Chicago's Top Attractions

Chicago’s thriving business environment, enhanced by its diversity of culture, arts and recreation, make it one of the most exciting, influential cities in the world. Third largest city in the nation, Chicago is a seat of commerce with a powerhouse economy, a burgeoning business district, top Fortune 500 companies, and the largest merchandise mart on the planet!

 

Gold Coast District. Chicago’s Gold Coast district is a prestigious, historic neighborhood lined with exciting shopping, dining and cultural endeavors. One of the most vibrant areas in Chicago for nightlife and dining, the Gold Coast boasts chic restaurants and trendy bars, particularly on Rush St and Division Street -just a few steps away. Home of the Magnificent Mile’s shops, restaurant and boutiques, Chicago Gold Coast offers elite stores including Diesel, Prada, Adidas and Barney’s New York. The Gold Coast also sports many fine art galleries, Gold Coast River North Art Fair, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the area features the city’s oldest and most unique architecture, historic homes and stone mansions, such as the Charnley Persky House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Navy Pier. Chicago's playground on Lake Michigan, Historic Navy Pier is a lively entertainment destination with 50 acres of promenades, parks, gardens, restaurants, attractions, shops, entertainment, recreation, exhibitions and events. Ride the 15 -story Ferris wheel, see a movie at the IMAX Theatre, and explore Chicago Children's Museum, Family Pavilion, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows and Crystal Gardens -an indoor botanical park. Take a cruise boat ride from Navy Pier's South Dock, dine at great restaurants, and enjoy live entertainment -dancers, acrobats, theater, blues, jazz, and rock 'n roll -at the Pepsi Skyline Stage. Check out the musical carousel, an old-fashioned swing ride, and the 18-hole miniature golf course. Visit www.navypier.com.  [Top]

Old Town. Old Town's stately brick townhouses helped this quaint neighborhood survive the Great Chicago Fire. Today, the neighborhood is home to Chicago’s best comedy clubs, including Second City, which counts several Saturday Night Live cast members among its famous and funny alumni.

Sears Tower. A towering icon of Chicago’s financial district skyline, at a colossal 1,450 feet and 110 stories, Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America and second tallest in the world. A triumph of innovation, Sear Tower features 3.5 million square feet of office and retail space and seven wonderful restaurants -from fine to casual dining. This quintessential Chicago attraction offers interactive displays of Chicago, colorful murals, children’s attractions, and the Skydeck, which affords spectacular views of the Chicagoland. Visit www.thesearstower.com or www.theskydeck.com.  [Top]

Rush Street. Chicago’s party intersection, Rush and Division streets are Downtown Chicago’s energetic nightlife strips. Rush Street is lined with restaurants, hip bars and trendy dance clubs which offer all types of music, from 70s classics to funk to lounge to swing. Stop by Jilly's Piano Bar, founded by Frank Sinatra’s friend Jilly Rizzo, and popular restaurant such as the Rush Street Restaurant, Tavern on Rush and Phil Stefani’s 437. Known for its energy, lights, and late -night crowds, Rush St. is rockin’ long after midnight.

Lincoln Park Zoo. The wildest spot in Chicago, Lincoln Park Zoo highlights a world of wildlife in the shadow of skyscrapers. Set in Lincoln Park, the historic -and free -zoo houses over 1,000 mammals, reptiles and bird and is a natural oasis to see gorillas climb trees, hear a lion’s roar, and roam tropical rainforests, forests and savannas. Explore Pritzker Family Children's Zoo where kids meet animals native to North America. Swing by the Regenstein Center for African Apes and stand nose to nose with silverback gorillas and chimpanzees, and Regenstein African Journey, where monkeys swing, hippos swim, and giraffes graze. See the polar bears at the Levine Family Polar Bear Plaza and enjoy a magical journey on the Ameritech Endangered Species Carousel. Visit www.lpzoo.org.  [Top]

Adler Planetarium. Explore space at the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum -the first planetarium in country -t hrough a renowned collection of exhibits and artifacts from the history of astronomy. The Adler fuels your imagination with state - of - the - art computer technology in the world's first StarRider Theater. Don’t’ miss the Adler’s latest attraction, Cosmic Collisions, narrated by Robert Redford. This attraction launches you on an awe-inspiring trip through space and time, beyond the night sky to explore the hypersonic impacts that drive the evolution of our Universe. The first Friday of every month is Far Out Friday, 9am -10pm. Visit www.adlerplanetarium.org.

