Chicago
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Chicago - a city famous for culturally and architecturally rich neighborhoods and stunning parks - couldn’t be better suited to the pleasures of the gay traveler. Landmark skyscrapers and theater marquees loom over the downtown Loop and Near North sections, while countless boutiques and cafes thrive in the hip and gay-popular Lakeview and Andersonville districts, inviting you to ogle store-window displays and pass the hours sipping frothy espressos. And in few major cities in the world is the beach so close at hand; in Chicago, several lakefront spots typically teem with gay and lesbian sun-worshipers. In 2006, Chicago was host to the Gay Games, only boosting the city’s growing reputation as Gay Chicago.
If you consider yourself a professional shopper then head on over to Magnificent Mile and test your skills with the best along an avenue line with 460 stores to get your fix in and 200 restaurants to take a break in. Magnificent Mile will satisfy most shopping addictions, but for those whose tastes run a little left of center be sure to head on over to Wicker Park/Bucktown for discounts and funky boutique shopping. If you feel like getting a little color, and if it is summer, then get yourself over to Hollywood Beach. Formally known as Kathy Osterman Beach, Hollywood Beach can be found at the north end of Lakeshore Drive. It’s difficult to get to, but once you do look for the pier. That’s where the gay scene is.
Are you a gay jock? Well then you’ve come to right place. Chicago is host to four of the most storied franchises in sports: The Bears, The White Sox, The Cubs, and the Bulls. Wrigley field is worth a trip by itself as it is one of the oldest ball fields in the country and its scoreboard is still manually operated. It is not to be missed, but tickets do not come cheap.
