While the picturesque summer days on the lakefront may still be months away, there's never a shortage of incredible experiences just down the street in Chicago.
Now more than a month into the new year, the city's official visitors guide has been released, showcasing 64 pages of activities, amenities and destinations throughout the city to find the perfect activity, regardless of price or time of year.
From a deep dive into the best places to grab a bite across all of Chicago's 77 community areas and family-friendly activities to the best ways to immerse yourself in Chicago's world-renowned culture, this year's guide highlights something in The Windy City for everyone.
The guide begins honing in on one of the city's cultural hallmarks in the blues, highlighting Lincoln Park's Kingston Mines and Logan Square's Rosa's Lounge as some of the best places to experience blues in one of its landmark cities.
Regardless of the season, there is seemingly always a festival or event to attend in Chicago, and the 2024 visitors' guide attests to this convenience.
While Chicago Theatre Week and the Chicago Auto Show dominate the city's February events, Chicagoans can look forward to dyeing the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day, Expo Chicago and Pilsen's Mole de Mayo during the spring.
Per usual, Chicago's summer is stacked with festivals, with Windy City Smokeout, Sundays on State and the return of Lollapalooza and Navy Pier fireworks as just a few of the seemingly countless events in the city during the summer.
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Even as the leaves start to change, there will be no shortage of incredible activities to take part in around Chicago.
Expand your palate at Chicago Gourmet, an "elevated food festival" held in September in Millennium Park, and get a look at some of the area's historic architecture in the free Open House Chicago.
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Don't forget about the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October, where runners from across the world will traverse through 28 of the city's neighborhoods in one of the planet's biggest races.
The guide also offers plenty of starting to points to learn about some of the many cultures that have helped shaped Chicago into what it is today.
Fans of public art can marvel at the large, colorful murals in Pilsen that have made the community the center of the Mexican muralist movement. Just a bit north, more than 60 murals in Humboldt Park showcase the area's rich Puerto Rican history and heritage.
For those looking for a night out in the city while remaining undecisive on where to eat, this year's guide points you in the direction of some of the city's most prominent dining corridors, such as Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square and Halsted Street in Lincoln Park.
For visitors looking to do a deep dive on some of Chicago's neighborhoods, they can try out the informal Chicago Greeter program, matching a visitor with a local volunteer who can offer a unique insider perspective on a neighborhood.
Pages 18 and 19 of the guide offer a comprehensive look at the best things to do in Chicago's historically LGBTQ+ neighborhoods, from dining and nightlife to other attractions along the city's northern lakefront.
In perhaps more of a summer-focused tilt, visitors can also see their options for activities along the city's two waterfronts, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
Good for any time of year, the guide allows visitors to get acquainted with the city's many museums, some of which offer several free admission days to Illinois residents.
While much of the guide's focus may understandably be on locations more off the beaten path, there is certainly no neglect for Chicago landmarks that are must-see locations for every visitor.
From Museum Campus and Buckingham Fountain to "Cloud Gate," affectionately known as "The Bean" by Chicagoans, visitors can take a look at the best way to maneuver the city's high-traffic tourist destinations.
Breweries, wineries and distilleries were also given a spotlight in Choose Chicago's guide, highlighting Haymarket Pub & Brewery, Begyle Brewing, Chicago Winery and the Chicago Distilling Company among others.
While Chicago's city center is well known for an expansive selection of hotels, the 2024 guide lists lodging accommodations across the city by neighborhood, displaying the available options for visitors looking to retire for the night somewhere other than downtown.
Beyond the city, notable hotels in the suburbs are also listed, helping out travelers who may prefer to stay outside of the city.
Beginning on page 50 of the guide, an expansive list of dining recommendations is provided, sorted by cuisine while representing a wide variety of Chicago neighborhoods.
From Mediterranean and contemporary American to French and International Fusion, visitors can immerse themselves in an expansive range of what Chicago's culinary scene has to offer.
The full 2024 guide from Choose Chicago and the countless recommendations it offers can be found here.
