15. Chicago, IL

The city of Chicago is full of culture. It really has a feel to it like no other city that I have ever been to, including New York City. Every section of the town is different and really reflects a different culture, but every section somehow manages to hold on to the underlying Chicago feel.The main attractions include (I know it's a bad habit to just list them, but some of these places just have too much to see): the Sears Tower (and Skydeck), the John Hancock Building (and Observatory), the Navy Pier (which includes a Funhouse Maze), Soldier Field (da Bears), Shedd Aquarium (the world's largest indoor aquarium), the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo, the University of Chicago, Six Flags, a planetarium and astronomy museum, a Medieval Times, Millenium Park, Union Station, The Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field (Cubbies), the White Sox (but who really cares about them), and many more museums for art, science, history, and more.The dining and nightlife in Chicago are among the best in the country. Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas taste great, and a couple slices will easily fill you up. I also recommend finding the Latin section and eating at a Mexican Restaurant. If it seems somewhat classy and you hear people actually speaking Spanish, you're in for some good eats (and gigantic margaritas). After dinner, you can ask around for the happening clubs and bars and take the El (elevated train) or wave down one of their easy-to-find taxis. The nightlife will suit every preference if you take the time to find the right place for you.Festivals occur often and celebrate just about every heritage. On St. Patrick's Day, there's a big parade, and the river is dyed green. As long as you go in with an open mind and aren't trying to offend anyone, you'll love everything about this place. If it gets to be too much, take a little cruise around lake Michigan. Did you hear about Dave Matthews' tour bus dumping loads of crap on people as it crossed a bridge over the river in Chicago (the people were on a boat going under the bridge)? Hilarious.