You Know You Are in Chicago Poster
16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Chicago
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Chicago, the "Windy City" as it is often called, lies forth the shores of Lake Michigan. Known for its vibrant arts scene, numerous cultural attractions, excellent shopping, and interesting architecture, this city attracts visitors from the US and around the globe.
Chicago enjoys a worldwide reputation as a focal point of 20th-century compages and art, with architects such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, and artists like Picasso, Mirõ, Dubuffet, and Chagall leaving their mark.
The city also has much to offer in the sporting sphere, too, with the Chicago Bears in American football, the Chicago White Sox and Cubs in baseball, and the Chicago Bulls in basketball.
Last, but not least, are the beautiful beaches that stretch along the waterfront, attracting throngs of sun seekers in the summer.
Deciding when to visit Chicago may depend on your interests, particularly if yous are coming for sports or cultural events, but spring until fall is the best fourth dimension for weather.
For a consummate look at places to visit, see our list of the peak attractions and things to practise in Chicago.
Notation: Some businesses may be temporarily airtight due to recent global health and rubber issues.
i. Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is a world class museum with hundreds of thousands of artworks. The diverse collection spans thousands of years and includes pieces from a diverseness of media including painting, prints, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, textiles, architectural drawings and more.
The Institute is known for its collection of impressionist and postal service-Impressionist paintings including Georges Seurat'south 1884 A Lord's day Afternoon on La Grande Jatte, Renoir's 1879 Acrobats at the Cirque Fernando, and numerous paintings by Claude Monet.
The primary building, designed by Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge in beaux-arts style, was built for the 1893 Globe's Columbian Exposition. Several other buildings accept been added on over the years and today the complex measures 400,000 square feet.
Address: 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: http://world wide web.artic.edu/
2. Walk Through Millennium Park
Millennium Park is function of the larger Grant Park, located in downtown Chicago bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the e, Randolph Street to the northward, and Monroe Street to the south. Its centerpiece is a 110-ton sculpture name Cloud Gate , which has a polished, mirror-like stainless steel surface that was inspired by liquid mercury. Information technology reflects the surroundings, including buildings, the sky, and the tourists who walk through its key arch.
Some other top allure in Millennium Park is Crown Fountain, a fascinating modern interpretation of the ancient gargoyle that gives the advent of water flowing from the mouths of projected images of Chicago citizens. Other popular things to do here include seeing a performance at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, an outdoor concert venue, and visiting Lurie Garden, which is open up to the public at no cost twelvemonth-round.
Located close to many of the major attractions, as well every bit great shopping, this area of the urban center is a user-friendly place to base yourself. For accommodation suggestions see our listing of recommended hotels in this area.
Address: 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: http://www.cityofchicago.org/metropolis/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park.html
3. Stroll around Navy Pier
The Navy Pier originally opened in 1916 as an amusement expanse and aircraft facility merely is now ane of Chicago'due south almost popular tourist attractions. Today, the Navy Pier is made up of 50 acres of gardens, attractions, shops, restaurants, concert venues, and parks. There is a 150 ft Ferris bicycle and an historic carousel in Navy Pier Park.
Visitors can as well sentinel a film at the 3D Imax Theater, watch actors perform the classics at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, or visit Crystal Gardens, a 1-acre, half-dozen-story, indoor botanical garden. Too located here is the Chicago Children'due south Museum. The Pier hosts yr-round festivities, including the Chicago Festival in Baronial. Prowl ships leave from here on various sightseeing excursions.
Address: 600 East G Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: https://navypier.com/
4. Museum of Science and Industry
At the north end of Jackson Park is the Museum of Science and Industry, founded in 1933, and arguably the virtually impressive museum in Chicago. Information technology is devoted to the awarding of natural laws in technological and industrial development.
The museum is idea to be the first in the U.S. to incorporate the thought of "hands-on" exhibits. Visitors are encouraged to interact with hundreds of exhibits. The MSI features permanent and changing exhibits, besides as an OMNIMAX theater.
