CCTB Invites Visitors to Experience "Presidential Chicago"

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. November 25, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, November 25, 2008. America's President-elect Barack Obama and his family have made Chicago their home, and the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB) welcomes visitors to experience "Presidential Chicago."

First-Class Dining

Hailed by the most notable dining and travel experts as one of America's best food cities, Chicago is home to some of the Obama family's favorite eateries as well. Topolobampo is frequently identified as the Obamas' preferred spot for elegant regional Mexican cuisine on a special evening out.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, they also like R.J. Grunts in Lincoln Park for a more casual bite. Michelle Obama favors the inventive American cuisine at Sepia, a West Loop eatery built from an 1890 print shop, and Barack Obama pegs MacArthur's-which serves fine soul food in a family atmosphere-as one of his top Chicago picks.

Distinctive Shopping

While no visit to Chicago would be complete without shopping on the legendary Magnificent Mile, Chicago's neighborhoods also offer unique shopping, including 57th Street Books in Hyde Park, another Obama family favorite. "The variety of titles, the programs for kids and the neighborhood feel make it a wonderful place to take a walk to and browse around," Michelle Obama told the Sun-Times.

The soon-to-be First Lady is frequently seen wearing designs by Chicago's Maria Pinto. Visitors can find her accessories and ready-to-wear collections at the new Maria Pinto Boutique in the West Loop, her first retail store.

Natural Beauty

Chicago's spectacular lakefront is another longtime favorite for the new first family. "Back when they could blend into a crowd, the Obamas would take their girls to enjoy the lake breeze at Promontory Point," the Sun-Times reports. And the Chicago Tribune says one of Obama's haunts is the outdoor basketball court at Hayes Drive and South Lake Shore Drive, where he likes to shoot hoops-often with his brother-in-law Craig Robinson.

World-Renowned Cultural Attractions

To celebrate the election of Chicago's favorite son, the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau is offering a vacation package for visitors to explore "Presidential Chicago," including the family's South Side neighborhood.

Included in the package is a special Gray Line Tour to discover parts of the city where the Obamas' roots run deep. Visitors will travel by bus to see Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Science and Industry. The tour includes neighborhoods on the South Side, where Obama lives and formerly worked as a community organizer. Tour stops include Jackson Park - site of the Colombian Exposition of 1893 -- and the University of Chicago, where Barack taught law and Michelle Obama helped the University and the UC Medical Center strengthen ties with surrounding communities.

Guests will stay at the InterContinental Chicago, a hotel with its own legendary status. A remnant of the 1920's building boom, the historic structure has been faithfully preserved through a series of renovations resulting in unrivaled accommodations that include dining venues and a grand entrance that opens directly onto the world-famous Magnificent Mile.

To learn more about the Presidential Chicago vacation package, visit www.choosechicago.com.