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so anyone who plans on driving in the Chicago area needs to plan on a driving style that is aggressively defensive. (Personally, I prefer using public transportation or riding with an exceptionally skilled driver if I need to go anywhere in Chicago proper.)

If you are traveling in the suburbs, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination anyway, since many of the suburban cities grind to a halt when a train slows or stops on the tracks. Sometimes the trains are stopped for a few minutes, but sometimes they are stopped for over an hour. The rapid growth in some areas of Chicagoland outpaced planning, and there are no over- or underpasses for trains in some suburban cities.

5. Plan for all sorts of crazy weather. In May 2007 alone, daytime temperatures ranged from 45-85 degrees. I haven't lived in the area long enough to know if this is how the weather always behaves; however, it leads me to recommend that spring and summer visitors bring at least one warm outfit, and fall and winter visitors should probably bring a short-sleeved shirt, just in case it's unseasonably warm for a day or so.

A visit to Chicago is worth all of the time and planning. Chicago is rich in history, culture, activities, beauty, and LIFE! Lake Michigan always provides gorgeous vistas (just watch for undertow warnings if you go to the beach!), and I can guarantee that the only time you'll have a chance to be bored is when you are en route to your next destination-and even then, there is so much to see while in motion in Chicago that boredom takes effort.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Oaks.
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