Illinois General Information Nickname: Land of Lincoln State bird: Springfield Cardinal State flower: Native Violet Capital: Springfield Date of admission to the Union: 3rd Dec 1818 Population: 12,419,293 (2000) Population density: 82.8/sq km 2000 total overseas arrivals/US ranking: 1,377,000/7 Time: Central (GMT - 6). Daylight Saving Time is observed. The State: Illinois, stretching from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, embraces vast, rich farmlands, the giant city of Chicago, rolling glacial plains and, to the south, the hills and valleys of the Illinois Ozarks. Illinois boasts 6900km (4300 miles) of scenic shoreline, 1100 historic sites and half a million acres of state parks. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President, spent most of his professional (he was a lawyer) and political life here. Travel - International AIR: International airports: Chicago (ORD) (O’Hare International) (website: www.ohare.com), 35km (21 miles) northwest of the city, is one of the world’s busiest airports. Lower-level pedestrian passageways inside the airport terminals lead directly to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) station; the free Airport Transit System (ATS) also links the terminals and station. The CTA Blue Line train provides 24-hour service between central Chicago and O’Hare. Most major car hire firms have offices at the airport. Taxis and limousines are also widely available, as are shuttle buses and buses serving regional destinations. Connections from O’Hare to Midway Airport (see below) are provided by CTA’s Orange Line 0500-0000 (travel time – 2 hours); or the Omega Airport Shuttle bus, which operates an airport transfer service every hour 0700-2250 (travel time – 30 minutes). Domestic airports: Midway Airport (MDW) (website: www.ohare.com/midway/home.cfm), on Chicago’s southwest side, handles some regional and local flights. The Midway Airport Terminal is currently undergoing massive redevelopment, with a new terminal opened in 2001 and final completion due in 2004. Transport to the city is available on the CTA’s Orange Line (travel time – 20-30 minutes), and by taxi and shuttle bus; other buses serve regional destinations. All of the major car hire firms are represented. Approximate flight times: From Chicago to Anchorage is 7 hours 30 minutes, to Honolulu is 10 hours 20 minutes, to London is 7 hours 35 minutes, to Los Angeles is 4 hours 45 minutes, to Miami is 3 hours 20 minutes, to Montréal is 2 hours 15 minutes, to New York is 2 hours 5 minutes, to Toronto is 1 hour 40 minutes, to Vancouver is 6 hours 10 minutes, and to Washington, DC is 2 hours. RAIL: Downtown Chicago’s Union Station is the focal point of the Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245 (toll free); website: www.amtrak.com) rail passenger network: three of the four transcontinental lines converge here and it is also the northern terminus of north–south lines to San Antonio and New Orleans. A sixth line runs northeast to Toronto, with connections to Montréal. Services to neighbouring cities are limited. Approximate rail travel times: From Chicago on the ‘Three Rivers’/‘Pennsylvanian’ to Pittsburgh is 9 hours 40 minutes, to Philadelphia is 18 hours, and to New York is 21 hours; on the ‘Lake Shore Limited’ to Toledo is 4 hours 20 minutes, to Cleveland is 7 hours, to Buffalo is 10 hours and to New York is 19 hours; on the ‘Cardinal’ to Indianapolis is 5 hours, to Cincinnati is 8 hours 35 minutes, and to Washington, DC is 23 hours; on the ‘Capitol’ to Pittsburgh is 9 hours 45 minutes, and to Washington, DC is 17 hours 45 minutes; on the ‘City of New Orleans’ to Memphis is 10 hours 30 minutes, and to New Orleans is 19 hours 40 minutes; on the ‘International’ to Kalamazoo is 2 hours 20 minutes, to Port Huron is 6 hours 20 minutes, and to Toronto is 12 hours 20 minutes; on the ‘Ann Rutledge’ to St Louis is 7 hours, and to Kansas City is 12 hours; on the ‘Empire Builder’ to Minneapolis/St Paul is 8 hours 15 minutes, to Spokane is 37 hours 30 minutes, to Seattle is 46 hours, and to Portland is 46 hours. Approximate times for Chicago–Los Angeles and Chicago–Oakland (San Francisco) services may be found in the California section. ROAD: Long-distance bus companies operating in the State include Greyhound (tel: (800) 229 9424; website: www.greyhound.com), with services across the USA, and Trailways (tel: (800) 343 9999; website: www.trailways.com), with services to neighbouring States. Approximate driving times: From Chicago to Milwaukee is 2 hours, to Madison is 3 hours, to Indianapolis is 4 hours, to Detroit is 5 hours, to St Louis is 6 hours, to Des Moines is 7 hours, to Cleveland is 7 hours, to Nashville is 9 hours, to Kansas City is 10 hours, to New York is 16 hours, to Dallas is 19 hours, to Miami is 27 hours, to Seattle is 44 hours and to Los Angeles is 44 hours. All times are based on non-stop driving at or below the applicable speed limits. Approximate bus travel times: From Chicago to Milwaukee is 2 hours, to Indianapolis is 3 hours 30 minutes, to Detroit is 6-8 hours, to St Louis is 5-7 hours, to Cleveland is 7-8 hours, to Omaha is 10 hours, to Memphis is 10-11 hours, and to New York City is 17 hours. URBAN: Bus: A wide network of bus routes run by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) (tel: (312) 836 7000; website: www.transitchicago.com) covers the city on the major north–south and east–west streets. Train: The CTA runs both subway trains and elevated trains from ‘The Loop’ in downtown Chicago to the suburbs; commuter rail services are run by METRA. Car hire: Cars and motor campers are available. Introduction CHICAGO: Nicknamed the ‘Windy City’, Chicago is one of the world’s giant trade, industry and transportation centres and the birthplace of the skyscraper. In contrast, its Lake Michigan shoreline is dotted with sandy beaches, hundreds of parks, harbours, zoos