Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is among the largest cities in the U.S. Famed for its bold architecture, as the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find.
Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is among the largest cities in the U.S. Famed for its bold architecture, As the hub of the Midwest, Chicago is easy to find — its picturesque skyline calls across the waters of huge freshwater Lake Michigan, an impressive sight that soon reveals world-class museums of art and science, miles of sandy beaches, huge parks, public art, and perhaps the finest downtown collection of architecture in the world. It has a skyline punctuated by skyscrapers such as the iconic John Hancock Center, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. The city is also renowned for its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago with its noted Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. The most visited part of Chicago is its large central area, which contains neighbour hoods such as Downtown, River North, Streeterville, Old Town, the Gold Coast, Central Station, the South Loop, Printer's Row, and Greek Town among others.
10:30am-1:00pm : Lincoln Park Zoo
Founded in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in America and is celebrated for its commitment to providing free admission. With over 1,000 animals representing over 200 species, it’s easy to see why the zoo is popular among Chicago visitors and natives alike. While it does have a strong family focus, the well-kept landscaping and prime location in the heart of Chicago make visiting this zoo a lovely daytime activity for anyone. The zoo also hosts cultural and educational events.
1:30pm-5:00pm : Wrigley Field
Built in 1914, Wrigley Field has been the home of the Chicago Cubs for nearly a full century. Chicagoans take their baseball seriously, and nowhere is that more evident than at this history-steeped stadium. The country's second oldest ballpark still in use, the ivy-covered "Friendly Confines," as the locals call it, has seen more than its share of dramatic games during the longest dry spell in U.S. sports history. Though the Cubs haven't won a World Series title since 1908, the stadium continues to attract die-hard fans from around the country and across the world. Tickets may be hard to come by for Cubs home games, but you can always take a behind-the-scenes tour to see the ballpark's famous clubhouse, dugouts, and press box.
10:00am-1:30pm : Museum of Science and Industry
Indulge your passion for the scientific world at Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. The complex boasts more than 800 exhibits--many of them interactive--representing diverse subjects, such as energy, environment, transportation, and space. Travel under the earth into the museum's exact replica of a 1933 Illinois coal mine, or head to the transportation wing to view a World War II German U-505 submarine and a replica of the first plane used by the Wright Brothers. Don’t miss the Apollo 8 aircraft that carried the first humans to orbit the moon and a retired United 727. Ask at the entrance about the always-fascinating temporary exhibits (additional fee). Check online in advance for a CityPass or Go Chicago card, each offering discounts for several other Chicago attractions, including this one. Popular tours sell out, so consider buying tickets in advance.
2:00pm-4:30pm : Horseshoe Hammond, Hammond
Horseshoe Casino Hammond, located in Hammond, Indiana, is a 400,000-square-foot (37,000 m2) property containing gaming, entertainment, restaurants, bars, and lounges.
5:00pm-6:00pm : Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower
Take a look at Chicago from the top of Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower, the second tallest building in the country. Still called "Sears Tower" by most locals, the 108-story building looms over the city with a height of 442 m (1,451 ft). One of the world's tallest freestanding structures, the skyscraper features an observation deck on the 103rd floor. The popular skydeck is 412 m (1,353 ft) high, offering unobstructed views of Chicago and its sprawling suburbs. On clear days, the vista stretches far over the Illinois plains and across Lake Michigan, all the way to Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. For a dizzying look from a glass-floored ledge jutting out into the air, get in line for the high-speed elevator to the top.
10:00am-12:00pm : Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium contains over 1,500 different species, including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. Opened in 1930, this venue was the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection. Located within walking distance of the city's natural history museum and planetarium, the aquarium draws over 2 million annual visitors. Highlights include an oceanarium designed to replicate the natural conditions of the waters off the northwestern coast of the U.S., containing beluga whales, white-sided dolphins, sea otters, and seals. You can also visit the shark exhibit, a replica of a Philippines reef ecosystem. Exhibits often sell out early in the morning, so ensure your entry by purchasing your tickets well in advance.
12:30pm-1:30pm : Millennium Park
Start your tour of Chicago at Millennium Park, considered one of the largest roof gardens in the world. Sitting atop a railroad yard and a network of underground parking garages, the park features several artistic highlights, most notably the popular "Bean," a legume-shaped, stainless-steel sculpture designed by artist Anish Kapoor. The sculpture's surfaces reflect and distort the city's skyline, making it a favorite backdrop for photographs. Don't miss the 15 m (50 ft) video sculpture/fountain, composed of black granite and light-emitting diodes that display digital images of Chicagoans puckering their lips and appearing to spit water.
