Location: On the Southwestern shores of Lake Michigan, American Midwest.

Time: GMT - 6 Hours. Language: English.

Climate: Humid continental with four distinct seasons; summers are warm and humid whilst winters are cold, windy and snowy.

Area: City 237 sq.m, urban 2,122 sq.m, metropolitan 10,874 sq.m. Population: City 2,836,658, urban 8,711,000, metropolitan 9,785,747.

Electricity: 120 volts at 60hz. Telephone Code: +1 312 Currency: US dollar.

Passport/visa requirements: Holders of a valid United Kingdom passport can stay for up to six months with a tourist visa. They would then have to have left the US for at least one day before returning.

Airports: O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport.

Flight time: Approximately eight and a half hours.

Public Holidays- 2010

1 Jan New Year's Day.

19 Jan Martin Luther King Day.

16 Feb Presidents' Day.

25 May Memorial Day.

4 Jul Independence Day.

7 Sep Labor Day.

12 Oct Columbus Day.

11 Nov Veterans' Day.

26 Nov Thanksgiving Day.

25 Dec Christmas Day.

Tourist Office: US Embassy, 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 2LQ, Tel: 020-749 99000.

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