Chicago's Top Attractions

Historic District Adler Planetarium Shedd Aquarium Museum of Science Museum of Art Chicago Botanic Garden ESPN Zone Brookfield Zoo Merchandise Mart

Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower). Towering above Chicago’s financial district, at a colossal 1,450 feet and 110 stories, the Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America and the second tallest in the world. A triumph of innovation, the Sears Tower features 3.5 million square feet of office and retail space and seven wonderful restaurants - from casual to fine dining. This essential Chicago attraction offers interactive displays of Chicago, murals, attractions for children, and the Skydeck, which is now featuring the Ledge Experience. The Ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor, providing spectacular and exhilarating views of the city.  Visit www.thesearstower.com or www.theskydeck.com.

Rush Street (Rush and Division). Chicago’s party intersection, Rush and Division streets are Downtown Chicago’s quintessential nightlife strips. Rush Street is lined with restaurants, hip bars and trendy dance clubs which offer all types of music, from 70’s classics to funk to lounge to swing. Check out Jilly's Piano Bar, founded by Sinatra’s friend Jilly Rizzo. Restaurants favorites include Rosebud, Gibsons Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar and Fish House, Carmine's and Tavern on Rush. This densely packed area, known for its energy and lights, is awake long after the Loop has gone to sleep.

Gold Coast Historic District. Chicago’s Gold Coast district is a prestigious, historic neighborhood lined with upscale shopping and dining and cultural endeavors. One of the most famous districts in Chicago for dining, the Gold Coast boasts trendy, chic restaurants and bars, particularly on Rush St.  Apart from unique boutiques, The Gold Coast houses popular stores such as Diesel, Adidas, Puma, Urban Outfitters, UGG Australia, Anthropologie and elite shops, such as Barney’s New York, Prada, Intermix, and Tory Burch. The Gold Coast is home to several art galleries, the Gold Coast River North Art Fair, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the area offers a glimpse of the city’s oldest and most unique architecture, as well as historic homes and stone mansions, such as the Charnley-Persky House - the “first modern house in America” designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Lincoln Park Zoo. Experience the wildest spot in Chicago at Lincoln Park Zoo, a world of wildlife in the shadow of skyscrapers. Within a verdant park, the zoo is a natural oasis for animal lovers to hear a lion’s roar, see gorillas climb trees, and explore tropical rainforests, forests and savannas. One of the last free zoos in the country, Lincoln Park Zoo is home to 1,000 mammals, reptiles and birds. Visit the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo where tykes can visit animals native to North America. Swing by the Regenstein Center for African Apes, where you can stand nose to nose with silverback gorillas and chimpanzees, and Regenstein African Journey, where hippos swim, monkeys swing, and giraffes graze. At the Kovler Sea Lion Pool enjoy a close look at harbor seals and gray seals in the underwater viewing area. Visit the McCormick Bird House and experience birds from the tropics, seashores, forests, wetlands and savannas. Visit www.lpzoo.org.  [Top]

Adler Planetarium. The first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum exhibits 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, while showcasing a renowned collection of historical astronomy artifacts. Featured attractions at the Adler Planetarium include: Telescopes- Through the Looking Glass, One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure, and Cosmic Collisions. The third Thursday of every month is Adler After Dark from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Permanent exhibits at the Planetarium include: Bringing the Heavens to Earth and From the Night Sky to the Big Bang. Coming March 2010 the former Milky Way Gallery will house a new two story rocket and space station along with a new planet. Planetarium hours: Open 10am-4pm weekdays, 10am-4:30pm weekends. Visit www.adlerplanetarium.org.