Shedd Aquarium. A Chicago icon and the world's largest indoor aquarium for more than three -quarters of a century, Shedd Aquarium inspires and connects people with more than 19,000 aquatic animals from around the world. Descend into the award-winning exhibit -Wild Reef -and get a diver’s eye view of a giant sharks, gardens of iridescent corals and eels. Follow a green sea turtle, eek at a moray eel in a rocky crevice, and watch regal rays glide by at the Caribbean Reef. Other exciting exhibits include: Oceanarium, Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, and Lizards and the Komodo Dragon - where the world’s largest lizard makes its first appearance in Chicago. See the wonders of Shedd with the All Access Pass, which includes the aquarium building, Wild Reef, Amazon Rising and the Oceanarium. Visit www.sheddaquarium.org  [Top]

Field Museum of Natural History. Chicago’s Field Museum displays over 20 million biological and anthropological specimens and collections of natural history through innovative exhibits and educational programs. Meet Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found. Discover how DNA works and what it tells us about life on Earth in the hands-on exhibition: DNA Discovery Center! Get inside natural disasters - from earthquakes to tornadoes - to discover how nature’s forces shape our planet in Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters. Descend into an Egyptian tomb, watch a glowing lava flow, get a bug's - eye view in Underground Adventure, come nose - to - nose with the man - eating lions of Tsavo, and learn about the world’s environments. Visit www.fieldmuseum.org.

Art Institute of Chicago. One of the world's greatest art museums, the Art Institute of Chicago features an inspiring collection of world art dating from 3,000 B.C. through the present. This incredible museum highlights over 300,000 works of art, including world-famous French Impressionist paintings and drawings, 30 by Claude Monet, and a famed collection of 20th - century art. Galleries also feature: fine and decorative arts from America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America; Old Master drawings; Chinese jades; photography, textiles, and architectural drawings; and medieval armor- all illustrtaing art of the world's diverse cultures. Visit www.artic.edu/aic.   [Top]

Museum of Science and Industry. Roam 14 acres of hands - on fun and learning at the Museum of Science and Industry - largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. This landmark building features engaging, interactive exhibits that spark your imagination and indulge your curiosoity. From the Coal Mine to the latest temporary exhibit, you'll be exposed to bold science and interactive learning experiences in an eye-opening environment. Get a real - time view of planet Earth in the new permanent exhibit Earth Revealed. Enter Networld, and become immersed in the internet with 30 computers, 25 projectors and various systems all humming at once.Enjoy scientific adventures in Chicago's only five - story, wrap - around Omnimax Theater and see eye-popping 3D films such as Grand Canyon Adventure, Sharks 3D Movie and Dinosaurs Alive! Visit www.msichicago.org.

Chicago Children's Museum. The anchor of Navy Pier, the Children's Museum is where play and learning connect. This playful museum features engaging, interactive exhibits and fun activities that educate and entertain kids of all ages. Dig deep in the Dinosaur Expedition, make a splash at WaterWays, climb to the crow's nest on the Kovler Family Climbing Schooner and enjoy art workshops at the Kraft Artabounds Little tots have fun in the Playmaze and Treehouse Trails. Permanent Exhibits include: Design Your Dreams & Play it Safe. Thursdays are Free Family Night from 5pm - 8pm. Visit www.chichildrensmuseum.org.  [Top]

Museum of Contemporary Art. One of the nation's largest venues devoted to the art of our time, the Museum of Contemporary Art features exhibitions of the most thought - provoking and innovative art created since 1945. Overlooking Lake Michigan in the heart of downtown Chicago, MCA documents contemporary visual culture through painting, sculpture, photography, video and film, and performance. Take a free guided tour, stroll through the barrel - vaulted galleries, browse the bookstore, enjoy lunch at Puck's at the MCA, shop in the fun - filled MCA Store, see a film in the 300 - seat theater, and wander through the terraced sculpture garden with spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Visit www.mcachicago.org.

John Hancock Center. Located on North Michigan Avenue, the 100 - story John Hancock Center is the 10th tallest building in the world at over 1,100 feet. This unique Chicago attraction on Chicago's skyline is recognized around the world for its distinctive, high - tech architecture and iconic style. With Chicago’s open - air Skywalk - 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile - the Hancock Observatory offers spectacular 94th - floor views spanning 80 miles and four states. Enlivened with plantings, a 12 - foot waterfall and seasonal outdoor dining, the Center’s elliptical - shaped outdoor plaza is an oasis for North Michigan Avenue workers, shoppers and tourists. Visit www.johnhancockcenterchicago.com.  [Top]

Chicago Botanic Garden. One Chicago's top tourist attractions and a place of ever - changing natural beauty, the Botanic Garden features 23 beautiful gardens and three native habitats set on 385 acres of rolling hills and tranquil lakes. Highlights include three lush greenhouses, art exhibits, and educational activities. Walk through the magnificent Rose Garden or learn about what the Garden is doing to save the world's plants from extinction at the Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. Visit.

Water Tower Landmark. Built in 1869 to house a 138 - foot - tall standpipe, the Water Tower is the only building to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 due to its construction of limestone blocks. The glamorous Gothic Revival style exterior of this historic Chicago landmark resembles a medieval castle and is a modern testament to Chicago fierce drive to continue. The Water Tower houses the City Gallery, Chicago's official photography gallery. Call 312-744-2400.  [Top]