and vast expanses of forest reserve. It is one of the USA’s largest cities and the hub of the Midwest, with a population of nearly three million (8.5 milion in the metropolitan area) and more than 69,000 hotel rooms in the downtown and the metropolitan areas alone. The inhabitants in the ‘Chicagoland’ area speak more than 50 languages, making it the most ethnically diverse city in the USA. It is also known for its distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own unique character. For visitors to the USA, it is the gateway to the farmlands and cities of Illinois and Indiana and the recreation areas of Wisconsin. The Museum of Science & Industry has more than 2000 exhibits. The pedestrianised Museum Campus is the site of three museums surrounded by one continuous park. These are the Field Museum of Natural History, which spans the development of the universe from 4.5 billion years ago to the present day; the John G Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium; and the Adler Planetarium, which houses the Sky Dome. Special events and free activities take place in the park during the summer. The city has 51 museums and 200 art galleries featuring artefacts from cultures across the world including Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Ukraine and Vietnam. For art lovers, Chicago also has a number of outdoor sculptures by such artists as Picasso, Miró, Moore, Chagall and Calder. Other attractions include the Art Institute of Chicago, Brookfield Zoo, Museum of Contemporary Art and Six Flags Great America Amusement Park. Many of Chicago’s soaring skyscrapers have observation towers, including the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center. The Chicago Pumping Station, a landmark that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, houses a tourist information centre, open daily. The Navy Pier is the largest recreational pier in the USA. Attractions include an open-air theatre, botanical gardens, the Chicago Children’s Museum, plus a giant Ferris Wheel standing 15 storeys high and offering the best view of the famous Chicago skyline. ELSEWHERE: Springfield is the capital of Illinois. It was here that Abraham Lincoln married and began his legal career. Attractions include Lincoln’s Tomb (a State Historical Site) and the Illinois State Museum. New Salem State Park, nearby, is a recreation of the pioneer community as it was in Lincoln’s day. Southern Illinois was one of the first regions of North America to be settled by the French. This colourful heritage is reflected in towns such as Prairie du Rocher and Kaskaskia. The Shawnee National Forest, with its huge areas of wilderness and many tourist sites, stretches across the lower part of Illinois. To the west, Fort Crevecoeur is a replica of a French outpost. The Dickson Mounds were raised by Mississippian Native Americans many centuries ago. To the north is Galena, a Victorian city, with many historic sites and tourist activities. Starved Rock State Park has a lodge, hiking trails, picnic areas and excursion boats from May to September. Cahokia Mounds is a relic of the most sophisticated prehistoric Native American civilisation community north of Mexico. Social Profile Food & Drink: Chicago is known for its prime rib steaks and deep pan Chicago pizza. It is packed with some 7000 restaurants of all types, serving food from around the world. Theatres & Concerts: Major Chicago theatres include the Chicago, Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Shubert and Arie Crown. The Auditorium Theater stages ballet and musical events. Chicago is now home to the world-renowned Joffrey Ballet. The Civic Center for the Performing Arts stages performances by the Lyric Opera Company. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs at the new Symphony Center. Nightlife: Chicago boasts everything from nightclubs, jazz spots, cinemas and discotheques to belly dancing, rock bands and folk music. It is the home of ‘urban blues’, a form developed by such greats as Muddy Waters and Elmore James, continued today in Chicago and around the world by performers such as Buddy Guy and Robert Cray. Shopping: The main shopping areas in Chicago include State Street, North Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, Woodfield Mall and the quaint speciality stores in Old Town, Lincoln Avenue and New Town. Sport: The Chicago Bears play American football from September to December at Soldier Field. The baseball teams, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, play during the summer months at Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park. The Chicago Bulls take to the basketball court from January to April at the Chicago Stadium, which is also home to the ice hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks. Illinois has the highest number of public and championship golf courses in the United States; there are 700 of these, 200 of which can be found in the immediate Chicagoland area. Special Events: The following is a list of special events taking place in 2003: Feb Galesburg Chocolate Festival, Galesburg. Feb-Mar (weekends) Maple Syrup Time, Springfield. Mar 4 Chicago 166th Birthday Celebration, Chicago. Mar 17 St Patrick’s Day Parade, Chicago. May 29-Jun 1 20th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago. Jun 27-Jul 6 Taste of Chicago Festival, Chicago. Jun 28-29 Chicago Country Music Festival, Chicago. Aug Illinois State Fair, Springfield. Aug 28-31 25th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago. Climate Wide variation between hot summers and freezing winters, especially in the north of the State. The highest humidity is in the summer near the Great Lakes. Required clothing: Warm winter clothes are needed in the coldest months. Light- to mediumweights are advised for the summer. Rainwear may be useful. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.