Why Maui is the Best Place for Chicagoans to Visit:
6 Compelling Trades
If you’re from Chicago yearning for a tropical escape, we know just the place: Maui.
Maui is a perfect sanctuary to escape harsh winters, bustling streets, and the endless gray of city life. Here are some compelling trades that make Maui the best place for Chicagoans to visit.
Trade Lake Michigan for the Pacific.
The allure of Maui beaches isn’t enough to get a Chicagoan to book a plane ticket – especially in the summertime.
The Chicago area has its fair share of pretty beaches. From the ever-popular North Avenue Beach to the stunning environs at Indiana Dunes National Park, the lack of beaches isn’t an issue for the average Chicagoan.
But let me tell ya, as pretty as Lake Michigan can be, it’s got nothing on the Pacific.
Maui’s beaches range from black sand to deep gold. Some are studded with palms and lava rock points; others stretch for miles on end. The color of the water is a spectrum of turquoise, baby blue, cobalt, and indigo. Plus, Maui’s year-round water temperatures are about the same as the warmest day in Lake Michigan: cool and comfortable. If you’re a beach-loving Chicago dweller, Maui’s beaches are well worth the 4,000-mile flight.
Trade deep-dish pizza for poke and shave ice.
Chicago is one of the best cities in the United States for food. Deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, you name it.
But Hawaii can hold its own, too.
Some dishes are synonymous with Hawaii, from traditional Hawaiian plates like poke and kalua pork to contemporary local fare like saimin and spam musubis. Don’t leave Maui without trying the aforementioned local favorites. We also recommend a stop at Tin Roof for mochiko chicken, Star Noodle for noodles, and Tasaka Guri Guri for a sherbet-like concoction endemic to Maui.
Maui also has a plethora of fine dining establishments, a la The Bear. From Ferraro’s at the Four Seasons to Merriman’s in Kapalua, there is no shortage of excellent food and service on Maui.
Trade the Chicago Bean for the Kalama Park Whale.
Chicagoans are no strangers to unique public sculptures.
You won’t find anything similar to the Chicago Bean on Maui, but we do have a life-sized whale sculpture — located in the heart of downtown Kihei.
And speaking of whales… Maui is the best place for whale watching in Hawaii. Thousands of humpback whales show up in Maui’s waters every year. It’s a far cry from the lake trout in Lake Michigan.
Trade snow and concrete for sand and waving palms.
When winter rolls around, Chicagoans need no excuse for hopping on a plane. Those icy, 20-degree days might really have you questioning your city of choice. And don’t even get me started on the sun going down at 4:30 p.m.
Fortunately, places like Kihei on Maui enjoy nearly 300 days of sun a year. And the closest you’ll get to freezing temperatures on Maui is while watching the sunrise at Haleakala.
So let this be your reminder that Maui’s sunshiney beaches and perpetually warm weather are only one flight away. (United flies direct to Maui every Saturday!)
Trade busy streets for a relaxed pace.
American cities have a fast-paced, time-is-of-the-essence atmosphere. People in urban centers rush from one place to the next, and Chicago is no different.
But things move a little more slowly on Maui. “Island time” is a real thing on the Valley Isle. Visitors – especially those from major cities like Chicago – can kick up their feet and soak up each moment without a rigid schedule. Let Ferris Bueller’s iconic quote be your Maui mantra: “Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in a while; you could miss it.”
Trade the Windy City for tradewinds.
Okay, okay. We know that the “Windy City” is just a nickname, and Chicago isn’t actually that windy compared to some other places in America—places like Maui. Maui is the windiest island in Hawaii—thanks to two large mountains that funnel tradewinds through the central valley.
Maui may be known for its gusts, but some places on the island are less windy than others (Kihei and Wailea are more blocked from the wind than Kahului and Maalaea). Regardless, we appreciate the wind here because it keeps temperatures nice and cool. It’s also fun to watch windsurfers and kitesurfers do their thing.
Trade Chicago Plain for 10,000-foot peaks.
The midwest usually conjures up visions of cornfields and plains as far as the eye can see. Chicago’s skyscrapers are the exception, but the city does sit on the Chicago plain — and it’s pretty darn flat.
For a visiting Chicagoan, Maui’s mountains can be quite a shock. The West Maui Mountains stand at about 5,000 feet, and Haleakala towers at just over 10,000 feet. Looking up at Haleakala from sea level, it’s striking just how tall the mountain actually is.
The various elevations on Maui also create many microclimates. In about 45 minutes, you can travel from the hot, sunny seashore to misty, chilly, upland conifer forests. These microclimates are part of the reason why Maui is an amazing place to visit—no matter where you’re from.
Already planning to visit? Check out these fun things to do on Maui. See you soon!
