Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Trendy, Breathtaking Views, Famous, Family Fun, Exhibitions, Souvenirs, Photography
233 S Wacker Dr, chicago
Willis tower, formerly the Sears Tower, is a 110-story skyscraper, and this skyscraper is Chicago's most dominant structure and 2nd tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. On a clear day, one can see approximately 40-50 miles (65 - 80 kilometers), allowing one to easily see four states – Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Skydeck has a ledge glass box extending 4.3 feet from the Skydeck, providing a clear view of 1,353 straight down.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Shopping, Breathtaking Views, Family Fun, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Concerts, Sightseeing, Private Events
875 N Michigan Ave, chicago
360 Chicago is an observatory located on the 94th floor of the historic John Hancock Center in the heart of downtown Chicago. It offers breathtaking views of the city and Lake Michigan from over 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile. Visitors can also experience "The Tilt" for an additional fee; a series of floor-to-ceiling windows slowly tilt outside the building to 30°. There is also a Bar (CloudBar) to enjoy a drink (or two) while overlooking the view.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Shopping, Breathtaking Views, Family Fun, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Concerts, Sightseeing, Private Events, Kids Friendly
201 East Randolph Street, chicago
Once a space for railways, now a lively, spectacular gathering spot located in the heart of the city and a destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike. The view is super exciting; the park is full of joy, happiness, and cheerfulness. Boeing Gallery in the park exhibits public art. Cloud Gate (The Bean), Crown Fountain, and Lurie Garden are famous places to see and relax in the park. The beautiful BP Bridge connects Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park (another great attraction). Wrigley Square and Jay Pritzker Pavilion are also additional favorite attractions.
Wheelchair Accessible, Trendy, Family Fun, Exhibitions, Educational Workshops, Movie Night, Private Events, Kids Friendly
1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr, chicago
The Adler Planetarium museum is dedicated to studying astronomy and astrophysics, founded by Max Adler. The planetarium is a twelve-sided building that includes two sky theaters. The theaters depict the night sky and allow visitors an up-close look at distant planets, moons, and galaxies. There are full-size theaters, extensive space science exhibitions, and a significant collection of antique scientific instruments and print materials. Its exhibits Astronomy in Culture, Chicago’s Night Sky, Mission Moon, Our Solar System, Planet Explorers, Space Visualization Lab, Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass, The Universe: A Walk Through Space and Time, and many more.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Guided Tours, Family Fun, People Watching, Behind The Scenes Tours
1060 W Addison St, chicago
The home of the Chicago Cubs, originally known as Weeghman Park, was built in 1914. A unique piece of sports history still stands while most other venues get knocked down and rebuilt, it is the second oldest ballpark. An iconic landmark, it is known for its ivy-covered brick outfield wall and hand-turned scoreboard. Visitors can see this place from the outside for free or buy tour tickets to go inside, and they can also purchase tickets on the game day to get the real experience. The games are fun and exciting, regardless of the outcome.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Trendy, Family Fun, Free Entry, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Birding, Wildlife, Sightseeing, Private Events, Birthday Parties, Kids Friendly
2001 North Clark Street, chicago
This 35-acre, beautifully landscaped zoo is the only privately managed free zoo in the USA. Established in 1868 has one of the best collections of gorillas and chimpanzees in the world. They are home to snow leopards, sea lions, penguins, Stilts, polar bears, snakes, and many more. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits, with displays set up to be informative and engaging.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Trendy, Dine In, Shopping, Family Fun, Free Entry, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Sightseeing, Photography, Music, Movie Night
600 E Grand Ave, chicago
Chicago's lakefront treasure, Navy Pier, is 50 acres of unparalleled attraction space. Nearly nine million people visit Navy Pier annually, making it the most visited attraction in Illinois and the Midwest. There are many indoor and outdoor attractions at Navy Pier, such as Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Children's Museum, impressively large Centennial Wheel, Carousel, Drop Tower, Navy Pier Beer Garden, and many more. You will also find shops, eateries, and theatres.
Local Favorite, Breathtaking Views, Family Fun, Free Entry, Lush, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Photography, Romantic, Kids Friendly
301 S. Columbus Dr., chicago
Buckingham fountain, one of the largest in the world, runs daily from early May through mid-October. Visitors can enjoy a major water display for 20 minutes every hour when the water goes 150 feet in the air. It is considered one of the finest ornamental fountains in America.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Shopping, Breathtaking Views, Family Fun, Free Entry, Lush, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Concerts, Sightseeing, Photography, Private Events, Various Food Options, Romantic, Kids Friendly
331 E Randolph St, chicago
312.98 acres Grant Park, proudly referred to as Chicago's front yard offers many different attractions in its ample open space, including Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum Campus. It is home to baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and breathtaking gardens. The park hosts music and food events, including the famous Taste of Chicago event, Grant Park Music Festival, and Lollapalooza, a well-known outdoor music festival.
