Explore Chicago

Scenic Landmarks

The Chicago Lakefront Trail is an 18 mile paved trail that runs alongside Lake Michigan, within the city limits of Chicago, Illinois. The trail is open for walkers, runners, skaters, and cyclists, earning it high praise as a popular spot for outdoor recreation activities.The trail provides some of the most spectacular views of Chicago’s shoreline and skyline. As you venture out on the Chicago Lakefront Trail, you’ll find hydration stations, washrooms, and concession stands as well. Chicago Lakefront Trail passes through Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo, as well as the Navy Pier. Other sights of interest include Buckingham Fountain and the Shedd Aquarium / Field Museum. The southern terminus on the Lakefront Trail is at the South Shore Cultural Center.

Wildlife & Zoos

The world's largest assortment of finned, gilled, amphibious, and other aquatic creatures swims within the marble-clad confines of the John G. Shedd Aquarium.Permanent exhibits include the multilevel Oceanarium, which mimics ocean conditions off the northwest coast of North America. The beluga whales inside are remarkably cute creatures that come from the pint-size end of the whale scale. Their humped heads and natural “smiles” make them look eerily human. You'll also see Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbor seals, and sea otters.Don't linger only on the main floor; you can go underneath the cement seats and watch the mammals from below through viewing windows. The “Wild Reef” exhibit will have sharkophiles and sharkophobes equally entranced; over a dozen sharks cut through the waters in a simulation of a Philippines reef ecosystem. And the “Amazon Rising” exhibits offer a captivating look at a year in the Amazon River and rain forest.

Cultural/Heritage Places

The Chicago Riverwalk is a continuous walkway and recreation zone that runs along the Chicago River, connecting the Lake Michigan lakefront with the heart of downtown Chicago. The Riverwalk was opened in phases, and it contains restaurants, bars, kayak and boat rentals, bike rentals, concert stages, and general park facilities.In mid-2015, the second phase of the total Riverwalk plan opened, and the Chicago Riverwalk now extends from Lakeshore Drive to La Salle Street. This phase contains a number of food vendors on both banks of the Chicago River, providing visitors, residents, and nearby office workers plenty of options for a meal, a cup of coffee, or glass of wine. Food vendors along the new section of the Riverwalk include O'Briens Riverwalk Café, City Winery, and Flander’s Belgian Beer & Fries. The last phase of the Riverwalk, which extends to Lake Street at the confluence of the Main Stem of the Chicago River with the North Branch and the South Branch.

Wildlife & Zoos

This neighborhood gets its name from Chicago's largest park. Its 1,200 acres (485 hectares) stretch for 6 miles (10 kilometers), from North Avenue north to Diversey Parkway, where it narrows along the lake and continues until the end of Lake Shore Drive. Lincoln Park & Zoo has many lakes, trails and paths and even a lily pool called Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, providing visitors with a unique architectural landscape. Cross-country skiing in the winter and sunbathing in warmer months are just two of the activities Chicagoans enjoy here. Most of Lincoln Park's pleasures are natural, though one of its joys is sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Standing Lincoln, which shows the 16th president deep in contemplation right before he delivers a great speech.

Sights & Landmarks

Chicago's most-visited tourist attraction, Navy Pier will certainly blow the minds of children younger than twelve. The pier's Chicago Children's Museum, plus a collection of high-tech rides, hands-on fountains, kid-focused educational exhibits, fast-food restaurants, and trinket vendors will transport your child into the kind of overstimulated, joyful state you haven't witnessed since you finally gave in and got them a puppy for their birthday last year.For the adults, Navy Pier's charms revolve around the lakefront views, cool breezes, and a ride on the gigantic Ferris wheel. The carousel is another classic, with bobbing carved horses and organ music. You can also hop on afternoon or evening boat cruises from here.

Water & Amusement Parks

With over three million LEGOs, two indoor rides and a workshop hosted by a real master model builder, LEGOLAND Discover Center Chicago is a child’s dream. Visitors can wander through impressive displays that include intricate Star Wars models and a MINILAND Chicago and learn top tips from expert builders. Families with kids between the ages of three and twelve will find plenty of places to build their own creations, a 4D cinema with LEGO-themed movies and a couple of rides that provide endless entertainment for the younger set.