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. Discover Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found. Get a bug's-eye view in Underground Adventure, descend into an Egyptian tomb, watch a glowing lava flow, be dazzled by sparkling gems, come nose-to-nose with the man-eating lions of Tsavo, and learn about the world’s environments. Now featured at the Field Museum: The Nature of Diamonds open through March 28, 2010, Ernst and Young 3-D theater showing Dinosaurs Alive! 3-D and Egypt! 3-D, the newly renovated Grainger Hall of Gems, and The Ancient America’s. Coming to the Field Museum March 5, 2010 Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. Open 9am-5pm daily. Visit www.fieldmuseum.org.  [Top]

Shedd Aquarium. Experience the world's largest indoor aquarium featuring more than 19,000 aquatic animals from around the world. Exciting exhibits include: Wild Reef, Caribbean Reef, Polar Play Zone, Oceanarium, Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, and Fantasea, the new aquatic show. See all the Shedd has to offer with the Shedd Pass, which includes the newly renovated Oceanarium and Polar Play Zone, Wild Reef, Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World and Fantasea. Open: 9am - 5pm weekdays, 9am - 6pm weekends. Call (312) 939-2438 or visit www.sheddaquarium.org.

Art Institute of Chicago. One of the world's greatest art museums and schools, the Art Institute of Chicago features 300,000 works of art, including 30 by Claude Monet, and 10 departments. The Museum collections, dating from 3,000 B.C. through the present, include world-famous French Impressionist paintings and drawings; fine and decorative arts from America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America; collections of 20th-century art; Old Master drawings; Chinese jade; photography, textiles, and architectural drawings; and medieval armor that present art of the world's diverse cultures. Renzo Piano, Pritzker Prize winning architect, designed the Modern Wing providing a new home for the museum’s collection of 20^th and 21^st century art. This new addition makes the Art Institute the second largest art museum in the United States. Current exhibits at The Art Institute of Chicago include: Modern in America: Works on Paper, 1900-1950s (January 30, 2010-April 4, 2010), The Books of Mikhail Karasik (February 3, 2010-April 12, 2010), and In the Vernacular (February 6, 2010-May 31, 2010). Future exhibits include Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917 (March 20, 2010-June 20, 2010) and Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century (July 24, 2010-October 3, 2010). Open: Monday–Wednesday,10:30–5:00 Thursday, 10:30–8:00 (Free Admission 5:00–8:00) Friday, 10:30–5:00 Saturday–Sunday, 10:00–5:00 . Visit www.artic.edu/aic.  [Top]

Museum of Science and Industry. The Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, features 14 acres of hands-on fun and learning.  The museum’s current exhibits include: U-505 Submarine, Fast Forward…Inventing the Future, The White House: A Look Inside (November 20, 2010-Februaury 15, 2010), and You! The Experience. Also see the ART + Science=Architecture exhibit (July 1, 2009-March 15, 2010) and Black Creativity 2010: Taking Charge of You (January 14, 2010-February 28, 2010). Currently playing at the Omnimax are Wired to Win, The Human Body, (October 23, 2009-February 11, 2010). and Mysteries of the Great Lakes (February 13, 2009-February 11, 2010). Located minutes from downtown Chicago, the Museum is open Mon. – Fri. 9:30am-4pm; Sat. 9:30am-5:30pm; Sun. 11:00am-5:30pm. Located minutes from downtown Chicago, the Museum is open Mon.-Sat. 9:30am - 4pm.; Sun. 11-4. Visit www.msichicago.org.

Chicago Children's Museum. The anchor of Navy Pier, the Children's Museum features engaging, interactive exhibits, activities and events that make every visit unforgettable for kids. Dig deep in the Dinosaur Expedition, get wet at WaterWays, or climb to the crow's nest on the Kovler Family Climbing Schooner. Little tots have fun in the Playmaze and Treehouse Trails. Hourly art workshops happen in the Kraft Artabounds Studio. Members and children under 1 are free. Permanent Exhibits: Artabounds Gallery, BIG Backyard & Play it Safe. Hours: Daily 10am-5pm and Thursday evenings from 5pm-8pm. Visit www.chichildrensmuseum.org.  [Top]

Museum of Contemporary Art. Steps from Michigan Ave. and the historic Water Tower, the MCA highlights today's innovative and exciting artists. Take a free, guided tour, stroll through the grand, barrel-vaulted galleries overlooking Lake Michigan, enjoy lunch at the museum's Wolfgang Puck café and shop in the fun-filled MCA Store.  The MCA is now featuring Italics: Italian Art between Tradition and Revolution 1968-2008 and Alexander Calder in Focus through February 14, 2010. Also featured is Elements of Photography through April 4, 2010. Coming February 6, 2010 The Museum of Contemporary Art is featuring, Production Site: The Artist’s Studio Inside-Out. Additional future exhibitions include: Rewind:1970s to 1990s Works From the MCA Collection (March 13-September 5, 2010) and Luc Tuymans (October 2, 2010-January 9, 2011). Visit www.mcachicago.org.

