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Chicago v. San Francisco?

Travel Info
Hey. So I am considering going to college in Chicago. I have lived in/near San francisco all my life and I was wondering how Chicago compares to SF. How are the people? Air quality? Things to do? I am just lookg for any comparative info.

Thanks!

Travel Tips

I can't compare, but I can tell you about Chicago. I vacation there anywhere from one to three times a year, and I've been doing that for as long as I can remember.

The people in Chicago usually have that Midwestern politeness that I love. I'm from the Midwest, and having visited the East coast and the South, I find that the Midwest is the friendliest, and that attitude carries over to Chicagoans. You can walk up to damn near anyone in the street and ask them for directions or restaurant recommendations, and you'll get a thorough but friendly answer.

The air quality could use a little work, but right around the lake, it seems pretty good. Get into the west or south a ways, and it tends to decline.

There could not possibly be more to do in Chicago. It kind of depends on what you are into, but if you like sports, they have professional everything. Tons of theaters. Tons of bars and restaurants. Lots of outdoor activities. An incredible amount of museums. Killer shopping. I could go on and on. :)

Others
Chicago is big fun and I'm a native cali girl, born in the city, lived there when I was in college-buy some warm clothes and you'll live-lots to do on the water, lots of clubs, killer restaurants, museums and neat neighborhoods-plus the public transport is pretty decent
I can't really compare becuase I've never been to San Francisco, but I have lived in CHicago all my life and love this city. I too am applying to colleges, but most of mine are out of the city except northwestern and loyola. I think Chicago is a good place to go to college, its jsut too close to home for me. The people are cool i guess and its easy to get around using the CTA; gets you downtown..Cubs/Sox/Bulls/Bears games, museums if youre into that stuff...
Everyone else's answers are all positive for Chicago, but honestly I used to live there and I'm glad I left. Freeways are always busy, never any parking, crowded streets w/ very aggressive and crazy/rude drivers. It's very cold in the winter. Alot of people I came across were rude, but alot were nice also. I guess to me, Chicago is just too busy a place. If you like the big city life, then Chicago is for you...if not, then stay in SF.
Well if I had to live in the midwest, I'd choose Chicago. Why?

1. Lake Michigan. Closest thing to a sea you'll find in the Midwest. Makes you miss the Bay less.
2. Its size. Midwest isn't very diverse, but Chicago isn't bad due to sheer numbers of people if not anything else.
3. Decent transportation system.

I'd say SF is better (grew up in the Bay Area as well, went to college in the midwest) but I'm all for exploring a new part of the country for college. It is only 4 years, plus with school breaks, it is even less than that. Do something different.
I used to live in Illinois and visited Chicago every chance I get. It is a beautiful city with a thriving art scene and lots of things to do. In a lot of ways SF and Chicago are very similar.

Now if they could just do something about the weather in Chicago. It is freezing in the winter, sweltering in the summer, with about 6 weeks of good weather in the spring and another 6 weeks of good weather in the fall.

There is an old joke that Chicago was started by a bunch of guy from New York who said you know we love the crime and the dirt but it just isn't cold enough here.

Sad but all too true.
I now live in San Francisco