By: P.Ling on 09 24, 2009
Does it surprise you to know that Chicago has the largest number of green roofs? More than more than all other US cities combined. Or that the Windy City boasts of the nation’s first USDA certified organic bakery?

It is an indication that Chicagoans are quite aware of their environmental responsibilities, and doing their bit. Here’s what you - as a visitor, can do to keep your travel in Chicago sustainable and clean.
Green Hotels:- We maintain an updated list of all the LEED certified green hotels in Illinois here. At present, the list includes the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza in Chicago and the Hotel Arista in Naperville - which falls within the Chicago metropolitan area.
If, for some reason, the above two hotels are not for you - then Chicago has 14 Green Seal certified hotels.
Transportation:-Use the Chicago Metra - Convinient, has a wide reach and least harmful to the environment. The Metra allows you to carry along bikes, so if you want to take a bike tour of Chicago and hop in and out of the Metra in-between, it’s not so strenous.
For transport from Chicago’s Western suburbs - if say you’re staying at the Hotel Arista in Naperville - then you might want to check out the Grasshopper Shuttle.
Hybrid cabs make up a very small percentage (about 1%) of Chicago’s cabs, so unless you call and specifically ask for a hybrid cab, you should avoid hailing cabs. If you must have private transport, then hire a green limo from Diva.
Dining & Restaurants:- Plenty of options in Chicago, if you’re looking for an organic restaurant. This list includes the famed Crust - Chicago’s first experiment with organic cuisine. If you end up at Crust, don’t miss their wild herb & cheese, with a heady organic beer to wash it down.
Other notable organic foodie hot-spots in Chicago include Bistro Campagne, Uncommon Ground, and the Bleeding Heart Bakery - the first organic bakery in the US.
Another exciting option is Drew’s Eatery, which offers delicious organic ice cream, hot dogs and sausages.
If you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you might also enjoy the Shedd Aquarium’s Right Bite dinners and/or a visit to the Chicago Green City Market.
Attractions & Things to Do:- In addition to aforementioned Shedd Aquarium, eco-friendly attractions in Chicago include the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, which has a gigantic 17,000 sq ft green roof, and will be hosting aforementioned Green City Market later this year. The Museum café sells local and organic foods.
If you’re interested in green tech, then a visit to the Chicago Center for Green Technology might prove interesting. The Center also has a nice green roof-top.
Want to visit Chicago’s other famed green roof-tops? Check out the rooftops at Millenium Park in the Loop, Pepsico Rooftop Garden (555 W. Monroe St., 2nd floor), and Soldier Field in the Museum Campus.

Other visitable eco-attractions include the two observatories in Garfield Park and Lincoln Park, the Field Museum and the Lincoln Park Zoo. If you visit the zoo, don’t miss the endangered species carousel, and if you need a break, head for the Café at Wild Things - an organic café located at the top of the Wild Things gift shop at the zoo.
But the Chicago experience remains unfulfilled unless you poke around North Michigan Ave and do some Magnificent Mile shopping at Burton Snowboards, Chiaroscuro, and Old Plank Antiques on Huron.
Inspite of all this, and since you’re only human, it is to be expected that you’ll end up with a nice fat carbon footprint for your Chicago trip. If you wish to purchase carbon offsets, here’s the City of Chicago’s carbon-offset guide.
Green roof photo by swanksalot; Bleeding Heart Bakery photo by rkbcupcakes; Carousel photo by YimHafiz