For my high school graduation present, I got the chance to visit Chicago. It was the first time I had ever been out of the great state of California and I must admit it was an amazing experience I am glad to have under my belt.

There was nothing particularly unpleasant about the trip at all (minus the weather, which was hot and humid... not my favorite), but there are some bits of advice I can give you to make the trip even better.

I absolutely loved my time in Chicago. My best friend and I spent nearly two weeks there and enjoyed every minute of it. I was lucky because we have a family friend who lives in Chicago, so we didn't have to worry about housing (though that's not something that's difficult to figure out; there are so many places to stay all over Chicago that can accomodate you and/or your family's individual needs).

While I was in the Windy City, I never encountered any terrible people or experienced any horrifying places or events. However, I did pick up on a few things that might help with a future trip to the wonderful place:

• Try to keep on the northern side of the city. The southern side is... a little sketchy, to say the least. My family friend advised against going near it and when she drove us to the airport to drop us off, she sped through the area very fast while pointing out areas that were good and many that were not so good.
• It's ok to get sucked into the tourist activities. The museums, the Hancock Observatory, the displays... it's all amazing and worthwhile. They are so popular that they have been crafted into well organized and aesthetically pleasing destinations for visitors. If you get a CityPass (described below) or any other similar discount package, it's not too expensive to visit all these places, either.
• Don't be afraid to take public transportation. We took the train often and we didn't die or get stuck or anything that may drive you from buses and other such modes of motion.
• Pick the time of year to visit Chicago based on weather and the events going on. We went during the two muggiest weeks of the year and personally that was not my favorite type of weather, especially when walking around all over. However, we did happen to go when there were lots of things going on in the city, include the Gay Pride parade and various street fairs and shows. Check out calendars on the pages in the Additional Info section below for more information about what's going on when you plan on checking out Chicago.
• Be open to trying out different things. Chicago is so diverse and lively that you should be willing to experiment with activities you never thought you'd try before. Try a taste of everything everywhere. There are so many wonderful restaurants in the city center and outer suburbs and cultural neighborhoods. Go to a Cubs game, watch a play, visit a gallery, go swimming... there are so many things to do in Chicago!
• Take pictures. I'm not much for taking photos, but I am glad that I have them now to look back on. I also scraped up every ticket and brochure I could and stuck them in a scrapbook that I still look at today.

Here are some of the activities I did while I was in the Windy City if you need a place to start planning your trip:

• I went to all the places with access provided by the CityPass (description and information below). The five locations are a great place to start if you want to get a taste of Chicago and what it has to offer. They are all so unique, things you won't see everywhere. Make sure you explore everything each attraction includes... there is so much to learn and see but don't sell yourself short! Try looking at every section and display in each museum.
• Navy Pier: This was great because we went in the summer and at that time there were fireworks every night. Going out on a pier in the evening was wonderful, it wasn't cold and everyone could sit on the dock for free and all look at the fireworks going off over the lake. It was also fun to ride the famous ferry.
• Watched a show at the Chicago theatre. Personally my friend and I are Broadway buffs and were looking forward to seeing a show at the beautiful theatre. We ended up watching "Wicked," which was breathtaking and exciting.
• Tried out a bunch of different restaurants. My family friend worked at a family-style restaurant near the Chicago theatre, so we got to try a meal there. This inspired my friend and I to explore the city and the restaurants it featured. There is some good food in Chicago.
• Attended a Gay Pride parade. To the chagrin of my homophobic friend, we all checked out the annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade in the city. We sort of stumbled upon it, but the colors, sights and sounds were spectacular and lively.

• Stopped by street fairs. They go on all over the city.
• Took the train often. It was cheap and easy and goes all over the city. Don't be afraid to take public transportation.
• Went shopping in the city. There are some good places to go shopping amidst all those skyscrapers.
• Saw Sears Tower. We had to check out that crazy structure and take pictures. We also dined at the Cheesecake Factory nearby.
• Took a boat tour of the Chicago River. We got to pass by the Sears Tower and chill up and down along the current. Don't mind the dead fish that may be floating on the surface.
• Visited Millenium Park. We took pictures with the Magic Bean (a large metallic sculpture shaped like a kidney bean that reflects the Chicago skyline) and the interactive Crown Fountain (with a computer image that spits water out at you...trust me, it's trippy!).
• Attended a game at Wrigley Field. It was the Cubs against the White Sox... the White Sox won. It was great for the whole baseball experience; I had never been to a game before so it was great to order food and chill in our nosebleed seats.

If you want to see what Chicago has to offer, I highly recommend purchasing a CityPass. The CityPass is a booklet with discounted tickets to various attractions with information about hours, transportation and contact information; large cities tend to feature CityPasses. In Chicago you save about 44% and get to access to these places:

• Hancock Observatory (including the Sky Tour)
• The Field Museum (including Underground Adventure)
• Museum of Science and Industry (including Omnimax)
• Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum (including the Sky Theater Show)
• Shedd Aquarium - VIP entry (including Oceanarium, Wild Reef, Amazon Rising and the Special Exhibit)

Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum and Sky Theater:

The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, which was America's first planetarium founded in 1930 by Max Adler, features two full-size planetarium theaters, including the world's first all-digital projection StarRider Theater (which is breathtaking) and an incredible antique instrument collection known worldwide.

The Field Museum:

The Field Museum was established to house the biological and anthropological collections for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Through world-wide expeditions, exchange, purchase and gifts to more than twenty million specimens, the museum has grown and includes artifacts and displays categorized by parts of the world. There are dinosaur fossils, stuffed animals and crazy rocks... you feel so cultured when you leave!

Museum of Science and Industry:

Take a virtual tour of the U-505 submarine, visit the diminutive and befuddling fairy castle, view a robot production line, explore the Pioneer Zephyr and more! For some reason I really enjoyed the mini display with trains and city models. There was also a children's science section which I found fascinating.

Shedd Aquarium:

The Shedd Aquarium has been a Chicago icon and a leader in the zoo and aquarium profession for more than three-quarters of a century. The Waters of the World display includes 90 aquatic habitats - rivers, oceans, islands, lakes and local waters from around the world. You can watch employees feed the animals, including giant turtles, sharks, gators and frogs! This place is huge and amazing... perfect if you love animals.

Hancock Observatory:

After its multimillion-dollar renovation, the Hancock Observatory features improved 94th-floor views, high-tech features and Chicago's only open-air Skywalk 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile. You can listen to audio tours and take pictures pretending you're washing windows from outside the building. This is a great way to get an aerial view of the Windy City.

By purchasing a CityPass, you also get a savings certificate from Bloomingdales as well as a free gift with a $50 or more purchase

Prices: From April 1, 2007-March 21, 2008, the CityPass is $49.50 for adults and $39.00 for kids 11 years and under. From April 1, 2008-March 31-2009 the CityPass is $54.00 for adults, $44.00 for kids... not bad, honestly.