Address: 5700 Southward Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: http://www.msichicago.org/
v. Come across the View from the Willis Tower SkyDeck
Until 1996, when the Petronas Towers were built in Kuala Lumpur, the 110 story Sears Belfry, now Willis Belfry, was the world's tallest office block. While there are now several taller buildings, the view from here is incredible. On a clear day you lot can come across forty to 50 miles over four states, and proceeds a bird's eye view of Chicago's impressive compages.
The Willis Tower took three years to build and was opened to the public in 1974. The building is i,453 anxiety tall with an observation area, called the SkyDeck, on the 103rd flooring, 1,353 feet above the ground. A drinking glass box with a glass floor, known as the Ledge, juts out from the SkyDeck, where visitors tin stand up and look directly downward at the city below.
If this is your first visit to Chicago, the SkyDeck is a must-do. Buy your Chicago SkyDeck Tickets in accelerate to experience the Ledge, explore the exhibits, and watch a brusk video on the history of the building.
Address: 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: https://theskydeck.com/
6. Watch the Water Show at Buckingham Fountain
Congenital in 1927 as a donation from the family unit, the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain is one of the largest in the world. Designed in the period's iconic Fine art Deco mode, the central fountain is surrounded past four seahorses that correspond Lake Michigan'due south iv bordering states. From 8am to 11pm, the fountain bursts to life hourly, shooting fifteen,000 gallons of water through well-nigh 200 nozzles each minute to create an impressive display.
Afterwards dusk, the water show is accompanied by lights, a must-see if yous are in the neighborhood in the evening. The fountain is the fundamental focal signal of Grant Park, Chicago'due south expansive public space that contains many attractions and smaller parks like Millennium Park, comparable to Fundamental Park, ane of the superlative attractions in New York Metropolis.
One of the park'south main tourist sites is Museum Campus, home to The Field Museum of Natural History, the Art Constitute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium. Grant Park is also home to several gardens and recreational facilities, and hosts events, including music and food festivals.
7. 360 Chicago
Located in the John Hancock Center office building, 360 Chicago is an observation deck on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building, easy to recognize by its dark metallic looking exterior and cross-braced steel pattern, which runs upwards the outside of the edifice. The large glass-walled observation deck has views that wait out over Chicago's skyline and beyond.
More audacious tourists will beloved the deck'south newest feature, "Tilt," which gives visitors a unique view from more than 1,000 anxiety above the Magnificent Mile as they are tipped outward at an angle to look straight down from the glass enclosure.
The rest of the edifice contains a diverseness of shops, offices, and apartments, too equally a multimedia exhibit located on the first flooring that includes data most the city of Chicago and the construction of the John Hancock Building.
Address: 875 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: http://www.360chicago.com/
viii. Field Museum of Natural History
Originally called the Columbian Museum of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History was founded in 1893 to showcase the biological and anthropological collections gathered for the World Columbian Exposition. The name inverse in 1905 to laurels Marshall Field, the department store owner, art patron, and major benefactor of the museum.
The permanent collection features approximately 20 one thousand thousand artifacts and specimens roofing a variety of disciplines including geology, botany, zoology and anthropology. Of special note are the permanent displays on Ancient Egypt and the cultures of N, Central and South America and "Sue," the world's largest, virtually consummate Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. Special rotating exhibits take identify on a regular basis throughout the year.
Address: 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: http://fieldmuseum.org/
9. Michigan Avenue and the Magnificent Mile
Michigan Avenue is probably one of the nigh attractive boulevards in America. The city'south famous Magnificent Mile is a section of Michigan Avenue n of the Chicago River, with numerous galleries, boutiques, and luxury shops.
Some of the attractions along here include the John Hancock Center, the Wrigley Building, and the Tribune Belfry. Michigan Avenue splits between Northward and South designations at Madison Street. This district is as well known for its theaters, which host touring plays, musicals, and comedy acts.
