Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Getting to Know
the Windy City
T
he orderly configuration of Chicago's streets and the excellent
public transportation system make the city quite easy to get
around—once you identify and locate a few basic landmarks.
1 Orientation
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Chicago Office of Tourism
runs a toll-free visitor hot line
(
&
877/CHICAGO
or TTY 866/710-0294; www.choosechicago.
com) and operates two visitor information centers staffed with peo-
ple who can answer questions. The main visitor center, located in the
Loop and convenient to many places that you'll likely be visiting, is
on the first floor of the
Chicago Cultural Center,
77 E. Randolph
St. (at Michigan Ave.).
A second, smaller center, the
Chicago Water Works Visitor Cen-
ter,
is in the old pumping station at Michigan and Chicago avenues
in the heart of the city's shopping district. The entrance is on the
Pearson Street side of the building, across from the Water Tower
Place mall.
The
Illinois Bureau of Tourism
(
&
800/2CONNECT
or TTY
800/406-6418; www.enjoyillinois.com) can provide general and spe-
cific information 24 hours a day. Many of the bureau's brochures can
be ordered online or picked up at the Water Works Visitor Center
(see above).
INFORMATION BY TELEPHONE
The
Mayor's Office of
Special Events
operates a recorded hot line and website (
&
312/
744-3370
or TTY 312/744-2964; www.cityofchicago.org/special
events) listing current special events, festivals, and parades occurring
throughout the city.
PUBLICATIONS
Chicago's major daily newspapers are the
Tr i -
bune
and the
Sun-Times. Chicago
magazine is an upscale monthly
with good restaurant listings. Even better for short-term visitors is