John Hancock Center. Located on North Michigan Avenue, the John Hancock Center is the 10th tallest building in the world at over 1,100 feet. This unique Chicago attraction has a remarkable design, and has received numerous awards for its unique architecture and style. The newly-renovated Hancock Observatory, with incredible 94th-floor views, high-tech features and Chicago’s only open-air Skywalk-1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile, offers spectacular views spanning 80 miles and four states. Call (312) 751-3680 or visit www.johnhancockcenterchicago.com.  [Top]

Chicago Botanic Garden. One of metro Chicago's big tourist attractions, 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. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org.

Water Tower Landmark. The Water Tower was built in the late 1860s to house a standpipe of 138 feet. The glamorous exterior of this Chicago attraction is a recreation of a medieval castle. The Water Tower is the only building to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and is now an historic landmark and a modern testament of Chicago tourism. For information, call (312) 744-2400.   [Top]

ESPN Zone. Just steps away from The Whitehall Hotel, ESPN Zone is a sports-themed restaurant and fan zone that serves lunch and dinner. The whole family can enjoy delicious American cuisine, a variety of drinks, interactive video games and sports activities that make this attraction a sure bet for kids and adults.  Visit www.espnzone.com/chicago.

Dave and Busters. Eat, drink, play and enjoy a world of entertainment at Dave and Busters Chicago, where great food, signature drinks and one-of-a kind fun are under one enormous roof. Dave & Buster's Million Dollar Midway is packed with the greatest in video and interactive gaming, from the classics to cutting-edge virtual action games. Visit www.daveandbusters.com.  [Top]

Brookfield Zoo. A study in contrasts, Brookfield Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals - from inhabitants of the world’s driest desert to bottlenose dolphins that show off extraordinary behaviors. Kids and their families can explore nature, touch small animals and even become small animals in Hamill Family Play Zoo. See giant creatures like giraffes, hippos, and elephants just a short distance away. A visit to Brookfield Zoo is a chance to enjoy hundreds of spacious acres, and step up to within a few feet of a powerful African lion or stealthy Mexican gray wolves.  Visit www.brookfieldzoo.org.

McCormick Place Convention Center. The nation's largest convention and event center, Chicago's McCormick Place comprises the state-of-the-art  North and South buildings and the Lakeside Center. The epicenter of business in Chicago, McCormick Place features 2.2 million sq. ft. of exhibit halls, 112 meeting rooms, assembly seating for 10,000 people, three 345-seat theaters, the largest ballroom in Chicago, and the 4,249-seat Arie Crown Theater. McCormick Place is linked by a 50,000 square-foot pedestrian promenade, the Grand Concourse, containing retail shops, restaurant and Chicago attractions. Visit www.mccormickplace.com or call (312) 791-7000.  [Top]

Merchandise Mart. The largest commercial office building in the World, with over 4.1 million sq. ft. of permanent and temporary showrooms, a bank, a U.S. Post Office, an "EL" train stop, currency exchange, a Food Court and retail shops, the Chicago Merchandise Mart produces trade shows, conferences, and special events. A private exhibit center, the Mart is home to the world's largest Contract Furnishing Show - Neocon - the country's largest Casual Furniture Market, Chicago’s Antique Fair, the Chicago Design Show, two Gift and Home Markets, and 10 apparel shows every year. Call (312) 527-5181 or visit www.merchandisemart.com.

“The Loop” (Chicago’s Business District). The historical center of downtown Chicago, The Loop is the second largest downtown business district in the country. Bounded by the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and Roosevelt Road, The Loop is shaped by architecturally diverse high-rises. The district’s historic buildings include the Home Insurance Building, the first skyscraper, and the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the US.  [Top]