Chicagoland Top 10

Saint Patrick's Day is an Irish tradition long celebrated far beyond Ireland's borders. Green-clad, Guinness-drinking, Irish-jigging people across the globe get together on this festive day of March to share tales of leprechauns and shenanigans, look for lucky shamrocks and gawk at grand parades, all for the love of

With a drink, hot dog and Cracker Jacks in hand, there is nothing like the experience of watching America's national pastime from a seat in one of the country's legendary ball parks. Luckily for baseball fans, the United States is a mecca for parks with interesting history, state-of-the-art architecture and distinct character formed by odd superstitions.

The 5th of May—or in Spanish, el Cinco de Mayo—in many United States cities means one thing: fiesta time. Mariachi music winds through streets as sombrero-clad Mexican men play guitars and women click their castanets and dance folkloric-style along parade routes in large hooped dresses. Boulevards and squares are festooned with red, white and green, and street vendors and restaurants offer up tamales and empañadas washed down with cold cervezas and tequila.

Every summer the United States comes together as a nation to celebrate its favorite holiday--its birthday. The fourth of July marks the date when America gained its independence from the British and signed the Declaration of Independence.

The origins of American Thanksgiving date back to the early 17th century, when the pilgrims of Plymouth celebrated a successful harvest through feasting and religious observance. While many of those traditions have remained over the centuries, including the ubiquitous trimmed-turkey dinner and family gatherings, Thanksgiving in the United States has evolved to embrace many new and imaginative customs. Numerous festivities occur across the country but a few distinct celebrations stand out...