10 Things People Miss The Most About Chicago When They Leave
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published March 01, 2020
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
Getting out of the city isn’t something Chicagoans like to do often, but when they do, they often think about the things they miss. From delicious food to features that offer convenience, these are 10 things people miss whenever they are not in Chicago.
It’s great to branch out and see more parts of the state than just the city, but you’ll probably be missing some familiar sights. Check it out:
From pizza to Italian beef to popcorn, the food in Chicago is on point. In fact, it's what comes to mind first for many when they think about our great city.
Click here for 15 foods everyone misses when they leave Chicago.
Chicagoans can be snobs when it comes to beer brands because we prefer to drink local. It's fresher that way, and with so many brew houses in the city, it's not hard to find beer in and around all of Chicagoland.
Things people miss most about summer in the city are the festivals. Chicago loves food so much, we hold events throughout the year to celebrate it, and Taste of Chicago is the biggest one.
Possibly more popular than the food fests are Chicago's music festivals like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, and Spring Awakening. They also include food, so it's a two-in-one to visit these if you've moved away.
There's nothing more beautiful than the Chicago skyline. The architecture throughout the city is mind-blowing, be it a historical building or a shiny modern one. Seeing them in person is like coming home.
If you've moved away from Chicago all together, you may realize your first mistake was putting so much distance between you and the busiest airport in the Midwest. It's easy to fly anywhere in the country or the world from here.
Another convenience of the city that people miss when they leave is being able to get around without a car. Buses and trains, especially, are not available in every town and city in America, so we are lucky here.
One of the things people miss most about going for a walk is the street art. Of course, there is plenty of commissioned art in the city, but no graffiti artists decorate a street like they do in the Windy City.
Especially if you've lived in Chicago your whole life, sports are probably a big part of your Chicago experience. Whether you root for the White Sox, the Cubs, the Blackhawks, the Bears, the Bulls, or any other team, you're bound to miss being part of the hub-bub when they win a game.
If you're not in the city over St. Patrick's Day weekend, you're going to miss out on this annual event that locals absolutely love. Each year, the river is dyed green to correspond with the holiday, attracting half the city to watch it happen.
One of the best things about Chicago is that it is right on one of the Great Lakes. It affords us beaches, swimming and fishing opportunities, as well as incredible views that make Chicago look like a tropical city.