Official site: http://www.themagnificentmile.com/
10. Accept a Tour or Encounter a Game at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs, was built in 1914 and is the 2d-oldest Major League Baseball park in the Us, second just to Fenway Park in Boston. The park has seen some legendary moments in baseball history, including the 1917 no-hitter pitching duel between the Cubs' Jim Vaughn and the Reds' Fred Toney, and Babe Ruth'due south "chosen shot" during game three of the 1932 World Series.
Ballpark tours are conducted in-season, when yous can visit the press box and field, also as the dugouts if in that location is no game that day.
Official site: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ballpark/
xi. Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is a 6-mile stretch of greenish space along the edge of Lake Michigan, and Chicago's biggest park. This popular park is home to the lovely Lincoln Park Solarium and the Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the land. Also located hither are the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and the Chicago History Museum.
For those who simply desire to relish the outdoor space there are playing fields, bike trails, jogging paths, and beaches. Visitors tin can see a number of significant statues and pieces of public art within the park grounds including Augustus Saint Gaudens' Continuing Statue of Lincoln (1887).
12. Shedd Aquarium
If Lake Michigan has you wondering what sort of aquatic life exists just offshore from downtown Chicago, swing by the Shedd Aquarium. Inside are exhibits that cover aquatic regions of the world, from the Arctic to the Caribbean.
If you are visiting with young children, 1 of the must exercise'southward is the Polar Play Zone. Here, children tin can slip into their favorite animal costume, accept a make-believe trip in a submarine, and touch ocean stars. Another popular place for children of all ages is the Stingray touch tank. This massive tank is full of curious stingrays who love to be petted and touched.
13. Lincoln Park Zoo
Some other fun thing for families to exercise in Chicago is a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo is dwelling house to over 200 species from effectually the world. Sixteen different exhibits showcase the wonderful animals that we share this world with. Some of the near entertaining animals include penguins, otters, and seals. For a truly fascinating experience, stop by the Regenstein Heart for African Apes.
The zoo is not just about animals, in fact information technology'south one of the best places in Chicago to run across astonishing floral displays. Each yr, the gardening crew tends to over 2,000 private plants across 1,200 species.
14. Chicago Riverwalk and Lakefront Trail
The Chicago River runs through the heart of the city, parallel to the lakeshore, and is known for its large number of movable bridges. In just two miles, there are eighteen bridges, each with the ability to allow large boats to pass.
The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum treats tourists to an up-close expect at the mechanisms of one of the metropolis's most famous bridges, where you can actually watch the gears work as it moves.
The Riverwalk is home to many dining options and hosts special events throughout the yr, and y'all can also find several river tours and cruises that depart from the Riverwalk.
The fully-paved Lakefront Trail offers beautiful views of the urban center skyline and Lake Michigan, stretching 18 miles from 71st Street on the South Side to Ardmore Street on the North Side. It is open up to pedestrians and people-powered wheels, and is lined by parks, gardens, and recreation areas, also as beaches. Many of the city's tiptop attractions are located along the trail, including Navy Pier, Lincoln Park, and Soldier Field.
Official site: world wide web.chicagoriverwalk.us
fifteen. Oriental Institute Museum
The Oriental Institute Museum, located on the Academy of Chicago campus, is defended to the archæology and art of the Near Due east, including antiquities from excavations in Egypt, Sudan, Nubia, Iraq, Turkey, State of israel, and the aboriginal site of Megiddo.
Among the permanent exhibits are the Mesopotamian Gallery, which features objects from between 100,000 BC and the 7th century Advertising, and two Egyptian Galleries, which include artifacts that range from everyday objects to mummification relics.
