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Chicago/Wicker Park

Wicker Park is the vanguard of music, nightlife, and fashion in Chicago. This article also includes the sly, enjoyable Ukrainian Village, immediately south, and pieces of the greater West Town area.

Understand
Among the most pointless topics of debate in Chicago life is whether Wicker Park has changed, is full of yuppies now, isn't what it used to be, etc. The answers are simple: yes, maybe, and who cares? Just like the Velvet Underground would have been playing stadiums if everybody who claimed to have seen them in 1967 actually did, if everybody who claims to have been there when Wicker Park was cool actually was there, it would be a city roughly the size of Cleveland. Wicker Park is uniquely well-served by transportation among West Side neighborhoods, with the CTA's Blue Line elevated train and the major arteries of North, Milwaukee, and Damen all converging upon the center of the area.

Wicker Park was founded by the Wicker brothers in the 1870s, and it became part of the row of prosperous immigrant neighborhoods on the West Side of Chicago — the German and Polish beer barons of Wicker Park were neighbored by the farmers of Bucktown, the Ukrainians in their titular Village, the Greeks and Italians of the Near West Side, and the Czechs of Pilsen. The brewery fortunes left two legacies that survive today: gorgeous, European-style mansions and apartment buildings, and a truly world-class set of dive bars. By 1900, Wicker Park had become Chicago's Polish Downtown. The city's oldest and most prominent Polish settlement, Polish Downtown was the political, cultural, and social capital of not only Poles in Chicago but for Polish Americans throughout North America. The area around Polonia Triangle at the intersection of Division, Ashland and Milwaukee Avenue played host to almost every major Polish organization in the United States.

After the economic decline of the West Side, Puerto Ricans became the majority population in Wicker Park. With them came the other two elements that would turn the neighborhood's commercial fortunes around: low rents in those great buildings, and an art scene that became known for exciting new work. Artists and musicians from outside the area moved in, finding cheap studios in places like the Flatiron Arts Building and good venues to exhibit and perform like the Double Door and the excellent Empty Bottle. Among many others, the Smashing Pumpkins were formed in the area, and Liz Phair's album Exile in Guyville re-cast the Rolling Stones' Main Street in Wicker Park; on the visual arts side, the long-running Around the Coyote festival continues as an annual gathering of the neighborhood's artistic highlights. (Years later, the John Cusack film High Fidelity attempted to capture Wicker Park in all of its elitist, obnoxious, trend-setting glory, and was generally well received. However, when MTV's The Real World arrived in 2001, it sparked off a memorable neighborhood-wide fit.)

Of course, all vinyl pants must split in the end, and by the mid-90s, real estate prices were on the rise, and bar stools were colonized by conversations about who had been priced out (the Puerto Rican artists, for one) and where the next hot scene would be (opinions vary). Demand for housing in proximity to Wicker Park turned its neighbors Bucktown and Ukrainian Village into hot residential properties, and the boundaries between neighborhoods have become less meaningful with time. There are still a few Ukrainians in what's affectionately known as The Uke, but there are only a few places where their paths cross with the condo conversion kids: aside from the sidewalks in front of the astonishing churches in the area and in line at the terrific old bakeries, all style becomes equal at the historic Division Street Bath House.

Today, a few national chains have settled in among the independent fashion boutiques in Wicker Park, but it still raises a righteous middle finger to the glossy shopping on the Magnificent Mile, still offers the best places to get a cheap beer, and still has residents who, per capita, care more about quality music and restaurants than anywhere else in the city.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Ukrainians have fled to Chicago as refugees, resulting in the revitalization of the eponymous community in the Ukrainian Village.

By train
The O'Hare branch of the CTA Blue Line has stops in West Town (Chicago, Grand), Ukrainian Village (Division) and Wicker Park (Damen). The Damen stop is particularly useful, as it's right at the epicenter of Wicker Park and the border of Bucktown, and a short walk south to Ukrainian Village and the nightlife on Division.

If you're going further afield in Ukrainian Village than Division — say, to the Empty Bottle (see Drink) — get to know the relevant bus routes, as the CTA trains don't run particularly close.

By bus

 * 9 Ashland is an all-nighter that runs within walking distance of the shops and bars in Wicker Park (on Milwaukee) and the nightlife on Division.
 * 49 Western runs down Western Avenue for nearly the full length of the city, passing through the western edge of Ukrainian Village. It's an all-night route.
 * 50 Damen runs through the heart of Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village, but lacks night-owl service.
 * 56 Milwaukee is the king of the West Side, running through the center of Wicker Park and along the eastern fringe of Ukrainian Village.
 * 65 Grand runs from downtown to West Town, connecting with the Grand Blue Line stop, and the southern fringe of Ukrainian Village.
 * 66 Chicago runs from the Near North through West Town (connecting with the Chicago Blue Line stop) and Ukrainian Village, and onward to Austin. It's also an all-night route.
 * 70 Division is vital for the nightlife on Division, connecting to the Blue Line at the Division Blue Line stop.

By car
I-90/94, that shining exemplar of Chicago gridlock, runs close to Ukrainian Village — exit at Division and head straight west, or make a right off Division on Milwaukee to reach Wicker Park.

This isn't one of the worst parts of the city for parking, but it can still be a challenge, and there are no public lots or garages in the area. Be patient and circle the side streets. Many upscale restaurants offer valet parking for $10 or so. Permit-only parking is in place on many side streets, so check street signs. Damen in particular has some oddball no-parking hours.

See
While the art scene has largely moved on from Wicker Park, many of the galleries in the Flatiron Arts Building have First Friday open hours (6PM-9PM).

In addition, there is the Bloomingdale Trail, an elevated park built on a disused railway line along Bloomingdale Road.

Do
Music venues are the main attraction here, particularly the Double Door and the Empty Bottle (see below).

Buy
The intersection of Milwaukee, North, and Damen is the indie Magnificent Mile. Start at the six corners and explore from there — you'll find plenty of cutting-edge fashion boutiques heading north on Damen, and more in both directions on Milwaukee, along with national chains like the Levi Store.

You're also liable to do well searching for vinyl records here, both in Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village.

Budget
The twin low-price culinary delights around here are the bakeries of Wicker Park and the delis of Ukrainian Village, many of which have been in business for several decades. The Uke also has some great Ukrainian grocers, particularly on Iowa Street. Additionally, as Wicker Park is a bar destination, there is no shortage of cheaper eats, cafes, and chain restaurants.

There is no shortage of cafés in the area. Here's one of a few on Milwaukee Avenue:

For people who have an inexplicable craving for bad things, there is a Taco Bell that serves beer at 1439 N Milwaukee Ave. There's also a Starbucks and a Stan's Donuts right next to the Damen Blue Line stop. To be noted, these places have little in the way of seating. If you need a bit more than just one meal, there is an Aldi at 1767 N Milwaukee Ave.

Mid-range
Sushi is everywhere in Wicker Park — there's no shortage of style, but only a few places offer substance to match.

Splurge
A few of the places named above, particularly the sushi restaurants, could easily become Splurge affairs depending on how many drinks accompany your meal.

Drink
Other parts of the city have their charms, but when it comes to drinking in Chicago, there's no contest: this is the place. And while there are plenty of places left for those-in-the-know, Division Street may have taken over from the more touristed (and generally obnoxious) Rush Street in the Near North for sheer numbers in nightlife.

In Ukrainian Village, watch for "Zimne Piwo", Ukrainian for "cold beer." Plenty of apparently nameless bars make themselves known with those words under an old style sign.

Stay safe
Wicker Park keeps a slightly rough appearance, but that's mainly for the enjoyment of the younger residents. Use common sense while out and you'll have nothing to worry about. (Don't leave valuables in cars, though.) Ukrainian Village is much the same, but stay alert around alleys while walking on side streets. In that distinctly Chicago fashion of invisible barriers respected on both sides of the law, crime stays almost exclusively on the west side of Western Avenue. But if you parked on the west side of Western, take care while walking back to your car after dark.

Connect
The following libraries provide free internet access:

Go next

 * If you're looking to check out one of the city's best collections of commercial Art Deco architecture by greats such as Z. Erol Smith, head north to Belmont-Central in what is one of the few intact streetcar shopping districts in Chicago and an Eastern European culinary heaven.
 * Pilsen is the most-quoted inheritor of Wicker Park's original bohemian mantle, and makes for an interesting contrast.
 * However, its become apparent in the last couple years that nearby Logan Square may have actually taken that mantle.
 * Looking for traces of the neighborhood Nelson Algren wrote about in Wicker Park's heyday as the center of Chicago's Polish Downtown? You'll find the sausage shops and old-style Polish restaurants that carry on as if health food and celebrity chefs never happened in Jackowo — Chicago's Polish Village.
 * If, on the other hand, it is the demise of Wicker Park's Puerto Rican community that you are lamenting, retrace its migration west along Division Street into Humboldt Park on the Far West Side — the best Puerto Rican food in the city awaits.

title: Chicago/Wicker Park


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Chicago Heights

Chicago Heights is a city of 29,000 people (2019) in the Chicagoland region of Illinois. Chicago Heights remains one of the most dangerous cities in Illinois, with rampant poverty and high levels of violent crime.

Get in
The city's major crossroads are at Dixie Highway (Illinois Route 1) and Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30)

Chicago Heights is served by six Pace bus routes and the Pace Chicago Heights Terminal.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Chicago Heights


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Chicagoland

Chicagoland consists of the Chicago metropolitan area in northeastern Illinois, including Chicago and its surrounding suburbs including those in Northwest Indiana. Broader definitions also include parts of Southeast Wisconsin. It covers all of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane and Will Counties in Illinois, and portions of Kenosha County, Wisconsin; McHenry County, Illinois, and in Indiana, Lake, Porter, and portions of LaPorte Counties.

Regions
Additional adjacent urban areas, which are often considered to belong to the greater Chicago area, that are not covered in this part of the guide:

 * : The south-easternmost county in Wisconsin. The eastern portion is sometimes considered part of greater Chicagoland.
 * : The north-westernmost county in Indiana. The eastern portions of the county are often considered portions of Chicagoland.
 * : Northwest of Cook County and sharing much of its border with Wisconsin, this Illinois county is often considered part of Chicagoland due to its many connections (including rail and highway).