1:30pm-2:00pm : Cloud Gate
Have your picture taken with Cloud Gate, Chicago’s iconic bean-shaped sculpture. Located at Millennium Park in the heart of the city, the sculpture is made of 168 stainless-steel plates welded together, offering a seamless reflection of the looming Chicago skyline. Walk the circumference of the sculpture to admire the interplay of light and reflection as the city background moves with you.
2:30pm-5:00pm : The Art Institute of Chicago
Developed from a free art school and gallery started in the 1860s, The Art Institute of Chicago now holds a permanent collection of more than 300,000 artworks. One of its most beloved paintings is George Seurat's Pointillism masterpiece "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte." Exhibits spread over eight buildings include Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, with additional holdings of Old Masters, European and American decorative arts, and industrial and graphic design. Highlights include paintings by American artists Grant Wood and Edward Hopper, as well as Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, van Gogh, and Picasso. The main building itself counts among the city's major landmarks, featuring two bronze lions guarding its main entrance. Check the online calendar for special events and temporary exhibits, which often require separate time-stamped tickets. Save time by purchasing your tickets in advance. Because the museum covers so much ground, it helps to map out exhibits you particularly want to see before you start exploring.
5:30pm-6:00pm : Marquette Building
The Marquette Building, completed in 1895, is a Chicago landmark that was built by the George A. Fuller Company and designed by architects Holabird & Roche. The building is currently owned by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It is located in the community area known as the "Loop" in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The building was one of the early steel frame skyscrapers of its day, and is considered one of the best examples of the Chicago School of architecture. The building originally had a reddish, terra cotta exterior that, prior to restoration, was somewhat blackened due to decades of Loop soot. It is noted both for its then cutting edge frame and its ornate interior. Since construction, the building has received numerous awards and honors. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on June 9, 1975, and is considered an architectural masterpiece. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 17, 1973 and named a National Historic Landmark on January 7, 1976. The building's preservation has been a major focus of the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation completed an extensive four-year restoration in 2006.
10:00am-1:00pm : Beer Tastings & Tours
A guided beer-tasting tour of the Windy City ensures an opportunity to learn about Chicago's colorful history as you sip your way around a thriving brewery scene. As you walk or cycle around city landmarks, your engaging guide will tell you stories of notorious characters like Al Capone and the immigrants who brought their brewing traditions to multicultural Chicago. Depending on the tour you pick, you'll get to visit Millennium or Wicker Park, Marshall Fields, Palmer House Hotel, and Bucktown--each place allows you to sample some quintessential Chicago treats, including deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, both of which go well with regional craft brews. Most tours take 3 or 4 hours.
1:30pm-5:00pm : Field Museum
Field Museum contains permanent exhibits that range from the earliest fossils to present cultures around the world. Attracting nearly 2 million visitors each year, the museum houses a collection of over 20 million anthropological and cultural artifacts from distant corners of the globe. The museum includes the Tyrannosaurus Rex named "Sue," the best-preserved fossil ever discovered. Named after the person who found it in 1990, the fossil stands 4 m (13 ft) tall and is 67 million years old. You can also visit the exhibit recreating an Egyptian burial chamber, which contains 23 real mummies, and a section devoted to the natural habitats of animals and insects living underground.
5:30pm-6:00pm : Buckingham Fountain
One of the largest fountains in the world, Buckingham Fountain was built in 1927. Taking its inspiration from the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles, the attraction features an ornate Rococo style. Designed to represent Lake Michigan, each seahorse that decorates the fountain symbolizes its bordering states. Every hour on the hour for 20 minutes the fountain produces a water display, with the center jets shooting 45.7 m (150 ft) into the air. The fountain also features other colored light shows.
10:00am-11:30am : 360 Chicago Observation Deck
The city's dramatic skyline awaits you at 360 Chicago Observation Deck. Atop the fourth-tallest building in Chicago, you can get unobstructed views of the town's impressive architecture, beaches, and lakefront. You'll ride up 94 floors in some of the fastest elevators in North America to the observation deck of the John Hancock Building to enjoy the panoramic sweep across four states. The deck also features plenty of the city's history in several displays.
12:00pm-3:30pm : The Magnificent Mile
An upscale shopping district, The Magnificent Mile, lives up to its name with a selection of high-end stores, luxurious restaurants, and hotels covering multiple blocks downtown. Several of the tallest buildings in the world sit in this district like the John Hancock Center and the Trump International Hotel and Tower, which offer stunning views of the city's architecture and lakefront. The area also features iconic landmarks such as the Historic Water Tower, one of the longest-standing structures in the city, which was built in 1869 and was one of the few surviving buildings after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Watch a show at the theater, marvel at the museums, or explore the abundant and various boutiques and stores.
