Chicago, Illinois gay city guide. Chicago LGBT guide

Chicago, also known as ‘The Windy City’, is one of the most populous cities in America with a population of about 9.8 million people. It is regarded as a global city for its wealth and cultural influence, and as a consequence it is an extremely popular tourist destination. The city has some amazing architecture, as well as parks and beaches that are worth exploring. There are numerous museums and theatres, as well as events and festivals that are held throughout the year. The city also has a gay-friendly vibe that is well worth taking advantage of.

Indeed, your first port of call might turn out to be Boystown, which is situated within the neighbourhood of Lakeview, as this is where the cultural focus of the LGBT community in Chicago is located. Here you will find a large number of gay-friendly establishments, from high-end fashion outlets, independent shops and restaurants to coffee houses, clubs and bars. Boystown is renowned for being open and welcoming and for its colourful nightlife, with many bars staying open past two in the morning. There are also a number of events specifically targeted at the gay community including the Chicago Pride Parade, Chicago Bear Pride and International Mister Leather.

In Chicago there are many museums to visit, including the Field Museum of Natural History, the Chicago History Museum, the Polish Museum of America and the Museum of Photography amongst others. There are also beaches such as Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach to explore and parks such as Grant Park, Hyde Park, Jackson Park and Washington Park where there are events to see and activities to do. If you’re interested in music, you may want to attend some of the music festivals that are held in the city, such as Blues Fest and Gospel Fest, Jazz Fest and Lollapalooza. Whatever your interests are, you are bound to find something in Chicago that appeals to you.