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stay time indicator 0.5-1.0 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Scenic, Skyscraper, Landmark

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.

Point  (Free Entry) 9.0
stay time indicator 1.0-2.0 hr stay Open now Check Hours of Operation
Public Park, Landmark, Sightseeing

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.

Point  ($$$) 8.9
stay time indicator 2.0-3.0 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Museum, Artsy, Landmark

Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Private Events, Birthday Parties

1400 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr., chicago

Named after Marshall Field, who donated $1 million to build the museum, The natural history museum has nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens, showcasing 4.5+ billion years of history. One cannot see so many artifacts in a day, let alone a few hours, so visitors should devise a plan beforehand on what to cover. There are additional exhibits that cost extra.

Point  ($$) 8.7
stay time indicator 1.5-3.0 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Architecture, Planetarium

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.

Point  (Free Entry) 8.5
stay time indicator 1.0-3.0 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Zoo

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.

stay time indicator 2.0-4.0 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Museum, Exhibition

Local Favorite, Wheelchair Accessible, Private Events, Birthday Parties

5700 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr., chicago

One of the largest science museums in the Western Hemisphere! This fourteen acres museum offers more than 35,000 artifacts, including the World War II submarine, five-story movie screen, 40-foot tornado, and the actual United Airlines Boeing 727, hands-on activities, and interactive experiences with impressive displays. MSI is not a place where you walk around quietly and observe but to explore and expedite.

Point  (Free Entry) 8.4
stay time indicator 1.0-3.0 hr stay Open now Check Hours of Operation
Public Park, Exhibition, Sightseeing

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.

Point  (Free Entry) 8.3
stay time indicator 0.5-2.0 hr stay Open now Check Hours of Operation
Public Park, Scenic, Outdoor Activities

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.

Point  (Free Entry) 8.2
stay time indicator 0.75-1.5 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Conservatory, Scenic, Botanical Garden

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.

Point  ($$) 8.5
stay time indicator 1.0-1.5 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Museum

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.

Point  (Price varies) 8.5
stay time indicator 0.5-1.5 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Architecture, Concert Hall, Historic Place

Wheelchair Accessible, Trendy, Music, Dance, Private Events, Live Shows, Various Food Options, Cocktails, Romantic

1807 S. Allport St., chicago

Thalia is a historic building landmark built in 1892 by John Dusek as a community hall. Currently, it hosts concerts by well-known artists and special events. In addition to the thalia hall, there is a central meeting place with a tavern, Dusek's board & beer, and two bars, Punch House and Tack Room. There is a standing room on the floor and seats on the balconies. The artists come from many different genres, but they're always great picks.

Point  ($$) 8.2
stay time indicator 1.0-2.0 hr stay Closed now Check Hours of Operation
Architecture, Museum

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.

Point  ($$) 8.0
Diner, Brunch, Comfort Food, Breakfast

Local Favorite, Burgers, Vegetarian Options, Vegan Options, Coffee Tea, Cafe, Private Events, Cocktails, Gluten Free Food, Take Outs, International Food, Takes Reservations

820 W RANDOLPH ST., chicago

Celebrity chef Stephanie Izard's modern diner features many creative and delicious menu items with international flavors. Its retro-chic decor, stylish rooftop deck, delightful food, and fantastic bakery make it a great breakfast/brunch spot. It features a vast menu of creative, gourmet takes on comfort food classics.