Chicago is ranked as the third most highly populated city in the United States, after New York City and Los Angeles. In 2013 the census reports listed Chicago as having a population of over 2.7 million. It is home to world-class museums and cultural attractions, which sit beside thriving commercial and industrial ventures, Chicago is abuzz with energy.
O'Hare International Airport is the hometown airport, and is the second-busiest airport in the entire world. Chicago has various professional sports teams in each of the major professional leagues. The city is also he home to the prestigious University of Chicago.
Chicago's culture includes contributions to film, theater, visual arts, comedy, and music, particularly jazz, blues, soul and house music. During the summer, there are many outdoor concerts held in Grant Park and Millennium Park. The famous Ravinia Festival is a favorite destination for many Chicagoans.
Upscale shopping can be found along the Magnificent Mile and State Street. There are also thousands of restaurants intertwined amongst Chicago's eminent architecture.
The historic Chicago Cultural Center is home to the city's Visitor Information Center. Chicago lays claim to a large number of regional culinary specialties. Those included among these are its nationally well renowned deep dish pizza.
The John G Shedd Aquarium ranks as the most popular tourist spot in the city. It is the abode of Beluga whales, Californian sea lions, Alaskan sea otters and Pacific Ocean white-sided dolphins.
The Art Institute of Chicago is home to works of art that enlists 5,000 years of human history. The Field Museum has the world's largest and most well preserved Tyrannosaurus rex. Skydeck Chicago is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and offers a hawk eye view of Chicago and beyond.
Chicago is rife full of tourist attractions such as Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Wrigley Field home of the Chicago Cubs, Alder Planetarium, Limcoln Park Zoo, Buckingham Fountain, the Chicago Theatre, Brookfield Zoo, Jay Pritzker Pavailion, Tribune Tower, the Harris Theatre, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, Hull House, Michigan Avenue Bridge and the Emil Bach house to name but a few.