Chicago

Chicago is a city known for its balance: its got all the draws of a typical major US city - a wealth of restaurants, respected galleries, a world-class music scene. Yet unlike the gatekeeping snobbery of New York, or the glittering pretence of LA, Chicago has the warmth and openness of a much smaller place. It carries all the creative credentials of a cosmopolitan capital, but without the arrogance of its counterparts.

Chicago is also a world-class destination for club heads - spearheading a new era in music after the decay of disco, a genre stifled by prejudices from homophobes and racists. In 1970s, disco thrived in Chicago, especially among the city's Black and queer population. When it disappeared - it left a void, and a community searching for a home. House first appeared at a members-only gay club in South Jefferson Street called The Warehouse, through the fearless sets resident DJ Frankie Knuckles. Today, Chicago continues to produce world-class talent across the club and wider cultural spaces - from inventive food spots to art galleries, club nights to community centres.