Why doesn't Chicago come across as touristy? (Bryant: living in, bus)

[grapico]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

Chicago draws a lot of international tourists. You can hear Germans at many spots on North Michigan Ave
It is within driving distance to another world city. We call it Toronto though we often disregard it because its across international border.

How many international tourists are going to drive 8 hours from Chicago to Toronto... How many Chicagoans will even do it? Most of them would fly I imagine. The East Coast cities at this point have high speed rail and are mostly like going from Chicago into Milwaukee, so more bang for your buck as an international visitor.

[mayhem_223]

Originally Posted by grapico

How many international tourists are going to drive 8 hours from Chicago to Toronto... How many Chicagoans will even do it? Most of them would fly I imagine. The East Coast cities at this point have high speed rail and are mostly like going from Chicago into Milwaukee, so more bang for your buck as an international visitor.

Not many, but it's doable in summer if you stay for 2 weeks and have a car.

[Kamms]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

Chicago draws a lot of international tourists. You can hear Germans at many spots on North Michigan Ave
It is within driving distance to another world city. We call it Toronto though we often disregard it because its across international border.

Sorry, but I've never heard any domestic or international visitors to Chicago thinking about its proximity to Toronto. Gee, let's make a 1,000+ mile round-trip drive to Toronto and spend two full days to do it. Toronto is disregarded in Chicago because of its distant location, not because its in Canada.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Yep, exactly. When I was in Turkey, anytime I said I am from Chicago, the only thing they'd say was "ahhhh Michael Jordan! You know him??"

That most have been 20 years ago.

[glass_of_merlot]

I think its the weather. If people from Europe want to go shopping in a huge city they fly to NYC over Chicago.
Chicago also gets very cold so that's another drawback for tourists.. however, i have never met anybody in the world who is not very familiar with Chicago. I have lived in several countries and Chicago has always been up there among NYC, WA DC and LA. People go to
Miami for the weather, that's about it.

[ChiNaan]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

It is within driving distance to another world city. We call it Toronto though we often disregard it because its across international border.

If Chicago (521 miles) is driving distance from Toronto, then NYC (471 miles) is, too.

[TheSunshineKid]

Because it's in the midwest and it isn't a main city for media (movies, major networking channels, fashion etc.).

[reppin_the_847]

Detroit & especially Buffalo (NY) are much closer to Toronto distance-wise than Chicago is. It's not considered to be a close by city over here since it would take literally all day and some of the evening to drive there.

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

Chicago draws a lot of international tourists. You can hear Germans at many spots on North Michigan Ave
It is within driving distance to another world city. We call it Toronto though we often disregard it because its across international border.

[emathias]

I've hosted dozens of international visitors in my home. No one who's primary destination has been Chicago has driven to Toronto or even asked about it. I have had guests who've been on a driving tour of North America who have driven between Toronto and Chicago, but both were just two more cities on their larger trip. I'd say about 1/3 of my Toronto-based guests have driven, most of the rest have flown, although at least one has taken a bus between the two.

[sand1ego]

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

That most have been 20 years ago.

MJ still has one of the most recognizable faces in the world, and is still the biggest human brand in the world. He put basketball and Chicago on the global map, and continues to do so.