Enjoy views of Chicago from the 103rd floor of Willis Tower at the Skydeck and while you are there, experience the thrill of the Ledge, a glass balcony 1,353 feet (412.4 meters) off the ground – if you dare. Willis Tower Skydeck – If the helicopter trip seems a bit too over-the-top, you can always head to the highest point of Chicago for an outlook over the cityscape instead.We recommend Twilight, but who are we kidding – they are all utterly mesmerizing. Choose from the Day tour, Twilight tour or Nighttime Tour and enjoy different views of Chicago’s skyline. A trip you are sure to never, ever forget at a surprisingly reasonable price. Helicopter Flight – See unparalleled, panoramic views of Chicago by riding in a helicopter over this glorious city.Displayed as the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop area. Cloud Gate – An icon of Chicago by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor, no trip to the Windy City would be complete without a few snaps of this design, inspired by liquid mercury, and gazing into the sculpture’s surface which reflects and distorts the city’s skyline.Gay people in Chicago do not need to take any extra precautions in terms of public displays of affection and should have no issues exploring this city’s steely charm! Overall, just take care at night – but know the most notably dangerous areas have very few (if any ) touristic attractions, so you are unlikely to end up there – even by mistake. The North Side, with Boystown and other upscale areas, is very safe but be careful of shady areas in the downtown – which empties over pretty fast after the work day is over. Although crime has declined since its peaks in the 70/80’s (linked to Al Capone’s Chicago mafia and rival gangs) mugging late at night is still stubbornly high – as is gun violence in some areas. There are some rough neighborhoods in Chicago best avoided and thieves and pickpockets do operate on the subway, so be careful with your valuables. Obviously being gay does not define which attraction most of us will want to see in each city and most queer tourists will simply want to check out the top things to see in Chicago during the day! Cruising, Gay Saunas & Bath Houses in Chicago.Gay Chicago Guide: The Essential Guide To LGBT Travel In Chicago Illinois.No surprises or awkward conversations necessary! And if you then want their help to find your dream home, you are guaranteed fair, equal, and honest representation. They can happily give you no-obligation advice and all the information you'll ever need to know about your new city. However, if you are lucky enough to be considering a move here, we recommend getting in touch with a local gay realtor. Again, how it has flown up the radar for so long we will never know.Īre you relocating? This guide will help travelers discover the queerer side of the city. Chicago is home to one of the most inclusive LGBT+ populations in the nation so you can freely explore and know no matter who you love, you’ll fit right in.įrom the stratosphere towers of glass that rise from the downtown to capricious public art, relaxing lakefront and cornucopia of world-class dining Chicago is a modern city fuelled by culture and food. If they're doing diverse things, then I get really sad when such a bar goes away because they're special," said Mattson.Of course, this is Chicago – and there are many, many more reasons to explore this city further.
"If the only bar with a purpose-built drag stage closes, then it leaves drag queens and drag kings without a place to practice their art. "When you don't have spaces like this it's harder to find community," Barnes said.
As some LGBTQ+ bars close, gay men of color, transgender, non-binary people, and lesbians may lose out. But some say many of those establishments may cater mainly to white gay men. In Chicago, Northalsted is a longtime home to many gay bars in the city.
In other words, they're the only place where queer people can reliably encounter other queer people in public," Mattson said. "And yet, in most parts of the country, gay bars are the only public LGBTQ+ place. That means 23.5% of Chicago's gay bars were lost in a two year period. In 2019 that number dropped to 34, and in 2021 it dropped to 26. His data also shows that in 2017 there were 38 gay bars listed in Chicago. So more than a third of gay bars closed in a 12 year period," he said. "36.6% of gay bar listings disappeared between 20.