Address: 1155 Eastward 58th Street, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: http://oi.uchicago.edu/museum-exhibits
16. The Rookery Building
The Rookery Building was designed by architects Daniel Burnham and John Root in 1888, but the interior lobby and patio were remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1907. This 12-story edifice has a Roman Revival and Queen Anne-style façade, but it is the cardinal light court and the ornamental ironwork of the elegant staircases that are the true gem of the edifice.
The Rookery, named for the big number of pigeons that frequented the building, is listed on the Register of National Historic Places. The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust conducts tours of the building, as well as other sites, like the Robie Business firm in Hyde Park and the Bach House.
Address: 209 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois
Official site: http://therookerybuilding.com/
Where to Stay in Chicago for Sightseeing
The all-time sightseeing, shopping, and dining and the most interesting architecture are plant in Chicago's city center, and this is where almost visitors volition desire to stay. The urban center heart encompasses the famous Magnificent Mile and areas of the waterfront, which are specially popular in summer. Below are some highly rated hotels in convenient locations.
Luxury Hotels:
- At the loftier end of the luxury hotels is The Langham , with a cute riverfront location, and shut to the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, and Navy Pier.
- The recently renovated Hyatt Centric Chicago Magnificent Mile is a more modestly priced top-cease hotel with a great location in the city centre.
- In this aforementioned category and shut to everything is the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel . This hotel offers beautiful views over Lake Michigan and Millennium Park.
Mid-Range Hotels:
- In a good location, inside walking distance of many of the major sites and set up in the center of the theater district, is the Hampton Majestic Chicago Theatre District .
- The Kinzie Hotel is a popular contemporary boutique hotel, centrally located for sightseeing and shopping.
- In a great location, just a couple of blocks off the Magnificent Mile, is the Meridian Hotel Visitor , which describes itself as "hip" but is too quirky and cozy at the same time.
Budget Hotels:
- Budget options in the city center are few and far betwixt. The best bargains are outside the city centre and crave some commuting. Two adept-value options are the Majestic Hotel and the pet-friendly Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace Hotel , both in the Lakeview E neighborhood, north of downtown. Both of these offer gratuitous breakfasts.
Tips and Tours: How to Make the Nigh of Your Visit to Chicago
Chicago'southward history is a large office of what makes it so unique. Taking a tour is definitely recommended if you want to learn well-nigh the city's storied past, from the notorious gangsters to the famous buildings. Below are some of the most popular or unique tours on offer in the metropolis.
Sightseeing Tours:
- The four-hr Chicago G Half-Day Tour is the perfect mode to be able to run across and learn about the city's most of import landmark buildings and sights. The narrated double-decker tour takes a breathtaking route along the lake through Grant Park and by some of its most iconic attractions; drives downwards Chicago'southward Magnificent Mile; and tours the South Side, where you lot can see President Obama's former dwelling house.
- For general sightseeing, the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus or Trolley Tour is the easiest and most user-friendly way to see the highlights of the city and to go oriented. For first timers, this is a must. Go on and off at the sights that interest you, skip those that don't, and learn a little history from this narrated bout. If y'all are spending more than 1 24-hour interval in the metropolis, practice this bout on solar day one to get the layout of the city and effigy out where you might desire to spend the rest of your fourth dimension.
- If you are visiting during the warmer months, consider taking a Segway Tour . These are small groups of simply eight people and 1 guide. Yous will be given a brusk preparation session and so head off on a guided bout.
Special Interest Tours:
- The Chicago Mob and Crime Tour is ane of those unique tours that can just be in sure cities, like Chicago. This tour takes you to sites associated with some of the urban center's most notorious gangsters of the 20th century, including Al Capone and John Dillinger. Anyone who reads crime novels will honey this bout.
- During the summer months, check out the Chicago Compages River Prowl . Y'all don't have to be an expert to appreciate the city's fine buildings, and this 75-minute cruise is a dandy manner to run across and learn virtually Chicago's architecture.
Chicago Downtown Map (Historical)
Chicago Map - Attractions (Historical)
Source: https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/chicago-us-il-chi.htm
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