Places of Natural Beauty

Winding its way through the heart of the Windy City, the Chicago River flows past some of the city’s most spectacular architecture, especially downtown. Here, river walks dotted with restaurants take you under some of the movable bridges that connect the Loop to Chicago’s Near North Side.To see some of the prettiest views of the city, hop in a boat, kayak, canoe, or gondola and sail down the river. From the mouth of the river on Lake Michigan heading inland you’ll pass Navy Pier, Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Marina City, and the Merchandise Mart. Heading down the south branch, you’ll pass Union Station and the Civic Opera House.One of the most spectacular events on the Chicago River is St. Patrick's Day, when the river is dyed green. The actual event does not necessarily occur on St. Patrick's Day and is scheduled for the Saturday of the closest weekend.

Places of Natural Beauty

Chicago sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes, which stretches from western Michigan, 118 miles across, to the shores of Illinois and Wisconsin in the west and Indiana in the south. The lake borders the city of Chicago, and within the city limits there are 26 miles of shoreline, 15 beachfront areas and several marinas housing thousands of boats. In fact, Chicago operates the nation’s largest municipal harbor system, making it easy to get out on the water by boat. There’s even an 18-mile park, the Chicago Lakefront Bike Path where locals and visitors walk, bike and run along the shoreline. In warmer months, it’s possible to kayak or canoe on Lake Michigan, with boat rentals available right downtown. More passive passengers can opt for a sail or a ride on a traditional schooner, or go for the luxury experience with a lunch, brunch, dinner or sunset cruise on an elegant multilevel ship with indoor and outdoor space and seating for up to 600 people.

Art Galleries

The Chicago Cultural Center is one of the city’s architectural gems. Though it doesn’t tower over the streets like the Willis Tower, it’s an equally impressive building, renowned for its opulent interiors and two dazzlingly beautiful stained glass domes. Built in 1897 as Chicago’s first public library, the Cultural Center is now home to the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, the Chicago Children’s Choir and several galleries. It hosts nearly 1,000 free cultural programs per year, including concerts, plays, art exhibits, film screenings and lectures. It was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1976, and is considered to be the most comprehensive free municipal cultural venue in the country.

Sights & Landmarks

The first planetarium built in the western hemisphere, the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum still captures intergalactic imaginations. From the entrance, visitors descend below the building, which has 12 sides, one for each sign of the zodiac. In the newest wing, a digital sky show recreates such cataclysmic phenomena as supernovas. Interactive exhibits allow you to simulate cosmic events such as a meteor hitting the earth (this one is especially cool).Inside, the main attraction is the StarRider Theater, where you’ll take a 30 minute virtual reality trip through deep space, with eye-popping 3-D graphics. You’ll literally feel like you’re floating in space. The planetarium's exhibition galleries are equally engaging, with myriad displays and interactive activities. A must-see exhibit is “Shoot For The Moon,” an interactive exhibit on lunar exploration.

Art Galleries

Chicago visitors flock to the Art Institute of Chicago, located in Grant Park, to admire two very important and much-parodied American works, Grant Wood’s famous 1930 painting, American Gothic (the iconic farmer with a pitchfork, standing next to his spinster daughter), and Edward Hopper’s 1942 Nighthawks (the painting of people sitting in a late-night diner that adorns many a dorm room wall on reproduction posters). Of course, that’s not the only art that draws people to this magnificent museum; you’ll also see more than 30 works by Monet, including some Haystacks and Water Lilies, Seurat’s famous Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s At the Moulin Rouge and works by Renior, Matisse, Cézanne, Picasso and Cassat, among many others. The building itself is a historical landmark, guarded by two bronze lions at its Michigan Avenue entrance.

