago offers – with some help from these essential travel guides and books. With their insider knowledge and practical advice, you’ll be able to navigate the city like a pro and make the most of your vacation. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, these resources will enhance your trip and help you create lasting memories in Windy City.
- All books have been handpicked by us!
- Books with bad reviews are left out.
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If you’re looking for the ultimate resource to help you plan your trip to Chicago, Fodor’s travel guide is a must-have. Written by local experts, this guidebook is packed with carefully curated recommendations for things to do, see, and eat in the city. Whether you want to chow down on some deep-dish pizza, explore the Field Museum of Natural History, or bike along the lakefront, Fodor’s has you covered.
The guidebook has been fully redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos, making it a pleasure to flip through and plan your trip. It’s also small and portable, so you can take it with you wherever you go. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Fodor’s guide to Chicago will help you make the most of your trip and simplify your trip-planning process. Don’t leave home without it!
Looking for a travel guide that takes you beyond the typical tourist attractions and shows you the real Chicago? Look no further than Chicago Like A Local. This book is written by three proud locals who are eager to share their city’s hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path experiences with you. From vegan diners and late-night comedy clubs to third-wave coffee shops and small businesses that add character to the city, this guide is packed with recommendations for unique and authentic experiences in Chicago.
In addition to the curated recommendations, this guide also includes six themed walking tours dedicated to specific experiences such as record stores and dive bars, making it easy to plan your trip and see the city through the eyes of a local. With helpful “what3word” addresses included, you can easily pinpoint all of the listed sights and explore the city with confidence.
Whether you’re a restless Chicagoan on the hunt for new hangouts or a visitor looking to discover the city’s hidden corners, Chicago Like A Local is the perfect companion for your trip. Not only is it a valuable resource for planning your trip, but it’s also a beautiful gift book that will inspire you to explore the city like a local.
The Not For Tourists Guide to Chicago is the ultimate resource for exploring the city neighborhood by neighborhood. With sixty mapping neighborhoods from Gold Coast and Lincoln Park to Wrigleyville and Lakeview, this guide covers every corner of the city and is designed to be user-friendly for locals, commuters, business travelers, and tourists alike.
Filled with map-based recommendations and user-friendly NFT icons that plot the nearest essential services and entertainment locations, this guide is perfect for finding the best deep-dish pizza hideouts, top sports attractions, kid-friendly activities, public transportation, restaurants, bars, and more. It even includes a foldout highway map and sections on the various regions of the city, making it easy to navigate and explore.
Whether you’re looking for the nearest beach, jazz club, coffee shop, or bookstore, The Not For Tourists Guide to Chicago has you covered. With more than 150 neighborhood and city maps included, it’s the ultimate companion for discovering all that Chicago has to offer.
Are you ready to explore the vibrant and historic neighborhoods of Chicago on foot? Look no further than this comprehensive guidebook, which leads you on 35 unique walking tours through the city. Written by Chicagophile Robert Loerzel, this guide is perfect for urban adventurers who want to go beyond the obvious and discover the city’s diverse neighborhoods, which represent a melting pot of cultures and experiences.
From Little Italy and Greektown to Pilsen and Ukrainian Village, you’ll find something for everyone in this guide. Whether you’re interested in soaking up history, political gossip, and architectural trivia, or just want to find the best cafes, bars, and night spots, this guide has you covered. It also includes tips on where to find ethnic culture, high culture, the blues, ballgames, and more.
With humorous anecdotes, surprising stories, and fun facts to share with others, this guidebook is the perfect companion for your walking tour of Chicago. So grab your walking shoes and get ready to discover all that the city has to offer!
Are you ready to take a tasty culinary tour of Chicago’s best neighborhoods and hidden gems? Look no further than Chicago Food Crawls, the newest addition to Globe’s food by city series. This book takes you on more than 13 food crawls, each featuring 3-8 establishments centered on a neighborhood or theme.
Whether you’re looking for the complete recipe for a great night out, the perfect tourist day, or a new way to experience your own city, this book has you covered. You’ll discover long-standing institutions and hidden gems as you explore the city’s diverse culinary scene. And even if you’re just looking for some food porn and great stories to enjoy from home, this book is sure to satisfy your appetite.
So grab a copy of Chicago Food Crawls and get ready to embark on a tasty adventure through the Windy City. Bon appétit!
If you’re traveling to Chicago with kids and looking for a fun, educational resource to keep them entertained and engaged, look no further than this colorful guidebook. Packed with over 100 pictures and written in simple dictionary style, this book showcases the city from A to Z and is sure to delight kids of all ages.
With entries on everything from where to see a hairy tarantula as big as a Chicago pizza to where you can dig up dinosaur bones or feed a butterfly, this book is full of awesome stuff for kids to discover. They’ll also find out how to meet Staley da Bear, mascot for the Chicago Bears, and where to get their picture taken in front of a 101-foot baseball bat.
But it’s not just for kids – parents and grandparents, teachers, and armchair travelers will all appreciate the book’s coverage of the city’s history, geography, art, music, and culture. Gifted writer Karen T. Bartlett takes readers on a supersize Chicago adventure with fascinating stories, quirky factoids, and a generous helping of silliness. So grab a copy of this book and get ready for a fun-filled adventure in the Windy City!
If you’re a history buff traveling to Chicago, you’ll want to add Mysterious Chicago: History at Its Coolest to your reading list. Written by Chicago historian Adam Selzer, this book is a compelling anthology of the city’s most fascinating unsolved mysteries.
Filled with heavily researched stories from the 1800s to modern day, this volume covers everything from who really started the great Chicago fire to who was the first “automobile murderer.” Selzer has collected forty unsolved mysteries and poured through all newspaper, magazine, and book references to them, consulting expert historians along the way.
Whether you’re interested in the mysteries of Rose Hill cemetery or just want to learn more about the city’s quirky and odd history, this book is sure to satisfy your curiosity. So add it to your travel itinerary and get ready to explore the Windy City like never before.