Cities
Chicagoland, though centered on Chicago, is anchored by many regional cities which have their own distinct cultures, economics and traditions. These are a few of the noteworthy cities and communities in the region:

 * : The principal city of the region and its main economic engine.
 * : Illinois's second largest city and one of the two anchors of the Fox River Valley, Aurora is a major city and often considered the gateway to the region on I-88.
 * : A historic community and second of the two anchors of the Fox River Valley, Elgin is the gateway to the region on I-90.
 * : The anchor of the South Suburbs, Joliet is a gateway to the region.
 * : The primary city of the Western Suburbs, Naperville is often noted for its urban downtown.
 * : Birthplace of Ray Bradbury, Waukegan is the anchor of the Far North Suburbs.

Understand
Though founded in 1833, the City of Chicago was incorporated in 1837. Spurred by port and rail traffic, the City became one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world for several decades and gradually became both the center of the Chicagoland region and the entire Midwest. Much of the growth of the region can be linked directly to Chicago and its history.

Following the conclusion of the Second World War, Chicagoland simply exploded. New model suburbs such as Park Forest gave returning veterans the new amenities of inexpensive housing away from the city. They settled, raised families and saw a cycle of growth continue. Population started shifting into these new suburbs, which continued to grow and incorporate. Today, the City of Chicago has 2.7 million people while the entire area has 9.7 million (just the Illinois portion). Whereas once the city also held all the attractions, now there are hundreds of unique sites, restaurants and festivals throughout the entire area.

Climate
Chicago, like much of the Midwest, is known for cold winters and warm, humid summers. During the spring and fall, temperatures can shift somewhat radically, though locations near the lake (typically within ) tend to be somewhat shielded from this by the lake. You can expect highs in the lower 20s °F (around -5 °C) in January and February and mid-80s °F (around 30 °C) in July and August.

Get in
Chicagoland is a major hub for vehicle, air, rail and port traffic and is accessible via any number of different methods. The city has an outstanding public transport system, which allows great access not only to the city but to many areas of the region. Below are a few different methods of entry:

By car

 * Interstate System: Chicagoland is the dead center of most major interstates serving the Midwest as well as many cross-country routes (specifically, I-80, I-90 and I-94). The following routes either pass through or connect the region:
 * I-80 (portions tolled): I-80 crosses through the South Suburbs region.
 * I-88 (tolled): I-88 is a regional interstate which connects the region to the Quad Cities
 * I-90 (tolled): I-90 connects the region locally to Rockford and Gary and ultimately Madison.
 * I-94 (tolled): I-94 connects the region to Milwaukee and Detroit and ultimately to the Twin Cities.
 * I-55: I-55 terminates in Chicagoland and connects it to St. Louis and ultimately to New Orleans.
 * I-57: I-57 terminates in Chicagoland and connects it to Memphis.
 * I-65: I-65, which originates in the Indiana portion of Chicagoland, connects the region to Indianapolis and ultimately Louisville.

 * US Highways: Chicagoland is connected through a series of US numbered highways including US 20, US 30, US 41 and US 45.

By plane

 * O'Hare International Airport: The region's primary airport, O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world. It provides service to most other major cities in North America and many international destinations.  It is connected to the Chicago Loop via the CTA's Blue Line.
 * Midway Airport: Chicagoland's second major airport, Midway primarily provides service to other destinations in the United States and is accessible from CTA's Orange Line to the Loop.
 * Dupage County Airport: A "designated reliever airport" for O'Hare and an increasingly popular airport.
 * Chicago Executive Airport: A second designated reliever airport, it is an increasingly popular airport for chartered flights based in Wheeling and Prospect Heights.
 * Waukegan Regional Airport: A third designated reliever airport, the Waukegan Regional Airport receives chartered flights.

By train
Chicagoland is served by numerous Amtrak routes.

By car
Despite its excellent public transportation (by US standards), personal vehicles remain the best form of transportation in the area. The interstates are the primary method of vehicle travel, though, mostly to avoid tolls and congestion, many local routes are used. Below are some commonly travelled routes which tourists may find useful for avoiding traffic:
 * North–south routes:
 * US 41: US 41 (known as "Lake Shore Drive" in Chicago) is a primary north-south route. It connects the Far North Suburbs, North Shore, City and South Suburbs.
 * US 45: US 45 is a primary north-shore and connects the Far North Suburbs, Northwestern Suburbs, Immediate Suburbs and Southern Suburbs.
 * IL 53: IL 53 is a unique route that primarily serves as a connection point between various points of the Northwestern Suburbs. However, it is an important thoroughfare for connection to local interstates. The expressway portion of it terminates at Lake-Cook Road.
 * IL 59: IL 59 connects the Chain O'Lakes to the Northwestern Suburbs and Western Suburbs before terminating in Naperville.
 * IL 31: IL 31 is the major north-south route connecting the Chain O'Lakes and Fox River Valley.

 * East–west routes:

 * IL 120: IL 120 is the primary connection between the Far North Suburbs and the Chain O'Lakes. It terminates near Woodstock in McHenry County. Through much of the Far North Suburbs, this route is open freeway.
 * US 12: US 12 runs on a northwest-southeast route through the entire region and connects the South Suburbs directly to the City and then runs northwest connecting the Northwestern Suburbs to the Chain O'Lakes.
 * Lake-Cook Road: A major east-west route, this road is the border between Lake and Cook Counties, and connects the North Shore to the Northwestern Suburbs and Fox River Valley.
 * US 14: Like US 12, US 14 runs a northwest-south route through the entire region. It originates in the City and then connects it to the Northwestern Suburbs, Fox River Valley and McHenry County before exiting the region. Through much of its course, it runs alongside the Union Pacific Northwest Metra Line.
 * US 20: A major east-west arterial, this route connects the City to the Immediate and Western Suburbs and the Fox River Valley. Through Elgin, the route is open freeway.
 * North Avenue: A major east-west route, North Avenue originates in the City and runs through the Immediate and Western Suburbs into the Fox River Valley.
 * Ogden Avenue: Another route originating in the City, Odgen connects the City to many of the Immediate Suburbs, the Western Suburbs and Aurora.
 * US 30: A major-east west through, US 30 primarily serves the South Suburbs.

By train
Chicagoland's Metra commuter train system is one of the most connected and advanced in the United States with 241 stations on 11 routes. Below is a brief outline of each of the train routes (a full list of stops and schedules is available on Metra's website:
 * BNSF Railway: Provides daily service between Chicago's Union Station and Aurora through much of the Western Suburbs.
 * Heritage Corridor: Daily service between Union Station and Joliet (this is one of two routes originating in Joliet).
 * Milwaukee District North Line: Connects Chicago's Union Station and Fox Lake, the anchor of the Chain O'Lakes. It provides service through the Northwestern and Far North Suburbs as well.
 * Milwaukee District West Line: Connects Union Station and Elgin passing through many of the Northwestern Suburbs in between.
 * North Central Service: Provides service between Union Station and Antioch in the Chain O' Lakes. It connects many of the Northwestern and Far North Suburbs in between.
 * Rock Island District: Connects LaSalle Street Station to Joliet and passes through many southern suburbs.
 * Southwest Service: Connects Union Station to Manhattan through the South Suburbs.
 * Union Pacific North Line: One of Metra's most heavily traveled lines, the North Line connects Ogilvie Station with Waukegan and Kenosha.
 * Union Pacific Northwest Line: Another of the region's most heavily traveled lines, the Northwest Line connects Ogilvie to Crystal Lake and Harvard. It provides service to most of the Northwestern Suburbs, a portion of the Fox River Valley and McHenry County.
 * Union Pacific West Line: The West Line connects Ogilvie and extends to Elburn, connecting many Immediate and West Suburbs as well as portions of the Fox River Valley. Elburn is actually considered part of the greater Northern Illinois region.
 * South Shore Line: While it is not a part of the Metra system, it connects downtown Chicago with the southeast side neighbourhood of Hegewisch, and the Northwest Indiana suburbs of Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, and Michigan City, before ending in South Bend. It is considered to be the nation's last interurban train line.

By bus
Two major bus systems serve the region: the Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) and Pace. CTA services Chicago while PACE covers the rest of the region. Visit their websites for more information: Chicago Transportation Authority and Pace.

By Subway/L: The CTA also manages the Chicago subway and elevated rail ('L') system. Since the majority of the system serves the actual city, most information can be found there. However, certain CTA stops are in the greater region including Wilmette, Evanston, Skokie, Rosemont, Cicero, Forest Park, and Oak Park, which makes those respective lines sometimes an easier alternative to vehicle or Metra for access to the city.

Buildings and architecture

 * The Baha'i Temple: A cultural and architectural wonder located in Wilmette.
 * Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture abounds through the Immediate Suburbs but particularly in River Forest and Oak Park.
 * The Loop: Chicago's Loop contains a mixture of stylized modern skyscrapers and historic buildings.

Professional sports
Chicago is home to a number of major and minor sports teams. A few select local teams and their stadium or arena locations:
 * Chicago Bears (National Football League - based at Soldier Field, Chicago)
 * Chicago Blackhawks (National Hockey League - based at the United Center, Chicago)
 * Chicago Bulls (National Basketball League - based at the United Center, Chicago)
 * Chicago Cubs (Major League Baseball - based at Wrigley Field, Chicago)
 * Chicago Sky (WNBA team - playing in the City's South Loop neighbourhood)
 * Chicago Fire (Major League Soccer - playing in Soldier Field])
 * Chicago White Sox (Major League Baseball - based at U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago)
 * Chicago Red Stars (National Women's Soccer League - play at the SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview)

Parks and zoos
Chicagoland has a number of spectacular and award-winning parks. Some major parks throughout the area which draw crowds include the following:
 * Millennium Park - the famous Millennium Park is in the Chicago Loop.
 * Lincoln Park Zoo - a free zoo open near the lake shore in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood of Chicago.
 * Brookfield Zoo - a world-renowned zoo located in suburban Brookfield in the Immediate Suburbs.
 * Morton Arboretum - a world famous arboretum located in suburban Lisle in the Western Suburbs.
 * Six Flags Great America - this flagship of the Six Flags parks is located in Gurnee in the Far North Suburbs.
 * Illinois State Beach Park - a large natural area on Lake Michigan in the Far North Suburb of Zion.

