Chicago: The Culture

Traveling in a large city often provides ample opportunities to experience a few different cultures. Larger cities often have entire neighborhoods that are home to people from many different countries, and simply walking through one such place can give a taste of the food, lifestyle and culture without ever having to leave the United States. Chicago is one such city. When visiting, be sure to stop by one of these neighborhoods to explore and experience something new. They make great destinations for educational tours, and many students will be excited to learn something about the way other people live.

Italian culture can be found in a few different neighborhoods. The West side of Chicago features a Little Italy, and South side includes another neighborhood nicknamed Heart of Italy. Both have a high concentration of Italian immigrants, resulting in several restaurants and grocers offering Italian favorites. If the dates line up with your visit, Heart of Italy is home to Festa Pasta Vino, a yearly food and wine festival that includes parade, performances and other forms of general merriment.

Like many larger U.S. cities, Chicago has a Chinatown. In the 1860's, many Chinese immigrants fled to Chicago to seek refuge from the growing anti-Asian movement that was taking place on the West Coast. Today Chicago's Chinatown has come to be one of the most active Chinatowns in the U.S. There are several architectural structures that reflect traditional Chinese style, and even the storefronts and street signs are written in Chinese, providing a glimpse into oriental culture. Of course there are numerous restaurants where visitors can try popular foods such as Dim Sum, Beijing Duck and various Cantonese dishes. There are also several Chinese grocers, and shops selling various teas, medicines and herbs. If your group is particularly interested in exploring Chinatown, tours are offered. Groups will learn more about the immigrants, who settled in the neighborhood, tour the architectural landmarks and point your groups to the best restaurants.

There are several other neighborhoods that offer cultural experiences. Greektown is basically just one street, but has several Greek restaurants. Locals will point you to Devon Avenue for some tasty Indian food, and if your groups taste runs toward spicy Korean food, Lawrence Avenue is sometimes called Little Seoul for its Korean influences. La Villita, or the Little Village, is a neighborhood with strong Hispanic influence. In addition to a variety of Mexican restaurants and numerous shopping spots it is also the site of the Mexican Independence Day Parade that takes place every year, drawing almost a million spectators. Of course there are many other smaller areas that offer Nigerian, Persian, Swedish, Thai and more.

Here are several places that your group may want to visit. Whether on a school trip or a personal vacation, it is exciting to get a taste of a different culture without ever leaving your own country. You will be glad you visited whether you end up eating, shopping, or simply taking in a new atmosphere and learning a bit about a different people group. Take advantage of the experiences Chicago offers in one of these ethnic neighborhoods, and learn something new about the world.