4:00pm-6:00pm : Walking tours
10:00am-1:00pm : Navy Pier
A cool place to spend a hot day on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier extends for over 1,000 m (3,300 ft) along the lakefront. Designed by city planner Daniel Burnham and built in 1916, the pier first served as a cargo facility for lake freighters, with a network of warehouses stretching along the shoreline. In the pre-air conditioning years, the pier also served Chicagoans as one of the coolest places in the city, quickly becoming a popular venue for public gatherings and entertainment. Now the city's top tourist attraction, the pier features a children's museum, fountains, fast-food eateries, souvenir vendors, and a Ferris wheel. The older crowd can enjoy lakefront views, boat cruises, and a range of live shows.
1:30pm-4:30pm : Grant Park
Grant Park is a large urban park (319 acres or 1.29 km²) in the Loop community area of Chicago. Located in Chicago's central business district, the park's most notable features are Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum Campus. Originally known as Lake Park, and dating from the city's founding, it was renamed in 1901 to honor Ulysses S. Grant. The park's area has been expanded several times through land reclamation, and was the focus of several disputes in the late 19th century and early 20th century over open space use. It is bordered on the north by Randolph Street, on the south by Roosevelt Road and McFetridge Drive, on the west by Michigan Avenue and on the east by Lake Michigan. The park contains performance venues, gardens, art work, sporting, and harbor facilities. It hosts public gatherings, and several large annual events. Grant park is called "Chicago's front yard". It is governed by the Chicago Park District. The original plans for the town of Chicago left the area east of Michigan Avenue unsubdivided and vacant, and purchasers of Michigan Avenue lots were promised that it would remain unoccupied. When the former Fort Dearborn Reserve became part of the townsite in 1839, the plan of the area east of Michigan Avenue south of Randolph was marked "Public ground. Forever to remain vacant of buildings."
5:00pm-6:00pm : Chicago Cultural Center
A landmark building and the nation’s first free municipal cultural center, Chicago Cultural Center hosts music, dance and theater performances, films, lectures, art exhibits, and family events throughout the year. Completed in 1897, the building was designed in a generally neoclassical style with Italian Renaissance elements. The cultural center offers much to admire, including Roman arches, Cosmati walls, grand marble staircases, and a richly decorated Civil War memorial. Don’t miss Preston Bradley Hall, which features glass mosaics and the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world with approximately 30,000 glass pieces. Check online to see what events are running during your visit. The building also houses a visitor information center, which makes it a great first stop on your Chicago journey.
10:00am-10:30am : Harold Washington Library Center
The Harold Washington Library Center is the central library for the Chicago Public Library System. It is located just south of the Loop 'L', at 400 S. State Street in Chicago, in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a full-service library and ADA compliant. As with all libraries in the Chicago Public Library system, it has free wifi internet service. The building contains approximately 756000sqft of space. The total square footage is approximately 972000sqft including the rooftop garden penthouse, according to the Zoning department of the city of Chicago.
11:00pm-3:00pm : City Winery
Once a refrigerated food distribution warehouse, City Winery Chicago has transformed a 1911 building into a haven for those who are passionate about wine, music and culinary arts. Built with re-used material, such as the original wood beams, masonry and brick, this fully functional winery, restaurant and concert venue has become a focal point of West Loop nightlife. City Winery hosts wine making classes, wine dinners and tastings, intimate music concerts, private events and offers shared plates dining. A patio is open during the summer months. City Winery Chicago was honored with a 2013 vision award by the Urban Land Institute Chicago, attributed to a unique design and adaptive re-use of the 33,000 square foot, 100-year old building. City Winery has locations in NYC, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC and Philadelphia.
3:30pm-6:00pm : Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, Oak Park
The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is a historic house and studio designed and owned by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It has been restored by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust to its appearance in 1909, the last year Wright lived there with his family. Located in Oak Park, Illinois, Frank Lloyd Wright purchased the property and built the home in 1889 with a $5,000 loan from his employer Louis Sullivan. He was 22 at the time, and recently married to Catherine Tobin. The Wrights raised six children in the home and Wright developed his career and aesthetic to become one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, declared a National Historic Landmark four years later, and contributes to the Frank Lloyd Wright–Prairie School of Architecture Historic District containing a number of his projects and related work.
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