Gambling and casinos

 * Harrah's Joliet
 * Grand Victoria
 * The Rivers
 * Horseshoe Hammond
 * Ameristar East Chicago
 * Blue Chip Michigan City

Eat
Like any metropolitan area, Chicagoland offers nearly every type of cuisine at different price ranges. Chicagoland favorites include Italian beef (a beef sandwich served with beef broth and peppers), Chicago deep dish pizza, and Polish sausage. Chicago-style hot dogs (mustard, sliced tomatoes, with relish and pepperoncini peppers) are common throughout the Chicagoland area. Local favorite restaurant chains for Chicago-staples include Lou Malnati's (deep dish and thin crust pizza) and Portillo's (Italian beef, Polish sausage and Chicago-style hot dogs).

Due to the pandemic, restaurants have invested in dining igloos and tents. Deliveries are available through Grub-Hub, other services, and sometimes from the restaurant itself.

Reviews and recommendations
Residents from across the area will often swear by their local restaurants as the best. There are reviews, as most people know on Yelp, but also in the Chicago Tribune (Phil Vettel retired in early 2021), Chicago Reader (Mike Sula), Chicago Magazine, Happy Cow (vegetarian and vegan), and Check, Please! Some international rankings come from Zagat (surveys) and Michelin Guide (25 starred locations as of 2020). Hotel concierges are good resources and can sometimes get you reservations. City of Chicago, village Civic Centers, and trade groups may also be good sources of information.

Ethnic, special, festive, and fine dining cuisines
Ethnic (or vestiges of ethnic) neighborhoods provide opportunities to sample more authentic cuisines and their regional variations: Irish, German, Italian, Indian (or Pakistani), Greek, Eastern European (Polish, Ukrainian, Serbian, Bosnian, Armenian, Czech, Hungarian), Mexican (or Puerto Rican), Jamaican (or Caribbean), South American (Peruvian), Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Middle Eastern (Persian, Israeli, Lebanese), African (Ethiopian, Eritrean, Nigerian / Igboo), among others. A few spots have French, southern cooking, or soul food.

Vegan spots can be found on Happy Cow's website. The Chicago Diner is one of the oldest. Many diner restaurants offer the Beyond or Impossible burger.

Navy Pier is a festive location for dining, a smaller venue is built around Wrigley Field (Cubs ballpark), there is also the French Market at Ogilvie Train Station, and food emporiums west of and in downtown and at Logan Square. The River Walk is outdoors along the Chicago River downtown.

Fine dining can be had at choice locations, not just downtown. There are 25 Michelin-rated restaurants (c.2020). Some fine dining spots are good for their ambience, at the top of the Hancock skyscraper, 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange (Everest), Trump Tower, at the Art Institute, and buildings overlooking Millennial Park or Michigan Avenue's Gold Coast. A few are at the top hotels in Chicagoland. Glenview has a restaurant row.

Events with food
The presence of Food trucks are rising but are mostly seen in warmer months. Chicago hosts an annual Food Truck Festival for which attendees can obtain free tickets for entry. During summer, there are also Food Trucks at the Daley Plaza farmer's market. A few old-style food carts come out at certain days (hot dogs, tamales, frozen treats). These can be found on Michigan Ave near Millenium Park and in ethnic neighborhoods like Pilsen. Pop-up restaurants are scheduled or occur regularly.

Also try local foods at the many ethnic food festivals. City or village-sponsored are the biggest. Farmers' markets may vary their meal offerings weekly. Church events often welcome all. Holiday events (Independence Day, festive Christmas season are the most common, but also Pride Fest, Bastille Day, Octoberfest and Diwali Festival). There is a pumpkin festival in Highwood, a north shore suburb, but for harvest festivals search "Harvest Festivals You Don't Want to Miss" to find details (Harvest Pow Wow at Naper Settlement in Naperville). Smaller street festivals focused on local shops and artisans may also have food. One of the most anticipated during the holiday season is the annual Chicago Christkindlmart. Search "German food at Chicago Christkindlmarket" for an idea of what foods are available.

Fortunes may vary, so food pantries are scattered around the city, and food give-away programs have their spots.

Drink
Chicagoland has beer (craft breweries abound), wine (one winery in Roselle), spirits (craft distilleries), mixed drinks, and coffee to compete with any other first-class city in the world.

Craft beer breweries
Goose Island Brewery started as an independent brewery on Chicago's only island at the Chicago River. It is now owned by Anheuser-Busch and still brews and distributes local favorites 312 and Green Line beers. Craft breweries: Great Lakes (in Lake Bluff), Half Acre (in Chicago) and Two Brothers (in Warrenville) are among the biggest and their beers are easily found. Many breweries have added kitchens to serve quality foods, with limited hours and days.

Drinking rules and permits
Drinking alcohol in the parks or streets of Chicago is not allowed. Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion events are among the rare exceptions. "Picnic permits" might provide an option to add alcohol to your event. At the forest preserves in Cook County, outside of Chicago, drink is allowed if away from roads and designated non-drinking areas. Restaurants, sports stadiums, and entertainment venues may have liquor permits (ether bring your own, beer and wine, or additional spirits permits), which allow for the serving of alcohol.

Coffee, tea, smoothies and the water
Chicagoland's love of coffee is extensive. Excellent coffee can be found in the city and throughout the region. Coffee roasters sell at their own shops and may distribute their coffee widely. Starbucks locations have grown extensively in Chicagoland and the city is home to the largest Starbucks in the World. In addition, Metropolis (local), Dark Matter, and Peets, are among the chains in Chicagoland. There are spots that import coffee from Europe or Jamaica. Tea shops specializing in teas may also be found. Bubble tea has become hugely popular in the US and you'll find a dense population of boba tea shops in Chinatown.

Smoothie and juice bars are at chains and certain vegan or ethnic restaurants. Drinking fountains are often found at the parks and beaches. Treated water from Lake Michigan is considered quite acceptable and many villages in Chicagoland contract with lakefront towns to get Lake Michigan water as opposed to well water. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago website may be checked for water safety information.

Stay safe
Chicagoland, as a whole, is generally safe. However, depending on what a visitor is doing and when they are visiting, unique situations can be present. Below is a brief summary:

The police emergency number is 911. If used from a cell phone, it will contact the town or village you are in. If near the border of a town, the town's police can transfer you to the town you need. CWB Chicago reports crime in the city. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) can be contacted via local area (there are 3) or central non-emergency numbers. Other towns have their own police and will have non-emergency numbers. Chicago will put you through to non-emergency or emergency services using 311 (phone or app), and the CPD maintains a website map online of crime statistics.

Waterfront conditions
As of 2021, the lake has been high for a few years causing a few beaches to be closed to swimmers (sometimes due to the erosion protections added by the US Army Corps of Engineers). The beaches are a gem but Lake Michigan can be dangerous due to its temperature and occasional rip tides. Lifeguards are posted during summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and swimming is allowed within designated areas. Chicago beaches are in need of lifesaving equipment (lifesaver rings and ropes) as well as a need for better signs. There are docks one can walk upon, but at times of high waves or ice they become slippery. Once in cold water, a person will have a hard time breathing or swimming. Be safe. Coast Guard service is limited. Life vests are recommended if on any water.

After the pandemic, Chicago beaches reopened in Spring 2021.

Winter weather
While winter weather tends to be more mild in Chicagoland than other parts of the Midwest, the region is by no means immune to blizzards and heavy snow. When travelling during snowy or icy weather, there are some things travelers should know:
 * Public transit (especially trains) will most likely operate throughout any winter weather event. If you can, use the Metra or the CTA lines to get around.
 * If you are travelling by car, know that almost all jurisdictions use a three-tier system for plowing (meaning that major routes get first attention with local roads tending to be done last). For those reasons, travelers should try to stick to major routes and roads (such as the tollways and freeways).
 * Since ownership of roads varies considerably throughout the region, those traveling on roads should note that the status of one road (whether good or bad) has no bearing on the status of any other road.
 * Given the location of Chicagoland, "lake effect snow" is a common occurrence. Visitors should take lake effect snow seriously, especially as it can dramatically impact travel conditions.

Crime
Though it has received national attention for crime, most of Chicagoland is safe for travelers who use good judgment. That said, occasional crime in areas previously considered safe such as on Michigan Ave, or in the Loop (central downtown), or on Rush Street (near north) has been on the rise.

Newspapers

 * The Chicago Tribune ("The Trib") is the Chicago area's biggest daily, and publishes a suburban edition.
 * The Chicago Sun-Times The other major Chicago paper, long-time rivals with the Tribune.
 * The Daily Herald is a large daily newspaper aimed primarily at the suburbs.
 * The Northwest Herald.

Go next
Chicagoland is adjacent to Northern and Central Illinois, to Southeast Wisconsin, and to Northwestern Indiana. Parts of Wisconsin and Indiana are sometimes included in the definition of Chicagoland.

title: Chicagoland


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Chicago skyline guide

Chicago's skyline is one of the world's tallest and easily ranks among its most magnificent. It boasts several of the tallest buildings in the Western Hemisphere, including the massive Sears Tower, which was for much of the 20th century the tallest building in the world, and remains right near the top of such lists.

Understand

See Architecture for more on Chicago's skyscrapers and some of their shorter, notable counterparts.

In the late 19th century, Chicago's downtown was an ideal location for architects of ambition; the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 had literally gutted the downtown area, creating a relentless drive to re-build and ample space in which to do it. Chicago's engineers solved the problem of the load-bearing wall, liberating structures from the limits of what a masonry foundation could support. Built in 1885, William LeBaron Janney's 10-story Home Insurance Building was the first to use a steel-frame skeleton to support its walls — at one-third of the weight of a structure using conventional means. Real estate prices and building heights soared in the years that followed, but the boom years of the 1920s financial bubble saw an unprecedented wave of skyscrapers that shattered previous records for size, including the still-extant Mather Tower, Tribune Tower, and later the Chicago Board of Trade.

The second wave, oddly enough, occurred during the 1960s and 70s, when urban centers across America were experiencing white flight and severe population decline. The answer of Chicago's first Mayor Daley was simple: build, and then build some more. As a result, while the residential population spread across a wide range of suburbs, commercial activity remained fixed at the center of the city. It was during this time when Chicago gained its most famous modern skyscrapers, including the three of the tallest: the Sears Tower, the Aon Center, and the John Hancock Center. (It was also during this time — as occurred during the first wave — when a giant swathe of early skyscrapers were recklessly demolished.)

