Places to Visit in Chicago

If you are an art enthusiast, one of the most interesting places to visit in Chicago is the Art Institute of Chicago. It is a world class museum filled with more than thousand incredible artworks. The museum is located on South Michigan avenue. The collections here mostly comprise paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, textiles, architecture, and more. The most popular amongst these collections remains the impressionist and post-impressionist paintings including the A Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat from 1884.

A part of Grant Park, Millenium Park is one of the most visited Chicago tourist attractions. It is situated in the Downtown, and you can view the Cloud gate here, which is a 110 ton sculpture, inspired by liquid memory. You can also indulge in the Crowd Fountain, an interesting advanced version of the ancient Gargoyle, providing the image of water flowing from the mouths of images projected of the tourists. Another attraction here is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, which holds live performances. Do not forget to explore the Lurie Garden when in this park.

Originally founded and opened in 1916, the Navy Pier served as an amusement park and shipping facility initially. Navy Pier, today, is one of the most visited Chicago attractions, housing gardens, restaurants, shops, concert venues, and parks across an area of 50 acres. It is also home to the 150-foot Ferris wheel, and the ancient carousel in the Navy Pier park. You can indulge in experiences such as watching a film at the Imax Theatre, witnessing some incredible performances at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and visiting the Crystal gardens.

Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, the Adler Planetarium boasts the title of first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. Filled with several interesting exhibits, this planetarium houses two dome theatres, hosting various shows,including Chicago's night sky, the solar system, and the moon. Other popular exhibits include life on other worlds, meteors and meteorites, space exploration, the history of science exhibition, and astrology.

Founded in 1933, and one of the most interesting places to visit in Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, is located on the north end of Jackson park. The museum is dedicated to natural laws application in technological and industrial development. This is one of the first museums in the USA to encourage the idea of interactive displays, housing over hundreds of hand-ons exhibits. You can also indulge in the OmniMAX theatre experience here.

Known to be the world’s tallest office structure until the construction of Petrona Towers in 1996, the view from the Willis Tower Skydeck is splendid. With a towering height of 1453 feet, and the observation deck at 1353 feet, on the 103rd floor, you can indulge in a great viewing experience here. On a clear day, you can spot several Chicago attractions from the observation deck, for the view spread across 40-50 miles.

One of the largest fountains in the world, the Buckingham Fountain tops the list of places to visit in Chicago. Known as the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, the fountain is bordered by four seahorse sculptures, which represent the four bordering states of Lake Michigan. From 8 am to 11 pm, the fountain displays an extraordinary show of shooting 15000 gallons of water, via about 200 nozzles each minute. The best time to visit this fountain is during the evening hours, since the light show accompanies the water show. Situated in the centre of Grant park, other Chicago tourist attractions to visit nearby include Museum campus, The Field Museum of Natural history, the Shedd Aquarium, and many more.

Situated in the office building of John Hancock Centre, 360 Chicago is an observation deck, located on the 94th floor of the building. Offering spectacular views of several Chicago attractions, the 360 Chicago is an experience to cherish. In addition to the incredible views, the observation deck also offers the feature, ‘Tilt’, which provides a distinct view through the glass enclosure. The entire building houses several offices, apartments, and a variety of stores. You can also indulge in a multimedia exhibit located on the first floor of this building.

Initially known as the Columbian Museum of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural history was officially founded in 1893. It initially served as a platform to showcase the anthropological collections for the World Columbian Exposition. The collections at this museum features about 20 million objects and artefacts, covering subject matters such as Geology, Botany, zoology, and anthropology. You can also indulge in exhibits on Ancient Egypt, cultures of North and South America, and the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton.

One of the most unique boulevards and among top places to visit in Chicago, the Michigan Avenue is home to Magnificent Mile, which is filled with several galleries, boutiques, and luxury stores. Other popular Chicago tourist attractions here include the John Hancock Centre, the Wigley Tower, and the Tribune Building. You can also immerse in some great theatre experience here, which is home to various incredible drama, music performances, and comedy dramas.

Another attraction among the top places to visit in Chicago, is the Wrigley Field, which was founded in 1914. It is the second oldest Major League Baseball park in the US. This field is witness to some historical moments in baseball history, including the game between Cubs’ Jim Vaughn and the Reds’ Fred Toney in 1917, and the Babe Ruth’s performance in the third game of the World Series of 1932. Several interesting experiences such as Ballpark tours are held here, wherein you get to see the press box, the field, and the dugouts.

One of the biggest parks in Chicago, the Lincoln Park spreads along Lake Michigan, for a six-mile stretch. You can visit the Lincoln Park Observatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo when in Lincoln Park. If you are looking for places to visit in Chicago for some memorable outdoor experience, look no further than Lincoln Park. It is home to several bike trails, jogging and walking paths, beaches, sports fields, and is adorned with various sculptures and public art.