Chicago Area Attractions

Chicago may still be stereotyped as the home of sausage-loving, overweight guys who babble on endlessly about "da Bears" or "da Cubs," but in reality the city offers some of the most sophisticated cultural and entertainment options in the country. You'll have trouble fitting in all Chicago's museums, which offer everything from action (the virtual-reality visit to the Milky Way galaxy at the Adler Planetarium) to quiet contemplation (the Impressionist masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago). Gape at "Sue," the biggest T-rex fossil ever discovered, at the Field Museum of Natural History, or be entranced by the colorful world of the Butterfly Haven at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Stroll through picture-postcard Lincoln Park Zoo on the near-North Side, and then enjoy the view from the top of the Ferris wheel on historic Navy Pier.

Best of all for visitors, the majority of the places you'll want to visit are in or near downtown, making it easy to plan your day and get from place to place. And because this is a town with a thriving tourist economy, you'll have plenty of visitor-friendly options: walking tours of famous architecture, boat cruises on Lake Michigan, even bus tours of notorious gangster sites. If you're lucky enough to visit when the weather's nice, you can join the locals at our very own playground in the park and beaches along Lake Michigan.

Extensive public transportation makes it simple to reach almost every tourist destination, but some of your best memories of Chicago may come from simply strolling the sidewalks. Chicago's neighborhoods each have their own distinct style and look, and you'll have a more memorable experience if you don't limit yourself solely to the prime tourist spots. And if you really want to talk about da Bears or da Cubs, chances are you'll find someone more than happy to join in.

Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue • Chicago, IL 60603 • 312.443.3600
The Art Institute of Chicago: The signature pair of bronze lions that flank the museum's main entrance are perfect rendezvous points, and there is always a throng of people sitting on the steps on nice days. Finding the museum is easy--it's deciding what to see that is hard. Choose a medium and a century and the Art Institute has the works in its collection to captivate you.

Sears Tower
111 South Michigan Avenue • Chicago, IL 60606 • 312.875.9696
There is little doubt that with its 35 miles of unparalleled views of Chicago, the Sears Tower is the place for business in the Windy City. After reaching the building via major expressway, CTA bus line, subway or Elevated Rapid Transit, the convenience of location is one of countless amenities tenants can take advantage of. Without leaving the premises, you can dine at one of eight different restaurants, use the banking and ATM facilities, send correspondence using either the U.S. Postal Service or FedEx, and pick up a unique gift or flowers for a friend or colleague. Floor plates range in size from 11,000 to 50,000 square feet and provide tenants with the space they need to spread out and grow. Being in the tallest building in North America is a pleasure and honor not only for the 10,000 people working here, but also for their 25,000 daily visitors.

Museum of Science and Industry
57th Street and Lake Shoe Drive • Chicago, IL 60637 • 312.875.9696
One of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions. The massive Museum of Science and Industry is the granddaddy of interactive museums, with some 2,000 exhibits spread over 14 acres in 75 exhibition halls. Although it's quite a distance from the rest of Chicago's tourist attractions, it's easy enough to get here without a car; your best options are the no. 6 Jeffrey Express bus or the Metra Electric train from downtown (the no. 10 bus runs from downtown to the museum's front entrance during the summer). You should plan on spending at least a couple of hours here, and a comprehensive visit can take all day, especially if you catch an Omnimax movie while you're here.

Lincoln Park Zoo
2200 North Cannon Drive • Lincoln Park, IL • 312.742.2000
Lincoln Park Zoo occupies a scant 35 acres, and its landmark Georgian Revival brick buildings and modern structures sit among gently rolling pathways, verdant lawns, and a kaleidoscopic profusion of flower gardens. A tour of the various habitats takes all of 2 or 3 hours--a convenience factor even more enticing when you consider that the nation's oldest zoo (it was founded in 1868) stays open 365 days a year and is one of the last free zoos in the country.

Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive • Chicago, IL 60605 • 312.939.2435
There is nothing quite like seeing those amazing underwater creatures up close and in person. Shedd Aquarium is easy to get to and located in the Museum Campus area of Grant Park in Chicago.

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