As the fastest growing neighborhood in Chicago, residential spots here don't come cheap – but they're not off-the-charts expensive either. Most of the housing here is attached and a one bedroom condo or loft could cost anywhere from $175,000 to $300,000+. Two bedroom units in the South Loop generally fall in the $400,000 range, but there are also a number of upscale two bedrooms that breach the million-dollar mark. Spacious three bedroom townhouses start around a half a million. Whatever the price tag, it hasn't deterred Chicagoans from buying in the area. Even Mayor Daley moved to the South Loop – that's when the housing market really exploded here. 

The South Loop is one of Chicago's biggest tourist destinations because it is home to Grant Park, which is famous for its huge outdoor summer festivals, concerts and events; and the Museum Campus is in the South Loop which houses the Shedd Aquarium, Alder Planetarium and the Field Museum. And football fans will be happy to know Soldier Field is right there, too, where the Bears play all their home games. Grant Park is a bustling hub for the city's endless schedule of festivals and fairs, including the famous week-long Taste of Chicago when local restaurateurs set up booths to show the world just why Chicago is America's culinary capital. Also known as "Chicago's front yard," this sprawling park is a popular recreational spot for Chicagoans to picnic, fly kites, take a stroll, bike, nap on the lawn, walk with the dog, read a book, listen to the iPod, or just enjoy nature at its finest. And with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, Grant Park offers some of the best photo ops in the entire city!

Those who live and work in the neighborhood are familiar with a side of the South Loop that out-of-towners are not necessarily privy to. We're talking about the prime dining destinations, like the Bongo Room, a super hip restaurant where brunch is king, every order is enormous and the breakfast menu reads like a fancy dessert list. The Bongo Room's famous brunch dishes, like white chocolate pretzel pancakes, draw more than the local gentry – folks come from all around to eat at this trendy contemporary American food fave. Other South Loop culinary establishments include upscale cafes and delis, and you have your pick of elegant eateries and Chicago-style pizza joints. A whole slew of Asian cuisine restaurants, such as Thai Spoon, Triad Sushi and Lao Sze Chuan, have also trickled into the neighborhood rounding out the variety of tastes.

The eatin' is good in the South Loop, but its selection of shopping ain't too shabby either. Shoes, jewelry, haute couture fashion accessories, you name it… South Loop stores deliver. Those on a budget don't have to pass on the shopping spree, just head to DSW Shoe Warehouse for bargain prices, while anyone with a fat pocket book may prefer to graze the aisles of the more upscale Heelz Chicago Shoe Salon.