The third wave of supertall construction hit in the beginning of the 21st century. Driven by downtown Chicago's residential real estate boom (the hottest in the country prior to the 2007–2008 financial crisis), existing buildings were converted from office space to condominiums and hotels, and builders raced to erect some of the world's tallest buildings, which have radically re-shaped the city's skyline. The most obvious result of the building spree is the Trump Tower, the fourth tallest building in the U.S., and second in Chicago only to the Sears Tower. Following the financial crisis, though, construction on several very high profile buildings ground to an abrupt halt as virtually all sources of credit dried up, rendering some of the most intriguing projects mere flights of fancy, relegated to the dustbin of counterfactual history, including the once highly anticipated Chicago Spire.

Views
Using this guide, you should be able to figure out what buildings you are looking at from any of Chicago's most popular skyline-gazing spots. The CTA Red Line is the best means for reaching most of the viewing points that follow; see individual district articles for more detailed directions.

The most popular views of Chicago's skyline are over Lake Michigan from the east. The two main locations for easterly views are:

The Loop view from Adler Planetarium:

and the Near North Side view from Navy Pier:

The clearest view from the North Side is at Uptown's Montrose Point:

The most popular view from the South Side is at US Cellular Field:

And a typical West Side view can be found at Ashland L Station on the CTA Green/Pink Line, near the United Center:

But perhaps even more remarkable are the views from the skyline itself, particularly the John Hancock Center Observatory:

and the Sears Tower Skydeck:

Buildings
The following is a reference list of Chicago skyscrapers, in descending order by height, listed on the views maps. For directions, maps and information for buildings that are open to visitors, see individual district articles. All but one of these buildings can be found in the Loop and the Near North.

Under construction
After the events of September 11, 2001, it was proposed that the era of the super-tall skyscraper was over; people did not want to live or work in what were, essentially, big attack targets. Funding dried up for a while, and modest designs were the word of the day.

That didn't last long. Chicago is too wrapped up in the idea of the skyscraper to stop building them, and in time, the economic backing returned: Chicago's downtown underwent an unprecedented residential real estate and construction boom over the next six years, leading Forbes Magazine to declare the 60602 zip code the hottest in the country. Things slowed down following the financial collapse, but the air is still filled with cranes and scaffolding and dreams—expect the construction to pick up faster than the economy.

Real estate recovery seems no longer a matter of speculation as of 2013, with a ream of new supertall constructions beginning. Perhaps the most anticipated project of late is the set of three skyscrapers slated to go up on Wolf Point at the western bend of the Chicago River downtown, with the tallest registering at 950 ft. That will make for a busy section of town, given the construction of 650 ft River Point just across the river!

title: Chicago skyline guide


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Puerto Malabrigo

Puerto Malabrigo, also known as Puerto Chicama, is a city in Peru 20 km north west of Paijan. It should not be confused with Chicama, the seat of Chicama district, located 30 km north of Trujillo. Puerto Malabrigo/Chicama is known by surfers for having the world's longest left hand wave.

Do
Surf the longest left hand wave in the world (this means that when you look at the sea from the beach, the wave breaks from the left to the right hand side).

If you don't have your own surf kit, there are several options:

 * Zorro's - next to El Hombre hostal on the hill that overlooks the Puerto Malabrigo Beach. Rents boards and wetsuits. When the waves are big, the owner also films surfers and can make you a DVD of the ride.
 * Chino Moreno - in town on Calle Zacna 281 opposite Puerto Malabrigo's main market. There´s a little sign saying board rental above the shop. The owner Victor rents boards and wetsuits, and has a larger selection to choose from. He has been maintaining a guestbook of surfers that have visited Chicama since 1992, and knows the area well. He can also take you on surf excursions to nearby Poemape and Pacosmayo, and arrange archaeological tours of local pyramids (for example El Pyramide del Brujo). Home phone is +51 44343017, cell is +51 948573187, emails are chinomorenode_chicama@hotmail.com & chinomorenode_chicama@yahoo.es, http://chicama.weebly.com/

Sleep
There are several options available in town but the nicest are up on the hill overlooking the point in Puerto Malabrigo.

 * El Hombre - one of the longer standing hostals on the point. Beds start at S/15 (soles) a night, and the family that run it are very friendly. Has a great view off the beach and the waves. Doris, the keystone of the operation can also whip up breakfast, lunch or dinner (for residents and non-residents).
 * Iguana Inn Hotel- a really nice place to stay. You can use the kitchen when you want so you don't have to pay for restaurants it also has wi-fi, garage, hot water, big rooms and reasonable prices. Contact : Iguanainnperu@hotmail.com

Go next
Most come via Trujillo. From the Santa Cruz inter provincial bus terminal in Trujillo you can pick up a Dorado bus to Chicama. This takes approximately 2 hours, and costs S/5. You can put surfboards on the bus at no extra charge.

You can also take a taxi from Trujillo. One way costs approximately S/120, there and back costs approximately S/150.

title: Puerto Malabrigo


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Chichen Itza

Chichén Itzá is the largest of the archaeological cities of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It is one of Mexico's most visited tourist destinations. It was granted World Heritage Site status in 1988 by UNESCO World Heritage Site and was selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

While the ruins are amazing, you will probably be disappointed by the large number of vendors allowed in the park. The vendors certainly don't "ruin" the experience, but they do diminish it. They are ubiquitous, often loud, and sometimes aggressive. This is in contrast to other Mayan historical sites where vendors are prohibited (e.g. Tikal in Guatemala).

Understand
Many tourists visit Chichen Itza as a day trip, especially from Cancún, more than 160 km (100 miles) away. This archaeological site is also an hour and a half away from Mérida, the capital of Yucatan. The Maya communities near Chichen Itza have developed many wonderful sites for travellers to rejoice in the Maya Cultural heritage. It is recommended you avoid a day-trip visit to Chichen Itza and schedule a night or two to enjoy all the activities nearby. This allows time to see more than just a portion of this large site. If you stay a night here, come to the archaeological site early in the day before the sun is so hot, and before most of the day-trippers arrive. This is a large park and usually visitors are on a tight schedule, consider the services of a guide. They can be found in the museum at the entrance and are very nice and reasonably priced. If you tire of their company, they will not be offended if you mention that you would like to visit on your own. A guide can give you information on sleeping overnight at the site.

Entrance fee to the area is M$571, way less for Mexican nationals (2022) and if you want to film with a video camera, you'll need to pay an additional M$50. Digital camera with video capability are exempted. Tripods are forbidden unless you obtained special permits months ahead of time. Entry is free for children under 13, and on Sundays for Mexican nationals, so you may encounter larger crowds on Sunday.

If visiting during the rainy season, consider bringing an umbrella and/or a rainjacket. Otherwise, vendors will sell plastic ponchos for M$50. However, the rain comes and goes quickly, so it may be worth it to just tough it out.

History
Chichen Itza was a center of pilgrimage for the ancient Maya for over 1,000 years. The Sacred Cenote (a large natural limestone sink hole) was holy to the ancient Rain God "Chac".

About 987 the ruler of the Toltec people of central Mexico came here, and with his Maya allies made Chichen Itza the most powerful city in the Yucatan. The ruler called himself "Kukulcan", the name of the Mesoamerican Feathered Serpent deity (also known as "Quetzalcoatl") and Chichen Itza became a center for worship of that god as well. More buildings were built here in a mixture of Maya and Toltec styles.

About 1221 the Maya revolted against the rulers of Chichen Itza. The city was not abandoned, but as political power shifted elsewhere it declined and no major new buildings were constructed. Chichen Itza remained a place of pilgrimage for the Maya until it was conquered by the Spanish Conquistadors in the 16th century.

The structures of Chichen Itza were overgrown with jungle and slowly decayed until major archaeological projects began in the 1920s. Since then, more of the ancient structures have been cleared and restored and more and more tourists come to visit.

By road
Chichen Itza is on the main highway between the capital city of Mérida and the resort city of Cancún.

ADO bus service from Cancun costs M$258 one way (May 2016) and the trip takes three hours.

From Valladolid you can take the colectivo vans which wait next to the bus station. The cost is M$40 (Oriente Bus/Colectivo) one way and the first one leaves at 7am. The trip takes 45 minutes. Collectivo leaves from Chichen Itza every half an hour back to Valladolid and stop along the way to cenote Ik Kil.

If you are outside of Chichen Itza, a number of companies organize tours.

If going by motorbike, do not park at the main crossroad near Chichen Itza, as the nearby scammers will instruct you. Instead, continue towards Chicken Itza visitor center and park there.

If you have time and are looking for a more adventurist route, the libre road that runs parallel to the toll highway goes through and by many villages and gives a better feel for the area. If you take the libre route, you must be more alert for pedestrians and animals on the road, as well as the numerous speed bumps you will encounter. If after dark, stick to the toll road. Come by automobile or take the very regular bus service.

By train
Mexico's new Tren Maya intercity railway is a 1,525 km loop through the Yucatan Peninsula connecting major cities, airports, archaeological sites, and other destinations. Chichen Itza is a station on the section between Cancun and Merida. From Cancun, the station is on the south side of the airport (opposite side of the runway from the terminal buildings). A shuttle is available to the train station. From Merida, the train station is in Teya, on the south side of the city.

Tickets can be purchased in Tren Maya stations or using the official Tren Maya web site.

Get around
At the site you get around on foot. Wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes; consider that you may want to try climbing rough stone stairs in them. Sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat may be good ideas too. There is very little usable shade in the middle hours of the day. Bring a pair of binoculars, star-gazing and birding is incredible in this region. Also, if you want to know more about the Mayan local communities, their cooking, religious rites, calendar system and ancient arts, visit the small towns around Chichen.

Official guides wear a white shirt and khaki/brown pants and cost 1200 pesos for the long tour, about 2 hours - recommended if you're interested in Maya culture and history. There is also a shorter tour. Beware of others that may be more expensive. [Jan 2023]

See
These are the vestiges of a fascinating civilization of times past. Well informed guides speaking all major languages are available for hire here, or explore on your own with a guide book and map. The entrance fee for the archaeological park is M$614, as of Nov 2023.

