[quaquaqua1]

Additionally, who in their right mind wants to go to Chicago for literally any reason?

Source: I am an American who has visited Chicago 3 times and hated it more and more each time due to prices, crime, horrible weather, and extreme lack of anything to do

[jointpdf]

Strongly disagree with this. Chicago is one of the greatest cities (to visit or otherwise) not just in the US, but anywhere. I’ve been there over 30+ times since I was a kid and I’m going far out of my way to visit again tomorrow, it is that good.

It’s the original skyscraper city with an absolutely wonderful skyline and architecture. Being in the city during a blizzard is magical, and the weather on a nice summer day. Tons of parks and pristine coastline. One of the best food and shopping scenes anywhere. World class museums. Also, it’s certainly cheaper than SF/LA/NYC. There is a lifetime of things to experience in Chicago.

[nkrisc]

Funny. I grew up in the city and lived there for most of my adult life and never had any issues with any of those things.

Source: someone's who's spent more time in Chicago than someone's who's visited a handful of times.

[magduf]

>Funny. I grew up in the city and lived there for most of my adult life and never had any issues with any of those things. >Source: someone's who's spent more time in Chicago than someone's who's visited a handful of times.

Of course you'd like it, you're used to the place. The city is called "the windy city" for a reason, and is certainly not known to have weather resembling southern California. If you like it, that's fine, but not everyone likes cold, windy midwestern weather.

For prices, your experiences are simply invalid. The OP was likely talking about prices he'd see as a visitor, the large part of which would include hotel rooms. Do you spend a lot of time in hotels near your home? Of course not. And if the OP is comparing various international cities, then I can see why he'd complain about Chicago: it's a large American city and would likely have extremely high hotel prices, because hotels in America are generally very expensive unless you want to stay in a roach motel. It's much cheaper, as a single traveler, to stay in most of western Europe (except probably Switzerland).

[tptacek]

Just don't visit between November and March.

The "Windy City" thing has little to do with our weather; winds are empirically worse in New York and San Francisco. If you have almost no experience with the city, it's easy to project and extrapolate from its nickname.

[mrep]

Or visit then if you like some snow :) I'm currently in Seattle and I cannot wait to move back. Fortunately, my girlfriend gradates in 7 months and we are literally counting down the months until then so we can move back.

[tptacek]

It's a great city. But there's lots not to like about living in a big city. I find NYC almost incredibly oppressive and confining and crazymaking, but I don't wonder why people love it; I also get why people move out to farms in Minnesota, even though I'd never do that myself.

But you're not allowed to say that "the wind" is why you don't like Chicago.

(Fair warning, I have our city's flag inked on my arm, so I may be a booster).

[quaquaqua1]

Yeah I'm not referencing the wind in Chicago but rather the oppressive cold which is worse than most parts of the world with a population larger than x :)

[yellowapple]

> (Fair warning, I have our city's flag inked on my arm, so I may be a booster).

It is a kickass flag, to be fair.

[pvg]

Of course, Chicago's flag is actually a windsock.

[magduf]

>winds are empirically worse in New York and San Francisco.

Well New York isn't exactly famous for great weather either...

[nkrisc]

The "Windy City" moniker comes from a reference to local politics, not the weather. In my personal experience Chicago is no more windy than any other place I've visited. Otherwise, as I heard from Norwegians, there is no bad weather, just bad clothes.