Museums & Exhibitions

With more than 20 million artifacts, the Field Museum of Natural History is an engaging museum filled with both interactive and imaginative displays. The big attraction is the Tyrannosaurus rex named Sue, a 13 foot (4 meter) tall, 41 ft (13 m) long beast who menaces the grand space with ferocious aplomb. The most complete T-Rex ever discovered, it takes its name from Sue Hendrickson, the fossil-hunter who found the 90 percent complete skeleton in South Dakota in 1990.Dinosaurs loom large in the Field Museum. At the Evolving Planet exhibit, you can also watch staff paleontologists clean up fossils, learn about the evolution of the massive reptiles, and even learn about Homo sapien's evolutionary ties to the extinct beasts. Away from the prehistoric giants, the “Inside Ancient Egypt” exhibit recreates an Egyptian burial chamber on three levels. The mastaba (tomb) contains 23 actual mummies.

Museums & Exhibitions

You certainly won’t be under-stimulated on a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry, a must-see Chicago museum. With some 2,000 exhibits to see, most of which are interactive, this massive museum continues to enlighten and amaze.Nine permanent exhibits thoroughly examine everything on Earth, from cerebral concepts like the passage of time to questions about the origins of breakfast cereal. Visitors can climb through a German U-boat captured during WWII and press their noses against the window of the Apollo 8 command module.The museum itself is set in Jackson Park, which has a Japanese garden, lagoons and a nature retreat with hundreds of species of birds. When you've had your fill of space capsules, coalmines, and Zephyrs at the museum, the park makes an excellent setting to recuperate.

Museums & Exhibitions

Much of the history of the United States took place in Chicago, so it makes perfect sense that the city’s history museum features extensive collections of historic artifacts from both Chicago and America as a whole. One exhibit, with over 600 objects, focuses solely on the city’s growth and influence on American history. There is also a research center on site, and the museum serves both to discover and protect Chicago’s history.The museum has been in operation since 1856. Unfortunately much of the museum’s early collection was lost in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, but the museum resurged (in a now fireproof building.) The museum demonstrates eight times in history America fought for its freedom, including extensive information regarding the life of Abraham Lincoln. You’ll find exhibits on everything from sports memorabilia to past public transportation to blues and jazz music in Chicago.

Buildings & Structure

The Frederick C. Robie House was built in Prairie Style by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Completed in 1910, today it is known as one of the finest examples of American architecture, perhaps the first architectural style that is uniquely American. The exterior is characterized by its art-glass windows, sharp edges, and horizontal Roman brick work. A contemporary space with an open floor plan that is still being restored, it is considered a precursor to modernist architecture.In 1957, the house was placed under threat of demolition. Frank Lloyd Wright himself lobbied to save it at the age of 90. It was one of the last houses designed in his Oak Park studio. The American Institute of Architects named the Frederick C. Robie House one of the ten most significant structures of the 20th century.

Museums & Exhibitions

The museum opens up an interactive world of exploration and play for children, with a range of exhibits, programs, and events. Once housed in the hallways of the Chicago Public Library, it became an anchor tenant on Navy Pier in 1995 where it continues to expand. Everything is educational and hands-on — children get the chance to dig for dinosaur bones as they learn about prehistoric times, or simply have fun as they captain their own boat or play in the extensive water area. Here children learn by doing, whether it’s building a structure, fishing in a river, or climbing the museum’s three-story schooner. Kids can build or their own structures in the Skyline exhibit, or explore an existing scale of them in the Kids Town. There are essentials for play — costumes and toys — throughout. All in all there are three floors, so it easily makes for a full day of adventures and learning. It is the fourth largest children’s museum in the United States.

Religious Architecture

There are plenty of stunning churches, glorious cathedrals and ornate temples throughout the world, but few offer up service with a view quite like the one located inside the Chicago Temple Building. This 23-floor building was built in 1924 and is, without a doubt, the tallest church in the world. Travelers can visit this iconic destination, which is home to the Methodist Church, and see the 1,000-seat sanctuary located on the first floor, or head to the Sky Chapel. With seating for just 30 people, this tiny but beautiful sanctuary—complete with 16 stained glass windows—is the highest indoor worship space of record.