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Do

 * Clap at the North or West side of the pyramid, to hear back a "Quetzal bird sound"
 * The area has excellent birdwatching opportunities. Guests at the Hacienda Chichen have access to the hotel's bird refuge and extensive nature trails.
 * There are several fantastic cenotes, fresh water sinkholes in the limestone, found near Chichen Itza. Some of them are surrounded by lush gardens with restaurants, washrooms and showers. During a hot day, cenotes make for a great way to cool your self off in the afternoon, take a break and split up your day.
 * The Descent of Kukulcan During the three most celebrated days which witnesses The Descent of Kukulcan (the 19th, 20th and 21 March), Chichen Itza hosts music, dances and theatrical performances organized in the interior of the site, as well as at the access door.
 * The Descent of Kukulcan During the three most celebrated days which witnesses The Descent of Kukulcan (the 19th, 20th and 21 March), Chichen Itza hosts music, dances and theatrical performances organized in the interior of the site, as well as at the access door.

Buy

 * Toh Boutique and The Maya Hut sells Maya craft, textiles and jewelry. Purchases support the Maya Foundation and the Nature Conservation and Bird Refuge Program, reforesting the region and preventing the illegal hunting of white tail deer and other animals in the area. They also have a tradition of dancing.

Many vendors will say "Only 1 dollar" or "1 peso". Do not assume that is the actual price of items they are selling. Once you try to complete the transaction it will be actually 1 dollar off or 1 peso off and you will be ask to further "negotiate" with them. Don't be afraid to walk away: they will follow you with a better offer; they enjoy the challenge, it's Mexico!

If you are on a tour, prices at a souvenir stop will be much more expensive than those offered by other vendors. Regardless, souvenirs will still be cheaper than those found in Cancun.

Be sure to have cash pesos; changing money may be difficult here, especially on weekends.

Many of the items sold are treated with gasoline, especially products made from wood.

Drink
Be sure to drink lots of bottled water. Those not accustomed to the tropical heat and sun can otherwise risk dehydration.

There are several refreshment stands in the archaeological site.

Sleep
There are a handful of hotels by the ruins, along the highway nearby, and in the nearby town of Piste, in a variety of price ranges. Some have good swimming pools and restaurants. The town of Valladolid, 40 km away, is a less-touristed alternate base.

 * Villas Arqueologicas (former Club Med), Carr. Mérida - Valladolid km 120. Pool, tennis courts, billiards.  US$112 (standard room), US$225 (suite for 4).
 * Villas Arqueologicas (former Club Med), Carr. Mérida - Valladolid km 120. Pool, tennis courts, billiards.  US$112 (standard room), US$225 (suite for 4).
 * Villas Arqueologicas (former Club Med), Carr. Mérida - Valladolid km 120. Pool, tennis courts, billiards.  US$112 (standard room), US$225 (suite for 4).
 * Villas Arqueologicas (former Club Med), Carr. Mérida - Valladolid km 120. Pool, tennis courts, billiards.  US$112 (standard room), US$225 (suite for 4).

Stay safe
If visiting during the rainy season, consider bringing an umbrella and/or a rain jacket. Otherwise, vendors will sell plastic ponchos for US$5 or 50 pesos. However, the rain comes and goes quickly, so it may be worth it to just tough it out.

If you bring a video camera, they might charge you extra. Digital camera with video capability are exempted. Tripods are forbidden unless you obtained special permits months ahead of time.

title: Chichen Itza


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Chichester

Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, on England's South East coast. Chichester is famous for the annual Chichester Festivities and the Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival.

Understand
Chichester has been occupied since before Roman times, when it was believed to have been one of the bridgeheads of the Roman invasion of Britain. The city centre is built on the Roman town of Noviomagus, and it benefits from the cross-shaped design favoured by the Romans - North Street, South Street, East Street and West Street converge on the Chichester Cross, a medieval market cross. The city centre is still surrounded by much of the Roman wall.

Visitor information

 * The Great Sussex Way website

By car
The A27 runs east from Chichester, past Arundel, to Worthing and Eastbourne; and goes the other way west to Portsmouth, where it joins the M27 and goes on to Southampton and the New Forest. The A286 heads north, eventually reaching Guildford.

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

is just south of the City Centre. It is served by Southern services from London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Portsmouth and Southampton; and First Great Western services from Bristol and the West Country.

By bus
Chichester is served by the daily 315 National Express south coast service from Cornwall to Eastbourne and by the 206 route from Poole to Gatwick Airport via Southampton and Portsmouth (nine times a day and some overnight services).

The Stagecoach South Coastliner 700 service provides frequent direct services to Chichester from Portsmouth, Havant, Emsworth, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Stagecoach also provide frequent services to Chichester from Midhurst, Selsey, and Bracklesham Bay. Emsworth District Coaches provide up to four services a day on their service from Petersfield while Compass provide infrequent services from Arundel and Petworth.

Get around
The centre of Chichester is small, and can easily be covered on foot. As with most other towns in England, the town is well served by buses and taxis.

By bus
There is a bus station situated next to the railway station, south of the city centre. It is a hub for main south coast and local services. Many services also stop outside the cathedral in West Street, as do a large number in Market Road at the end of East Street.

By taxi
Most taxis in Chichester are private hire vehicles. There are a number of locally based companies to Chichester:

Do

 * Walk the old city walls
 * Take part in the annual Chichester Festivities
 * Horse-racing: Fontwell Park is a National Hunt (jumps) racetrack along A27 six miles east of Chichester, with most races Nov-March. The National Spirit Hurdle in February is a qualifier for the Cheltenham Cup.
 * Horse-racing: Fontwell Park is a National Hunt (jumps) racetrack along A27 six miles east of Chichester, with most races Nov-March. The National Spirit Hurdle in February is a qualifier for the Cheltenham Cup.
 * Horse-racing: Fontwell Park is a National Hunt (jumps) racetrack along A27 six miles east of Chichester, with most races Nov-March. The National Spirit Hurdle in February is a qualifier for the Cheltenham Cup.

Drink

 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.
 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.
 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.
 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.

Connect

 * As of Feb 2023, Chichester and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers, and town centre has 5G from Vodafone.

Go next
Other places of interest in the Chichester area
 * Arundel Picturesque town with impressive castle; 40 min by frequent train, change at Barnham
 * Emsworth little fishing town has some great restaurants, pubs and an excellent food festival in early September.
 * Selsey popular coastal destination
 * Bognor Regis Traditional seaside resort, popular with families
 * Bracklesham Bay popular coastal destination notable for surfing and kitesurfing

A little further afield, but worth the trip:

 * Brighton an hour by frequent train, the Royal Pavilion is a knock-out
 * Portsmouth 40 min by frequent train, see the Historic Dockyard

title: Chichester


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Chichibu

Chichibu (秩父市 Chichibu-shi) is a city in Saitama Prefecture.

Understand
Chichibu is a beautiful town about one and a half hours from Tokyo. It is famous for autumn leaves and the Chichibu Yomatsuri, a night festival that attracts thousands of people from around Japan. The city is contained in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site. with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
The Seibu Chichibu Line (西武秩父線) from Ikebukuro is the quickest way to get to Chichibu from Tokyo. You can catch either a local train, which requires you to change trains at Hanno but is cheaper, or pay the extra surcharge for the speed and comfort of the Limited Express "Red Arrow" which is quicker and you don't have to change. Catch either of these from Seibu Ikebukuro Station. If you have time, go though the food hall in the basement of the Seibu department store and grab something to eat on the train — local commuters often eat their dinner or lunch on the train.

JR Skinkansen trains depart Tokyo and Ueno stations for a 45-minute trip to Kumagaya, where you can transfer for a Chichibu Railway to Chichibu.

Go next

 * Ogano
 * Minano
 * Nagatoro
 * Yorii
 * Yogoze
 * Hanno
 * Higashichichibu
 * Kanna
 * Yamanashi

title: Chichibu


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Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park

Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park (秩父多摩甲斐国立公園 Chichibu-Tama-Kai Kokuritsukōen) is a national park in Japan at the intersection of Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano and Tokyo prefectures.

Understand
Chichibu-Tama-Kai is the least visited of the national parks within easy striking distance of Tokyo. With eight peaks over 2000 m scattered over 1250 km2, there are plenty of hiking opportunities and ancient shrines to visit.

Information Site
Ministry of Environment has an official bilingual webpage for the park.

By train
The most popular access route is on the Seibu Chichibu Line (西武秩父線) from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to the terminus Chichibu station (75 minutes, ¥1370 via limited express).

For access to the Oku-Tama region, take the JR Chuo line to terminus Ōme (75 minutes), transferring at Tachikawa if necessary. From here, transfer to the Ome line; a trip to (e.g.) Mitake station from here takes 20 minutes and costs ¥890.

For access to the Yamanashi region, take the JR Chuo line to Enzan station.

Get around
As the region is best known for its hiking, the recommended way of getting around is on foot.

Do
It is possible to hike Mitsumine and Mitake either separately as day trips, or as a full day's hike along the trail connecting the two.

Eat
There are a number of basic food stalls and tea houses on the short trail connecting Mitsumine-guchi to the cable car station.

Go next

 * Chichibu
 * Koshu
 * Okutama

title: Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park


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Chichicastenango

Chichicastenango is a small town in the Western Highlands of Guatemala (pop. about 23000). Located at an altitude of 2030m, it is surrounded by valleys and mountains. It is mostly renowned for its colourful markets, held on Thursdays and Sundays, where it is said that some of the most beautiful traditional Mayal textiles are sold.

Get in
After 17km from the Los Encuentros junctions, you will go through endless switchbacks to reach Chichicastenango. Many buses and shuttles from Guatemala City, Antigua and Panajachel provide easy access to Los Encuentros and change the bus there toward Chichicastenango. There are steady flow of direct buses for market days.

See
The Festival of Santo Thomas is one of the largest celebrations in Guatemala. It is a combination of a city festival with traditional dances, a religious celebration by the Cofradia and the regular market.

It starts December 13th and goes to December 22nd with the biggest day December 21st. There are Toros and Castillos of fireworks in the main square in the evening, after dark. Firecrackers and mortars are set off in front of the Church of Santo Thomas all day long.

There are two religious processions per day, lead by the Cofradia carrying altars decorated with flowers and fruit collecting the saints from neighborhood chapels and taking them to the Church of Santo Thomas.

