Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guides - Chicago

Practical Information ❮❮ 113

in April, when the clocks When to Go DIRECTORY
are moved forward an
hour, and reverts to For a moderate climate, POSTAL SERVICES
standard time at 1am on the best time to visit US Postal Service
the last Sunday in October Chicago is spring or fall. ∑ usps.com
when they are then But if you can bear the
moved back an hour. bitter cold of the festive NEWSPAPERS AND
season you’ll see the city MAGAZINES
Electrical Appliances sparkle with Christmas Chicago Magazine
lights – and you’ll have ∑ chicagomag.com
Electrical appliances in a lot fewer tourists to Chicago Sun-Times
the US operate on 110– contend with. Summer ∑ chicago.suntimes.
120 volts and use two- sees street festivities and com
prong plugs. Non-US, live music in the parks. Chicago Tribune
single-voltage appliances Try to avoid visiting in ∑ chicagotribune.com
need a transformer and November, when hotels The Reader
an adapter, commonly are full of conventioneers. ∑ chicagoreader.com
available in airport shops,
electrical stores, and Travelers with Time Out Chicago
∑ timeout.com/chicago
large department stores. Special Needs
TRAVELERS WITH
Driving Licenses The majority of hotels SPECIAL NEEDS
restaurants, shops, malls, Mayor’s Office for
Foreign or out-of-state and museums are People with
driver’s licenses are valid accessible to wheelchair Disabilities
in Chicago – if they are users. Many sidewalks ∑ cityofchicago.org
in English. Bring your offer curb cuts that allow Open Doors
picture license even if you smooth passage when Organization
don’t plan to rent a car: crossing the streets. Most ∑ easyaccesschicago.
it’s a good alternative to a buses and train stations org
passport if you are asked are also wheelchair SOURCES OF
for proof of age in a bar. accessible. The non-profit INFORMATION
Open Doors Organization Choose Chicago
Weather runs a website with ∑ choosechicago.com
information for travelers
Chicago winters are with disabilities. The Eater Chicago
∑ chicago.eater.com
usually intemperate, with Mayor’s Office for People
frequent heavy snow and with Disabilities offers MetroMix
temperatures ranging information on disabled ∑ metromix.com
from 13° F (-9° C) to 37° F access around town. Theatre in Chicago
(4° C). Summer days can ∑ theatreinchicago.com
be anything from balmy to Sources of
boiling, averaging 69° F Information
(22° C) to 84° F (30° C). information at the city’s
Extremes, like winter Chicago has two main official tourism website
blizzards, heavy spring tourist information Choose Chicago, which is
rains, and summer heat centers: located in the updated regularly. For
waves are not uncommon, Chicago Cultural Center in-depth reviews of where
with spring-time weather (see p71) and in Macy’s to go and what to see, log
being particularly department store (see onto MetroMix, affiliated
changeable. Despite the p76) in the Loop. Opening to the Chicago Tribune.
winds that can gust off hours are at least The popular web site
Lake Michigan, Chicago’s 10am–5pm Monday to Eater Chicago offers
“Windy City” moniker is Saturday and 11am–4pm comprehensive dining
actually attributed to the Sunday (the Macy’s information. Theatre in
verbose bid the city made location keeps depart- Chicago, also online, offers
to host the 1893 World’s ment store hours). You up-to-date informa tion on
Columbian Exposition. can also get further shows around town.

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