Stadiums & Arenas

On any given Sunday afternoon from September to December, thousands of Chicagoans and sports fans converge around Soldier Field, home to the Chicago Bears of the NFL (National Football League). The parking lots surrounding the stadium buzz with excitement for hours prior to each game and even in the coldest temperatures, diehard Chicago sports fans pack Soldier Field to cheer on the home team. Opened in 1924, the stadium was built as a memorial to fallen American soldiers. Over the years, it welcomed crowds of over 100,000 people for events like the 1927 heavyweight match between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney and a visit by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1944. The stadium was also the site of the very first Special Olympic Games, held in 1968, and in 1994, the it hosted the first World Cup Games to be played in the United States.

Stadiums & Arenas

Chicagoans take their baseball seriously, and one of best places to see a Major League game is at the venerable, ivy-covered home of the Chicago Cubs: Wrigley Field. Built in 1914, Wrigley Field - nicknamed The Friendly Confines - is the second oldest baseball park in the major leagues. Wrigley Field is filled with legendary traditions and curses, as well as a team that suffers from the longest dry spell in U.S. sports history. The hapless Cubbies haven't won a championship since 1908, a sad record unmatched by any team in pro football, hockey or basketball. Still, seeing a game here takes you back - you’ll even find yourself singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” As tickets can be hard to come by if the Cubs are playing a home game, you can peep through the “knothole,” a garage-door-sized opening on Sheffield Avenue and watch the action for free. Baseball fanatics can take a 90 minute walk through the stadium that goes through the clubhouse, dugouts, and press box.

Buildings & Structure

The Harold Washington Library Center is the main branch of the Chicago Public Library system. When it opened in 1991, the ten-story library was the largest public library in the world.Located in Chicago’s South Loop, its design is based on the winning submission in a 1988 architecture contest. The contest was to design the new library called for by then-Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, the city’s first African American mayor. The Harold Washington Library Center is more than just a traditional library for books. Here, you can research your ancestry in their online genealogy databases. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the building, art on display from more than 50 artists, music practice rooms, a Maker Lab, and book clubs and reading events for your children. Be sure to visit the glass-domed Winter Garden atrium on the library’s 9th floor as well.

Theatres & Cinemas

Chicago is known as the home of the blues, so it is fitting that one of the most popular venues for live music in the city is the House of Blues. However, this local outpost of the national chain isn’t just a venue for blue musicians (and in fact, if the best blues acts are what you want to see, there are better venues in the city), but rather a showcase for international musical acts of every genre. Opened in 1996, the concert house, which was modeled after an opera house in Prague, has hosted some of the world’s most renowned musicians, including the Who, Pearl Jam and Al Green.On nights when there are no ticketed acts, the Back Porch Stage offers shows with a $10 cover, which is waived if you dine in the restaurant before the show. The restaurant also serves lunch Monday through Saturday, and every Sunday, the House of Blues hosts its World Famous Gospel Brunch at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Sights & Landmarks

The third-tallest building in Chicago at 1,127 feet (343 meters), the Hancock Observatory and Tower stands proudly amidst affluent North Michigan Avenue. An elevator whisks you 94 floors up for stellar, panoramic views of Lake Michigan and Chicago from its viewing platform. Or, take the elevator two floors higher to Hancock's 96th floor Signature Lounge, where you can enjoy a glass of wine in a comfy seat while enjoying the same views from the platform below. Whichever spot you decide on, the views are incredible. On a clear day, you can see three states: Michigan (across the lake), Indiana (to the south), and Wisconsin (to the north). The view up the north side, along the lake, is particularly scenic, as you can see nearby Oak Street and North Avenue beaches, the lunch greenery of Lincoln Park, and the stretch of high-rises that line Lake Shore Drive, as it winds northward. “Talking telescopes,” with narration in four languages, and history walls enhance the experience.