Understand
There's a small Inguat tourist information office beside Santo Tomás church on 8 Calle with good stock of leaflets about Chichicastenango.

Buy
Visit the market on Thursdays or Sundays where vendors sell everything from chickens to telephones. The market is also the best place to buy traditional Mayan fabrics. Vendors selling similar products (flowers, produce, livestock, clothing, etc.) set up near each other, creating an informal zone structure. Prices get generally cheaper as you get farther away from the center. Go early in the morning to avoid the influx of tour groups arriving by bus.

Go next

 * Lake Atitlán
 * Panajachel
 * Salcajá
 * Huehuetenango

title: Chichicastenango


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Chichiriviche

Chichiriviche is a city in Falcón in Northwest Venezuela.

Understand
Chichiriviche is the main gateway to Morrocoy National Park (the other is Tucacas). From "Chichi" there are boats to half a dozen neighboring cays. Chichi is very popular among the inhabitants of the surrounding cities, so on weekends the town gets very busy and also littered.

Get in
From Valencia there are buses leaving to Chichi from about 07:00 to roughly 16:00. From Puerto Cabello buses take about 2 hours. Most of them will drop you off at the last intersection, where usually shared taxis to Chichi are waiting (10 minutes).

Get around
The town is small, and everything can be reached by walking. The beaches in Chichi itself are not recommended, as they tend to be very dirty. So your best bet is to visit one of the neighboring islands. 3 options for this:
 * official boat: there's a counter at the corniche
 * unofficial boat: you will find hawkers everywhere which offer the same trips for less
 * hotel: some hotels organize boat trips, which are much cheaper

Main islands: Cayo Muerto, Cayo Sal: nearest and most visited islands; food and drinks are available, benches and umbrellas ate rented for the day. Can get quite crowded and littered especially on weekends

Caya Peraza, Cayo Pelon, Cayo Veradura are maybe better options to avoid the crowds

Cayo Sombrero is said to be the best island for coral diving and snorkeling; together with Cayo Pescadores the most distant islands, the beaches farther south should be accessed by Tucacas.

See
Besides chilling on the beaches many birds can be found in the Golfete de Cuare. Especially the flamingos are worth a visit, mostly between August and January.

Buy
On the main street there are many beach shops and several supermarkets.

Eat
From the two restaurants at the Corniche Restaurant "Txulipa" is much better than "La Guicha". Both serve sea food and other meat dishes.

Some hotels and most posadas don't include breakfast. On the main street there are some panaderias, which only open at around 08:00.

Sleep
On weekends it's better to have a reservation, during weekdays availability shouldn't pose a problem.

Caribana Hotel: o.k.-rooms with AC and TV (no breakfast)

Go next
Buses to Valencia leave regularly from the main street ~ 5 blocks away from the corniche (2-2.5 hours).

title: Chichiriviche


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Chickasha

Chickasha is a city in the Frontier Country region of Oklahoma.

title: Chickasha


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Chicken

 * See Meat for chicken as food.

Chicken is a small village located at milepost 66.8 on the Taylor Highway in Alaska. As one of the few places along this highway where fuel is available, it is a popular rest stop.

Local legend is that the town was named after a group of miners decided to name it Ptarmigan after the local birds, but unable to agree on the spelling finally decided "Hell, let's just call it Chicken".

Understand
Founded in 1886 as a gold rush town, Chicken served a remote river valley with almost 400 settlers by 1903. The Pedro Dredge, built in 1938 to mine Pedro Creek north of Fairbanks, was moved to Chicken in 1959 and used to mine 55,000 ounces of gold over the next dozen years. As the amount of remaining gold dwindled, commercial mining operators left; the Dredge was moved to its present location at the Chicken Gold Camp in 1998. While operation is now largely seasonal, a thousand acres of mining claims along the Chicken Creek remain open for temporary lease (days or weeks) to recreational part-time prospectors looking to pan for the last few bits of gold.

By car
The vast majority of visitors arrive by car along the gravel Taylor Highway. The road is not maintained year-round, so travel by road may be impossible once snow falls.

Get around
There are 3 businesses in Chicken: "Chicken Gold Camp & Outpost", "Downtown Chicken" and the "Goldpanner". The first two are located a short distance off of the highway on the Airport Road spur road. The Goldpanner gift shop is located along the Taylor highway.

Given the town's small size (the official population was 38 in 2002) the most obvious way to get around is by foot. Those unwilling to walk the short distances between the town's three businesses may want to ask themselves what they're doing in the wilds of Alaska!

See

Connect
There is one small post office in Chicken, Alaska 99732 which receives mail twice weekly. As Chicken is off the grid, there is no telephone exchange or other utility service in the area. Any Internet access, presumably, is via satellite. Internet telephony may suffice to get a call through, using phone numbers from some other community closer to the beaten path.

Go next

 * Tok - 78 miles away at the southern end of the Taylor Highway at its junction with the Alaska Highway.
 * Dawson City - One of the most famous and historic gold mining towns in the North, 108 miles away along the Taylor and Top of the World highways.

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Chicken bus

Chicken Buses can be primarily found in Central American countries — Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Similar buses are common throughout Latin America, but the term chicken bus is usually reserved for buses in Central America. In Colombia, they call their chicken buses chivas. Belize has chicken buses, but nobody told the drivers they could use their imaginations when decorating the buses, which tend to be boring white or beige without elaborate graphics or gigantic air horns. Fortunately, Belize is a small country and a traveler can quickly pass through and get to a place with livelier, more adventurous buses. Chicken buses are a good option for the adventurous budget traveler with a good working knowledge of Spanish.

Understand

A camioneta is just a bus and that's what locals call their primary mode of transportation. Only tourists (and perhaps locals with much exposure to them) call it a "chicken bus" – a term that may be received as scorn. Whatever the name, an old, often rickety, super cheap bus is the main form of local transport between towns, villages and cities throughout Central America. It is always the cheapest option for travelling for any distance in these countries. Foreign travelers are sometimes shocked that they can travel halfway across a country for the price of bottle of Coke. A chicken bus is usually an old school bus from the USA or Canada which has been brightly painted, often with religious motifs and phrases equating to "Jesus is my driver" and "Jesus protects me", which may justify their use of excessive speed and driving techniques such as overtaking around a blind corner on a narrow road on the top of a hill. A trustworthy chicken bus always has a plastic Jesus stuck to the dashboard. A rosary hanging off a rear-view mirror helps.

They are called "chicken buses" by tourists because they are commonly used by locals for the transport of stock (including live-stock) from one place to another. Goats, pigs, dogs, and yes, chickens can all be found on a chicken bus, but most often on early morning buses coming from rural communities on market day. Some travelers are disappointed that they ride the buses but never see a chicken. Camionetas are usually staffed by a driver, an assistant (called the pavo in some countries) to collect money for tickets and to hang out of the front door to shout the final destination as the bus approaches prospective fares, and sometimes a third person who puts bags and stock on top of the bus. Locals may consider the term "chicken buses" to be offensive.

Chicken buses have a mixed reputation in Central America. Poorer, working class people love them because they stop anywhere, go everywhere, and because they cost almost nothing to ride. Government authorities hate them because they're loud, have an unsafe reputation, and make their country look unsophisticated in the eyes of foreigners. Costa Rica got rid of most chicken buses long ago. Panama used to have the most (and most amazingly gaudy) chicken buses, which they call diablos rojos, but since the early 2010s, the government has been on a mission to shut down the chicken buses, replacing them with clean, modern, boring buses operating under a unified system they refer to as Metrobus. There are still some chicken buses in Panama (sometimes now referred to as piratas), but nothing like the norm in other Central American countries.

Chicken buses are not the only option, even in countries where they seem to be ubiquitous. Modern, first-class luxury coaches are available throughout Central America and are often referred to as pullmans. Most companies operate only within a certain country, for example, Hedman Alas in Honduras. Other companies cross borders and the Costa Rican bus company, Ticabus, has long distance routes between all major cities in Central America and you can take a bus all the way from Panama City in the south to Tapachula, Mexico in the north. Ticabus is the exception though. Most buses focus on more regional routes.

Get around
Using the buses is easy, provided you know where you're going and what large towns are on the way, and if you're heading to a small town, know what large towns are beyond your destination because that's probably a bus's final destination.

How to catch the bus: In large cities there is likely a designated bus terminal area where many buses traveling different routes will begin and end their trips. There may be several of these, usually on roads leading in and out of different sides of the city. Destination guides for the cities may tell you where these bus terminals are located, though local knowledge is most reliable. You can also stand on a road leading towards your next destination and wave to flag down a bus going in the right destination. The bus assistant will usually lean out the door as the bus approaches and yell the name of the final destination (which is typically also emblazoned at the top of the windshield). Be aware that local names of destinations are typically used, which may not be what is shown on maps from the Anglosphere and which is never any long "official" or ceremonial name that Wikipedians love using to confuse travelers. For example, in Guatemala, buses heading towards Quetzaltenango usually have the word Xela on the windshield and buses heading towards Guatemala City have the word Guate on the windshield.

Terminal destinations displayed on the windshield is typical in all Central American countries. In El Salvador, routes are also numbered and the route number is prominently displayed at the top center of the front of the bus. A busy route may have dozens of buses operating on it each day, all with the same route number. Often the buses on a route are owned by a single operator and painted in similar colors, but exceptions are almost as common as the rule.

How to get off the bus: When getting on the bus, many travelers ask the driver to stop in a certain town or at a well-known landmark. Most locals simply move to the front door of the bus when they're getting close to where they want to get off. If you're sitting near the back door of the bus, you may also shout Bajo! and the driver will immediately stop for you to get off. Local customs can vary, so just watch the locals and see how they indicate that they want a stop. Buses will often stop in towns along the way, but the only stops that are strictly required are the terminal destinations (or places indicated on the windshield). If you have questions, ask the driver or assistant when getting on or paying your fare, or ask locals at the bus stops or sitting next to you. Local advice massively trumps anything you read online or in a guidebook.