Local Favorite, Trendy, Hiking, Family Fun, Free Entry, Lush, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Sightseeing, Private Events, Picnic, Various Food Options, Romantic, Kids Friendly
337 E Randolph St, chicago
Maggie Daley Park is a 20-acre magnificent recreation park offering a children's playground, a climbing wall, mini golf, picnic groves, a skating ribbon, tennis courts, roller blades, Micro Scooters & Bungee, and a formal garden. It also hosts a popular summer day camp. The park is named in honor of Maggie C. Daley (1943 – 2011), Chicago's longtime first lady, who was deeply committed to improving the lives of children and making the city culturally rich for all its citizens.
Local Favorite, Trendy, Biking, Shopping, Family Fun, Free Entry, Walking Around, People Watching, Sightseeing, Date Night, Kids Friendly
N Lincoln Ave & W Fullerton Pkwy, chicago
Lincoln Park is one of the most affluent and picturesque neighborhoods in Chicago. It's a few stops from the city with many exciting places, including the namesake park (Lincoln Park), beach, restaurants, museums, theatres, shops, and bars. The neighborhood is home to the country's oldest free zoo. Visitors will enjoy the manicured gardens, many lakefront green spaces, and breathtaking city views.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Relaxing, Famous, Family Fun, Free Entry, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Concerts, Sightseeing, Photography, Music, Private Events, Romantic
300 N Central Park Ave, chicago
One of the largest and most stunning conservatories was designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen and was opened to the public in April 1908. This two-acre "Landscape art under glass" occupies contains many permanent plant exhibits incorporating specimens from around the world. The beautiful glass building is separated by theme and temperature/ humidity. There is a room for desert plants, one for food-producing plants, and a treehouse room for kids. Beautiful specimen plants, exquisitely well maintained. There are also ten-acre outdoor gardens.
Wheelchair Accessible, Family Fun, Exhibitions, Art Gallery, Private Events, Birthday Parties, Free Wifi, Takes Reservations
220 E Chicago Ave, chicago
A contemporary art museum near Water Tower Place is one of the world's largest contemporary art venues. Visitors can experience the work and ideas of living artists and understand the historical, social, and cultural context. The museum includes sculpture, photography, dance, performance, and music. Museum's collection consists of more than 2,000 works, 2,500 artworks spanning media and movements from the 1920s to the present.
Local Favorite, Trendy, Dog Friendly, Hiking, Biking, Breathtaking Views, Street Performance, Family Fun, Free Entry, Lush, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Photography, Romantic
1805 N Ridgeway Ave, chicago
The 606 is a former elevated rail line, the Bloomingdale Line, converted into a combination walking, jogging, and biking path from Ashland Avenue to North Ridgeway Avenue. The trail connects to ground-level neighborhood parks, an observatory, art installations, and other amenities. There is a lot to see architecturally, lovely plantings along the way, with many entrances and exits along the route.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Trendy, Dine In, Shopping, Relaxing, Street Performance, Famous, Family Fun, Free Entry, Exhibitions, Sightseeing Tours, Walking Around, People Watching, Sightseeing, Live Shows, Romantic, Date Night
Magnificent Mile, chicago
Visitors can see the Blue Man Group or House of Blues show. There is also "The Comedy Bar" for a fun time. The Chicago Cubs' official store is there if you are into sports. Many eateries are either along the Mile or on cross streets. There are some great street performances on the walkways. There are always some special events; check them out at https://www.themagnificentmile.com/things-to-do/events/ before you go. Endlessly high-end brand-name stores like LV, Burberry, Gucci, and more. Public Restrooms are available at 900 North Michigan Shops, Water Tower Place (835 N. Michigan Avenue), and The Shops at North Bridge (520 N. Michigan Avenue).
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Trendy, Dine In, Shopping, Relaxing, Famous, Family Fun, Free Entry, Walking Around, People Watching, Sightseeing
646 N Michigan Ave, chicago
The world's largest Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago offers a selection of the rarest, most extraordinary coffees Starbucks has to offer. It's where Starbucks pushes its craft boundaries, developing a unique roast for each individual lot before experimenting with coffee as an art form—brewing, aging, infusing, and blending it into imaginative and often surprising creations. Starbucks shares these discoveries and the enjoyment of exceptional coffee with the world in the roastery.
Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Dog Friendly, Breathtaking Views, Famous, Family Fun, Free Entry, Lush, Sightseeing Tours, Walking Around, People Watching, Romantic
Riverwalk, chicago
The 1.25-mile path from the lakefront to Lake Street, Chicago Riverwalk, is an open, pedestrian waterfront located on the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. It connects four distinct districts; The Confluence, The Arcade, The Civic, and the Esplanade, with many places to stop and relax, various tours, and food vendors. The riverwalk offers glamorous architectural views of the city and refuge from the city's hustle and bustle.
Breathtaking Views, Famous, Family Fun, Lush, Sightseeing Tours, Walking Around, People Watching, Full Bar, Romantic
112 E. Wacker Drive, chicago
Chicago's riverboat architecture tours are well known among visitors and locals alike. The 90-minute tour discusses more than 50 famous historic and modern landmarks, including Willis Tower, Navy Pier, the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Merchandise Mart, Lyric Opera, 333 West Wacker, Marina City, and many more. The tour guide also tells the fascinating stories of how a small settlement grew into a world-famous Chicago city.
Family Fun, Lush, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Kids Friendly
2430 N Cannon Dr, chicago
This family-friendly nature museum offers exhibits from live native animals to nature-inspired art, from toddler-friendly place spaces to dozens of exotic butterfly species; they are sure to entertain, educate, and excite guests of all ages. They have demonstrations with live animals and displays to engage the senses, which is excellent for children. There are also outside nature trails for families to indulge in nature.
Wheelchair Accessible, Family Fun, Exhibitions, Walking Around, People Watching, Educational Workshops, Private Events
1601 N Clark St, chicago
It is a museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history. Museum offers a variety of programs, dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events, and programming that connects people to Chicago's history and each other. It is excellent for kids and adults to get a basic understanding of the city by going through different periods in history. The Museum Store has many fun Chicago goodies, from posters to Frank Lloyd Wright-style items, books, DVDs, toys, mugs, magnets, ornaments, coasters, jewelry, and more.
Local Favorite, Hiking, Biking, Breathtaking Views, Family Fun, Free Entry, Walking Around, Photography, Beach, Picnic, Romantic, Lake
Lakefront Trl, chicago
Chicago's 18-mile-long scenic Lakefront Trail is an 18-mile-long stretch that extends from Ardmore Street on the North Side to 71st Street on the South, connecting to great neighborhoods, parks, and beaches. The trail passes through Edgewater, Uptown, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, South Loop, and Hyde Park neighborhoods. Each neighborhood offers its own unique experiences and a lot of things to do. Visitors and locals enjoy walking, running, biking, and rollerblading on the trail. Popular places on the route include south park shore, Jackson park, promontory point, 31st street harbor, northerly island, grant park, Maggie Daley park, Ohio Street beach, North Ave beach, Lincoln Park zoo, Belmont harbor, Montrose beach, and Foster Beach.
Local Favorite, Trendy, Biking, Shopping, Family Fun, Free Entry, Walking Around, People Watching, Sightseeing, Date Night
N Damen Ave & N Milwaukee Ave, chicago
Wicker park is famous for being an artsy neighborhood that always has something cool going on. There is something for everyone, including unique shopping places, trendy restaurants, coffee houses, and bars. The neighborhood is home to the historic victorian style homes built between 1873 and 1903.
Local Favorite, Breathtaking Views, Street Performance, Family Fun, Walking Around, People Watching, Sightseeing, Photography, Picnic, Sunbathing, Swimming, Lake
1600 N Lake Shore Dr., chicago
One of Chicago’s most famous beaches, it features a unique and popular beach house with 22,000 square feet of space that features something for everyone and is permanently docked along this beach. This sleek, ocean liner-inspired building, decked out in a crisp blue and white, boasts one of the best views in the city. The beach house has upper decks and portholes for looking at the magnificent horizon or the multitudes of bikers, runners, walkers, and rollerbladers streaming down the lakefront trail.
Trendy, Family Fun, Lush, Vegetarian Options, Coffee Tea, Cafe, Gluten Free Food, Take Outs, Outdoor Seating, European
3258 W Foster Ave, chicago
Tre Kronor is a quaint European-style café and the only Nordic Bistro in Chicago serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Owner/Chefs Patty Rasmussen and Larry Anderson strive to create a fantastic experience with customers returning for years to come. The place is cozy and beautiful, with Swedish decorations, giving a cabin vibe. Locals and visitors line up to get European food and hospitality experience.