Sights & Landmarks

Once the world’s tallest building, Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower) is still the USA's tallest building, and it's still way up in the clouds. Its observation platform - the Skydeck - draws 1.5 million people a year who are eager to ascend the 110-story, 1,454 foot (443 meter) building for awesome panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside.On good days, however, you can see for 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 kilometers), as far as the states of Indiana, Michigan. Iowa, and Wisconsin.While you wait, you can watch a film about Willis Tower factoids like its 43,000 mi (69,200 km) of phone cable and 2,232 steps to the roof. Then you'll wait a little longer before the ear-popping, 70 second elevator ride up to the 103rd floor deck. From here, the entire city stretches below, and you can see exactly how Chicago is laid out.

Buildings & Structure

Standing tall above Michigan Avenue, the Tribune Tower is a Chicago Landmark home to the city’s newspaper The Chicago Tribune, as well as the media studios and radio stations of the Tribune. It was built as the result on an international design competition in 1922, which called for the best designed office building in exchange for prize money. Built in neo-Gothic style, it stands at 462 feet in height. The top of the tower was modeled after the Tour de beurre, or butter tower, of the Rouen Cathedral in France, though the building has even more interesting international roots.Before the structure was built, Chicago Tribune reporters began bringing back pieces of rock from important landmarks around the world. As a result, there are small bits of buildings like the Taj Mahal, the Parthenon, the Great Pyramid, the Hagia Sofia, Angkor Wat and even the Great Wall of China embedded in the lower levels.

Theatres & Cinemas

Chicago Theatre was known as the “Wonder Theatre of the World” when it opened in 1921. This majestic, grand building was a flagship theater for the Balaban & Katz theater group. For two decades, until about 1945, the theater represented the best in American cinematic experience. Other theaters around the United States were modeled after the Chicago Theatre. Today, the theatre is owned by Madison Square Garden, Inc. Instead of showing films, it is a well-known performing arts venue. Designed in a French baroque style, the theatre is aesthetically appealing and grandiose. Its grand lobby is modeled after the Royal Chapel at Versailles and the exterior features a replica of the famous Arc de Triomphe. The Grand Staircase on the interior is modeled after those at the Paris Opera House. The Chicago Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It remains a popular entertainment venue, as well as an historical gem.

Theatres & Cinemas

Experience entertainment fit for a king at Medieval Times in Chicago. The huge stone towers of the Schaumberg Castle house a rousing dinner and action-packed show that attracts travelers to the Windy City for a ringside seat at the tournament. Guests enjoy a full medieval-style feast (vegetarian options available) — no utensils allowed! While devouring the four-course meal, visitors can cheer and leer for their favorite armored knights throughout the show and its jousting tournament, horsemanship and falconry. Adult beverages are available for purchase from the full bar before, during or after the show, and travelers can also pop by the castle for a night of chivalry, sustenance and libations.

Market

The 1920s were a time of architectural significance in Chicago. The Wrigley Building, opened in 1925, set the pace for Chicago’s development and ushered the city into the modern age. When owner William Wrigley Jr., of the gum company of the same name, scouted locations for his company headquarters, he chose an unsightly piece of land – a uniquely shaped triangle – in an area known for warehouses, rail yards, and factories. His intuition played off, though, as this stretch of land eventually became known as Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The Wrigley Building’s clock tower is perhaps its most iconic image. The building’s design was inspired by the Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain and shows architectural influences from the French Renaissance and the Spanish Revival styles.

Restaurant

The Hard Rock Café Chicago has been serving the Chicago River North area since its opening in 1986. River North borders the Magnificent Mile, is just across from the Loop, and a few blocks west of Michigan Avenue, a vibrant and popular dining and nightlife district. Be sure to order Hard Rock’s signature food offerings like the Legendary Burger and drinks like Rockarita. Check the menu for house made local entrees that have a touch of Chicago flavor as well. Like other Hard Rock Cafes around the world, the Hard Rock Café Chicago features music memorabilia on the walls, with an emphasis on funky styles. Be sure to tour the restaurant and see various guitars, platinum records, and more. There are numerous concerts and events taking place at the café throughout the year, so be sure to check the Hard Rock Café Chicago events page for details and reservations.