Schedules: Chicken buses may seem to operate on a whim, but there is a fundamental system behind the scenes, including an ideal schedule, which typically has buses departing every few minutes from very early morning to early evening. Most chicken buses do not run at night, and even if you find one that is, riding it may not be safe. Buses typically leave a terminal when full. Maybe that will be at the scheduled departure time, maybe it will be 10 or 15 minutes later. If there's still room for another chicken on the bus, it's not full. If nobody is sitting in the aisles, the bus is not full. If the driver isn't quite ready to go, the bus is not full. This also means that flagging down a bus near a terminal is a bad idea because the bus is probably full. If Google maps says the driving distance between two cities is 1 hour, double that time (at least) to get an estimate of when a chicken bus will arrive. Chicken buses can and do stop anywhere and sometimes even double the "normal" time doesn't quite cover all the stopping and starting.

See
You are guaranteed a lively journey if travelling for any distance by camioneta as locals cram in and vendors jump on board selling everything from miracle remedies to food and drinks.

Stay safe
Usually, large items are put on top of the bus, but unfortunately, many travellers have found that when they reach their destination their bags have not managed to complete the journey. It is possible to pay for an extra seat inside for your bags (two backpacks can be squeezed onto one seat) to avoid this risk.

A scam to be wary of is someone coming around collecting ticket money before the bus has started its journey. The person you should pay will never come around until the bus is well on its way, so to avoid paying twice, make sure the bus is moving before you hand over any money.

Pickpocketing and bag slashing are also very real risks when travelling by camioneta, but if you use the usual precautions you should be fine. Never put anything valuable in a larger backpack because chances are that it will get put up on the roof and not all things on the roof make it to the same destination as you.

title: Chicken bus


text:
Chiclayo

Chiclayo is in northern coastal Peru.

Understand
Chiclayo is one of the liveliest cities in northern Peru. It has a population of around 609,000 (2022). It is big enough to have supermarkets and small enough to be manageable without hours spend in city buses. The plazas like Parque Principal or Plazuela Elias Aguirre buzz with life even after sunset.

By plane

 * Latam (Lima)
 * JetSmart (Lima)
 * Star Peru (Lima, Iquitos, Tarapoto)
 * Copa Airlines (Panama City).
 * Copa Airlines (Panama City).

The Capitan José A. Quiñones Gonzálezo Airport is at the eastern edge of town on Av Fitzcarrald, 300 m south of its intersection with Av San Francisco Asisi (PE-6A). There is a fairly universal ATM in the departure check-in area, small restaurants, and souvenir shops. The departure tax is included in your ticket fare and the taxis out in the parking are the best way into town.

By bus
All the major bus lines are present in Chiclayo but most have their own terminal spread out over the city.

Linea is on Av. Bolognesi 638.

One block west of Linea is the Terminal for most north- or eastbound buses. Movil is around the corner opposite the Metro supermarket (LP says Av. Bolognesi 199 but I think it is Av. Jose Balta).

Bus tickets can be purchased via Redbus App.

Chiclayo has a number of bus terminals used by different companies serving different destinations:

 * ITTSABUS terminal is at the intersection of Av. Francisco Bolognesi and Av. Grau.
 * TRC Express, at Av. Grau 1645. (web site), serves Cajamarca, Trujillo and Lima.
 * Transportes Chiclayo bus company's terminal is at Av. Jose Leonardo Ortiz 010, (on Google Maps it is named "Empresa de Transportes Chiclayo S.A.")
 * Oltursa terminal, is diagonally opposite to Transportes Chiclayo, on the same intersection
 * Terrapuerto Plaza Norte Chiclayo, on Av. Augusto B. Leguia 2590, is used by bus companies Tepsa, Super Semeria, Ronco Peru, Bus star, Fropesa, Turismo Jaen, Transportes Cromotex, Poseidon, Rutas del Oriente, Turismo Erick el Rojo, Turismo Alysergen and Seysan.
 * "Ormeño Terminal Terrestre Chiclayo", on Av. Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, is used by companies Cautivo, allinbus, Sajybus.
 * Ovalo del Pescador, (Google Maps "Paradero Mórrope"), at intersection of Av. Leguia and Av. Belaunde, is where small combis serving towns of Mochumi, Illimo, Tucume, Pacora, Jayanca, Olmos and Motupe.
 * Terminal Epsel, at intersection of Av. Pierola and Av. Quiñones, are only for combi vans which serve closer destinations like Sipan, Chongoyape, Zaña, Pomalca, Batan Grande, Ferreñafe etc.
 * Angel Divino, bus company also serves Trujullo, Lima, Cajamarca and more

Get around
Chiclayo is full of Tico taxis. Short journeys cost S/3. A station would be better if less easy to find to go to Sipan, Ferreñafe, Lambayeque or the beaches S/15, or Tucume S/20. Three wheeler motor rickshaw mototaxis cost half the price.

"Colectivos" (or "taxi colectivos") in Peru refer to shared sedan taxis that takes 4 passengers, not the midi-bus type in some other South American countries. Combis are 8-12 seater small vans.

See
A few surrounding sites can be visited from Chiclayo as a base.
 * Sipan Museum - (Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipan) - The museum is in the center of Lambayeque and definitely worth a visit although descriptions are in Spanish only. It features most of the treasures of the Sipan tombs together including a replica of the grave looked like and how it was discovered in 1989. Ticket S/10. Open Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. Taxi colectivos from Chiclayo run from many places, while combis run from Terminal Epsel, cost S/3). No restrictions on photography as of 2023 Feb.
 * Huaca Rajada archeological complex (and Museo de Sitio Huaca Rajada-Sipán) funeral site of the Lord of Sipan and truncated pyramids. To reach, take combi from Terminal Epsel to the town of Sipan (cost S/ 6), then 1.7 km mototaxi from Sipan (or 21 min walk)
 * Sipan tombs - The excavation site is 30 km out of town
 * Tucume and Museo de Sitio Tucume - archeological site with 26 pyramids built by the ancient Peruvians. Daily 08:00-16:30pm. 32 km north of Chiclayo. To reach, take combi from Ovalo del Pescador in Chiclayo, cost S/6.
 * Sican Museum (Museo Nacional Sicán) - (different from Sipan Museum). Museum with replica of Sican tomb burial site discovered in 1987, exhibits remains of Sican culture. It is 18 km north of Chiclayo in Ferreñafe. To reach, take combi from Chiclayo Terminal Epsel to Ferreñafe town, (cost S/ 3) then a short mototaxi from town to the museum (1.2 km, cost S/ 2, 2023 Feb prices.)
 * Pomac Forest Historical Sanctuary (Santuario Histórico Bosque de Pómac). Combi from Terminal Epsel, cost S/ 8.

Do

 * Witch Market - Deep in the market quarters is one row of shops called the witch market (probably second row of shops coming from around Arica #950)

Buy

 * Real Plaza shopping center and Ripley in the city center.
 * Mercado Modelo is a very big market where it´s possible to buy almost anything. It´s crowded and it´s easy to get robbed so be careful.
 * Mercado Central
 * Plaza Aventura - conventional large shopping mall

Budget

 * Mi Tia's on Elias Aguirre on the corner of the town square is excellent! Very friendly staff, a good selection of food, to go orders, dine in and at night they have a burger window!

Mid-range

 * Marakos Restaurant offers good menus. Grilled beef is one of the most popular and delicious dishes.
 * Sorrentos - this evening-only set of diners is not to be missed: great beef empanadas, excellent French fries and top notch salad. Also great Lomo.

Stay safe
The bus companies, hotels & thieves are very central. Do not flash any valuables (such as taking a photo) when walking around this area; it looks safe but there are thieves around.

Pimentel is a fairly unsafe area. Travellers are reported to be robbed there in broad daylight, close to the beach.

Go next

 * Transportes Linea has hourly buses to Trujillo (3 hours) & on to Lima (11 hours).
 * Movil Tours are good value to Chachapoyas & Tarapoto.

title: Chiclayo


text:
Chico

There is more than one place called Chico:

United States of America

 * 1) Chico (California) - A college town in Butte County in the state of California.
 * 2) Chico (Washington) - A city on the Kitsap Peninsula in the state of Washington.

title: Chico


text:
Chico (California)

Chico is in Butte County in California. Chico is the cultural and economic center of the northern Sacramento Valley, as well as the largest city in California north of Sacramento. The city is known as a college town, as the home of California State University, Chico, and for Bidwell Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.

Understand

 * Chico City Council website

By train
Amtrak makes a once-daily stop in Chico at the at 450 Orange St on Orange and W 5th St with the following:
 * Amtrak Coast Starlight makes an once daily trip in each direction between Seattle and Los Angeles, serving Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.

By car
Chico straddles SR 99, and is also accessible via SR 32 east of Orland at Exit #619 off Interstate 5 (I-5).

By plane
The nearest international airport is in Sacramento located  to the south. Chico also hosts a general aviation airport known as the  four miles north of the city.

Get around
Ride a bike. One of the best bike friendly towns around, the locals and students prefer to bike around it.

Taxis are prolific and cheap, and must be called to your location to pick you up.

The bus transit system, the B-line, will take you most places around the city at an hourly rate.

Go next

 * Gold Country - Where the formation of California really took place.
 * Mount Lassen - Excellent outdoor hiking and breathtaking scenery in the volcanic park about an hour and a half from Chico.
 * Oroville - Twenty minutes east of Chico is this town that has more history as a Gold Rush-era boom town.
 * Sacramento - About 1 hour and 45 minutes south of Chico and the capital of California.

title: Chico (California)


text:
Chico (Washington)

Chico is located on the Kitsap Peninsula in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

Chico, named in 1889 to honor Indian Chief Chico, who lived in the area, is a small residential area along the west side of Dyes Inlet between Silverdale and Bremerton.

The area has beautiful water views and views of Mt. Rainier to the South.

title: Chico (Washington)


text:
Chicopee

Chicopee is a city of 56,000 people (2018) on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts.

Chicopee today goes by the nickname the "Crossroads of New England" as part of a business-development marketing campaign, one that West Springfield also uses. The name reflects the city's location among a number of metropolitan areas and its transportation network.

Understand
Chicopee is a city built around several smaller former mill communities on its namesake, the Chicopee River.

The city is made up of several neighborhoods; the result of the city's origin as a collection of four villages in the northernmost part of Springfield, which seceded from it in 1848. Chicopee Falls, Chicopee Center (Cabotville), Fairview, and Willimansett continued to develop. In the early 1900s, Aldenville developed as a distinct community. Since then, the city has filled in most of its open space resulting in a number of new neighborhoods. These neighborhoods include Chicomansett, Ferry Lane, Sandy Hill and the geographically isolated Burnett Road neighborhood.

