for the best experience, put on your walking shoes...

Chicago is a very safe, clean, and walkable city---it's hard to get lost and if you do, most Chicagoans will help point you in the right direction. The city is designed and built on a grid pattern centered at the intersection of State Street (North-South) and Madison Street (east-West). Chicago is comprised of more than 70 distinct neighborhoods that vary by architecture, ethnicity, social & economic patterns, or geographic features. The Divvy Bike & Scooter program is pretty robust and we have a great system of bike lanes. (pedestrian beware)

Lake Michigan (Mishigami in Ojibwe, meaning "great lake") is always going to be your compass---it defines the eastern board of the city. (Chicago comes from the native Algonquian word "Shikaakwa" which means wild onion or wild garlic).

The Wedding venues are found on the North Side of Chicago, in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood. Wrigley Field is just northwest of Lincoln Park. The Sofitel Hotel and Waldorf Astorial are located in the beautiful Gold Coast Neighborhood just south of Lincoln Park. From the Gold Coast you can walk south to Old Town (Second City) and then River North before you reach the Chicago River. Lincoln Park, River North, Lakeview, Old Town, and the Gold Coast are your best bets for restaurants and nightlife. While we go to these neighborhoods for dinner, meetings, and events all the time, and feel very safe --- be careful after hours as you would in any city. Across the Chicago River is the Loop where you'll find plenty of iconic office towers and theaters. The Chicago Club and Hilton Hotel are located on the east side of the Loop across from Millennium Park and The Art Institute of Chicago. Millennium Park is worth exploring and the Art Institute is among the finest in the world. Besides the Theater District and a few exceptions, the Loop is pretty quiet and dark on the weekends and evenings.

The Museum Campus---east of Lake Shore Drive, and just south of Millennium & Grant Parks---is home to The Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, The Adler Planetarium, and Soldier Field (Chicago Bears). Buddy Guy's Legends blues club is in the South Loop, just west of the Museum Campus. Navy Pier isn't really worth the walk unless you go the Shakespeare Theatre or catch a lake cruise or water taxi.