Few places have such a dramatic seasonal contrast as Chicago. The Midwest’s notoriously harsh winter causes Lake Michigan and the Chicago River to freeze over turning out thriving metropolis into an inhospitable land of wind and ice.
After Chicago begins to blossom in spring, however, what beckons is something completely incomparable. If you’re from Chicago you’ll be very much used to the disparity, but if you’re not you’ll hardly believe that you’re in the same city.
As summer beckons and our thriving metropolis moves into summer temperatures, the riverwalk becomes alive with life, Chicago’s patios prosper all over the city, and hordes flock to enjoy Chicago’s beautiful lakefront beaches.
For us, it is undoubtedly one of the best places on the planet once the sun comes out and apparently, we’re not alone. We’re used to seeing Chicago reap the rewards for having world-renowned museums and award-winning restaurants but now Chicago has also been acknowledged as one of the best places to spend the summer months.
Travelbag, one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers, has just announced a list of the prettiest places to visit in summer 2023 and named Chicago in the top 10.
The study analyzed hashtag data on Instagram and TikTok for a shortlist of 100 cities determining which travel destinations around the world were deemed the most picturesque in summer.
With over 60,000 hashtags on Instagram and over 16 million views on TikTok, Chicago was placed at number 4 in the list. From its rooftop bars and stunning city parks to its outdoor cinemas and range of both foodie and music festivals the Windy City was praised for its array of summer activities aside from its beautiful beaches.
Chicago was deemed the most beautiful city in the United States in summer beating competition from Seattle (5th), New York (8th), and Miami (9th) as well as the likes of Dubai (6th), Melbourne (10th), and Sydney (7th). European capitals Berlin and Paris finished ahead of Chicago in 3rd and 2nd respectively.
Wondering which city was named the prettiest on the planet in summer? England’s capital London took first prize with more than 160,000 Instagram hashtags and almost 21 million views on TikTok.
The full list was as follows:
1. London, UK
2. Paris, France
3. Berlin, Germany
4. Chicago, USA
5. Seattle, USA
6. Dubai, UAE
7. Sydney, Australia
8. New York, USA
9. Miami, USA
10. Melbourne, Australia
[Featured image from Shutterstock]