"Chicopee" is derived from the Nipmuc language, probably from the words chekee ("violent") and pe ("waters") in most Algonquian dialects, with reference to rapids. The Nipmuc were the indigenous people who occupied this area before the arrival of European colonists.

Alternatively, chikkuppee ("of cedar") may be the adjective form of chickkup ("cedar").

History
During the 19th century, the city was home to the first American producer of friction matches and a variety of other industries, including the Ames Manufacturing Company, an early pioneer in machining lathes, building upon the work of Springfield's Thomas Blanchard, and the largest producer of swords and cutlasses for the Union Army during the Civil War. By the start of the 20th century, the city's industrial plants included those of the Fisk Tire Company, one of the largest tire makers of that time, and some of the earliest sporting goods factories of A. G. Spalding.

Today the city is home to a variety of specialty manufacturers, and to Westover Air Reserve Base, the largest Air Force Reserve Base of the United States, built in 1940 during World War II.

By car
Four highways run through its boundaries, including I-90, I-91, I-291, and I-391, and state routes such as Route 33, 116, and 141.

See

 * Ames Tower Ames Tower in Cabotville, part of the Ames Manufacturing facilities and is now part of the Ames Privilege Apartment complex.
 * The Cabotville Historic Sycamore Trees, trees that were present when Chicopee became a town in 1848, matured when it became a city in 1890. They were designated Heritage Trees in 1999 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
 * The Chicopee War Memorial, off of the intersection of Bonneville Avenue and Front Street, is home to several statues and monuments to World War II veterans and Vietnam War veterans.
 * The Emerson Gaylord Mansion, a historic mansion is located at the north edge of the Elms College campus on the corner of Springfield and Fairview Streets (199 Springfield Street). It is described by Kristin O'Connell ("The Architectural Heritage of Chicopee") as a less pure example of the French Second Empire style, because of its asymmetrical exterior and its unusually high steep roof.
 * The Uniroyal Office Building, a historic building in Chicopee Falls that was part of the Uniroyal Industrial Complex.
 * The Willimansett Dike, an elevated, artificial levee in Willimansett, built after the destructive Willimansett flood caused by The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. It stretches from Nash Field, following the Connecticut River south to I-90 bridge adjacent to the Chicopee boat ramp.
 * Westover Air Reserve Base, built in 1940 as an Army Air Corps and later Army Air Forces installation known as Westover Field. It became Westover Air Force Base when the Air Force became an independent service in 1947. From 1955 until 1974, it was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation. Transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 1974, it was renamed Westover Air Reserve Base and is now the home of the 439th Airlift Wing, flying the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Westover is the largest Air Force Reserve base in the United States. A joint civil-military facility, it is also home to Westover Metropolitan Airport.
 * The Chicopee War Memorial, off of the intersection of Bonneville Avenue and Front Street, is home to several statues and monuments to World War II veterans and Vietnam War veterans.
 * The Emerson Gaylord Mansion, a historic mansion is located at the north edge of the Elms College campus on the corner of Springfield and Fairview Streets (199 Springfield Street). It is described by Kristin O'Connell ("The Architectural Heritage of Chicopee") as a less pure example of the French Second Empire style, because of its asymmetrical exterior and its unusually high steep roof.
 * The Uniroyal Office Building, a historic building in Chicopee Falls that was part of the Uniroyal Industrial Complex.
 * The Willimansett Dike, an elevated, artificial levee in Willimansett, built after the destructive Willimansett flood caused by The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. It stretches from Nash Field, following the Connecticut River south to I-90 bridge adjacent to the Chicopee boat ramp.
 * Westover Air Reserve Base, built in 1940 as an Army Air Corps and later Army Air Forces installation known as Westover Field. It became Westover Air Force Base when the Air Force became an independent service in 1947. From 1955 until 1974, it was a Strategic Air Command (SAC) installation. Transferred to the Air Force Reserve in 1974, it was renamed Westover Air Reserve Base and is now the home of the 439th Airlift Wing, flying the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. Westover is the largest Air Force Reserve base in the United States. A joint civil-military facility, it is also home to Westover Metropolitan Airport.

Do

 * The Chicopee Canal Walk, a 1,100-foot (340-m) pedestrian walkway and park that follows the canal from the Cabotville Historic Sycamore Trees to Grape Street. The path follows a portion of a former industrial railway. Plans are to extend the path to the Deady Bridge, creating a bicycle and pedestrian route connecting Cabotville and Chicopee Falls.
 * Frank J. Szot Memorial Park, a focal point for community events in the city with accommodations for baseball, basketball, and picnicking. The stadium is typically used for local and regional soccer and football games. Features include a pond, one World War II and one Cold War era tank, several war monuments, and a fountain.
 * Frank J. Szot Memorial Park, a focal point for community events in the city with accommodations for baseball, basketball, and picnicking. The stadium is typically used for local and regional soccer and football games. Features include a pond, one World War II and one Cold War era tank, several war monuments, and a fountain.

Events

 * The Great New England Air Show is an annual two-day air show held at Westover Air Reserve Base.
 * The Sword Game is an annual football game that began in 1964 after the founding of Chicopee's second high school, Chicopee Comprehensive High School. It is held every fall between Chicopee High School and Chicopee Comprehensive High School. The city's mayor presents the winning team with the Mayor's Sword, a sword that was manufactured in the 1890s by Ames Manufacturing Company in Cabotville.
 * The World Kielbasa Festival is a four-day fair featuring Polish food, polka dancing, games, and rides. It is now held at the Big E grounds in West Springfield.

Go next
Take 91 South to Springfield and Hartford.

title: Chicopee


text:
Chidambaram

Chidambaram is a city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India with a population of about 62,000 (2011). Of the numerous temples the Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram is one of the most significant ones. In terms of its antiquity, richness in terms of worship & festival traditions, in architectural & sculptural splendour, in its association with music & dance, Chidambaram is a center second to none in representing the rich cultural heritage of India. Several rich legends are associated with Chidambaram. The best known, are those describing the Cosmic Dance of Shiva, the dance duel between Shiva and Kaali and the more recent one describing the re-discovery of the Tevaram hymns.

By plane
The airports at Tiruchirapalli (165 km) and Chennai  (215 km) are the nearest airports from Chidambaram. Chennai is connected to all the major cities in India and abroad through regular flights.

By train
Chidambaram is on the Madras-Tiruchirapalli main line of the Southern Railway. It is connected with Tiruchirapalli, Madras, Madurai (335 km), Rameswaram (575 km), Bangalore (340 km), and Stirrup (290 km).

By bus
There are frequent bus services available to Tarious places in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Pondicherry states from Chidambaram. Non-stop bus services and express bus services are also available to major cities like Chennai.

By car
There are autos (Indian cabs) which can be flagged and are a relatively cheap means of transport.

See

 * Kollidam River
 * Kollidam River

Do

 * The Natyanjali annual festival of classical Indian dance that takes place at the end of February is the biggest attraction that brings thousands of people from all over the world.
 * Marghazhi Thiruvaadhirai (in December - January) and the Aani Thirumanjanam (in June - July ) are the key festivals with the main deity being brought outside the sanctum sanctorum in a procession that included a temple car procession followed by a long anointing ceremony. Several hundreds of thousands of people flock the temple to see the anointing ceremony and the ritualistic dance of Shiva when he is taken back to the sanctum sanctorum.

Eat

 * Hotel Palace, Railway feeder road.
 * Hotel Ritz.
 * Hotel Royal Plaza.
 * Kamala Vilas, a non-vegetarian hotel, West car street
 * Moorthy Cafe, in North Main Road, Bole Narayana Pillai Lane
 * R K Residency Hotel
 * Shanmuga Restaurant, a vegetarian restaurant, South Car Street
 * Udippi Krishna Vilas a vegetarian hotel, West Car Street
 * Shanmuga Restaurant, a vegetarian restaurant, South Car Street
 * Udippi Krishna Vilas a vegetarian hotel, West Car Street

Sleep

 * A. A Lodge
 * Abi Lodge, East street
 * Aiswarya Hotel, Venugopal street
 * Ameen Lodge, South street
 * Apollo Lodge, Sabanayagar street
 * Hotel Palace, Railway feeder road.
 * Kalyanam Lodge, Venugopal Street
 * Kurinji Lodge, East Sannathi
 * R. K. Residency Hotel, Narayana Pillai Street (Padi thurai Irakkam)
 * R. K. Tower, V.O.C. Street
 * Ramanathan Mansion, Bazaar Street
 * Ramya Lodge, South Street
 * Shajakhan Complex, Lalkan Street
 * Star Lodge, South Street
 * Ramanathan Mansion, Bazaar Street
 * Ramya Lodge, South Street
 * Shajakhan Complex, Lalkan Street
 * Star Lodge, South Street

title: Chidambaram


text:
Chiemsee

Chiemsee is the largest lake in Bavaria, Germany.

Understand
The municipality (Gemeinde) consists of the islands of Herrenchiemsee (Herreninsel), Frauenchiemsee and the uninhabited Krautinsel.

The Chiemsee is under the protection of the international Ramsar Convention, which was founded to preserve ecologically important wetlands. Since 1954 the mudflats in the delta formed where the Tiroler Ache flows into the lake have been a protected retreat for many endangered species of waterfowl and wader.

By plane
Lake Chiemsee is 120 km from the Munich Airport and 65 km from the Salzburg W.A. Mozart International Airport.

By train
Prien am Chiemsee is a station on Munich-Salzburg railway line. Direct IC/EC trains stop at Prien station, as well as slower (but cheaper) Meridian trains. Travel time from Munich is about 57 minutes using IC trains, 1 hour Meridian. See DB Bahn website for more details. Narrow gauge Chiemseebahn connects Prien Bahnhof (railway station) to the boat pier. However, the Chiemseebahn only runs in the Summer. There is a path alongside the Chiemseebahn permitting an easy walking route to the boat pier.

By car
The Chiemsee is ca. 90 km south-east of Munich and can be reached via the A8 from Munich to Salzburg (exit Bernau).

Go next

 * Rosenheim

title: Chiemsee