Activities and Attractions

Grant Park

Often called Chicago’s “front yard,” Grant Park is a 319-acre recreational haven and the setting for one of the city’s most iconic attractions: the magnificent Buckingham Fountain. You can enjoy the many annual festivals and events that take place in the park, from the Taste of Chicago to the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Marathon and more.

Millenium Park

Located in the northeast corner of Grant Park, Millennium Park encompasses a state-of-the-art collection of architecture, landscape design and art that provide the backdrop for hundreds of free cultural programs including concerts, exhibitions, tours, and family activities. A lively, spectacular gathering spot located in the heart of the city, Millennium Park is home to Cloud Gate — famously known as “the bean” sculpture — as well as the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, setting for the Grant Park Music Festival and other concerts. Stroll the gardens or go ice skating in the winter. There’s always something going on.

Lake Michigan

Chicago’s lakefront is not to be missed. Walk, bike or jog the 18-mile Chicago Lakefront Trail. Hit the beach. Take advantage of opportunities to boat, fish and more.

Art Institute of Chicago

The second-largest art museum in the country, The Art Institute of Chicago has one of the most impressive collections of impressionist paintings and surrealist works of art in the world. You can spend an hour or two spotting Georges Seurat and Edward Hopper, although art lovers will want to spend much longer.

Navy Pier

From its Ferris wheel to an IMAX theater and a beer garden, Navy Pier is one of the most popular Chicago attractions. Beat the heat with a breeze from the lake, and stop by on Wednesday and Saturday evenings during the summer for the fireworks show.

Magnificent Mile

Many of the most upscale shops in Chicago are conveniently located, as the name suggests, within a one-mile-long shopping strip along North Michigan Avenue. Swing by the high-end chains for all of your shopping needs, from fashion to electronics and more.

Museum Campus

What do whales, our solar system and the world’s most famous T-Rex fossil have in common? All can be seen at Chicago’s museum campus, which includes the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium and Field Museum of Natural History. If you’d like to explore further, you can catch a water taxi from the museum campus to Navy Pier.

Chicago Theatre District

Head to “Broadway in Chicago” to catch the most exciting touring productions while they are in town. The Chicago Theater District includes the historic and lavish Chicago Theater. The Oriental Theater and the Cadillac Palace Theater. Chicago’s local theater scene is also vibrant – find out what’s on stage at www.theatreinchicago.com.

Chicago Architecture Center

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is a non-profit organization that offers tours, exhibitions, programs and events for all ages. Inside the CAC, you’ll find exciting programs for kids and adults and new, imaginative exhibits, including the Chicago City Model Experience, a large scale model of Chicago’s downtown, now expanded to more than 4,200 buildings. Upstairs, the Building Tall exhibit features supersized scale models of famous skyscrapers from Chicago and around the world. With more than 85 boat, walking, bus and bike tours, the CAC also offers the world’s largest and most diverse architecture tour program. Find out more at www.architecture.org.

Chicago Riverwalk

There’s so much more to do at the Chicago Riverwalk than simply stroll along a picturesque river. The Riverwalk is a lifestyle — a uniquely Chicago one, with a little of something for everyone. Eat, drink, play, and explore with stunning outdoor bars and restaurants, museums, pier fishing, boat trips, kayaking, public art, bird-watching, and a harmonious blend of sublime nature and shiny city.

Sightseeing

Cloud Gate

One of the most iconic sights in Chicago is unquestionably Cloud Gate, the gleaming sculpture lovingly nicknamed The Bean. Standing more than 30 feet high, tourists come from all over to snap a picture within the reflective surface of the Bean in Millennium Park.

Pritzker Pavilion

Enjoy an exciting live show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, one of the premier outdoor Amphitheatres in Chicago, located centrally in Millennium Park. The pavilion offers an incredibly unique design and electric atmosphere for seeing live shows.

Buckingham Fountain

Sitting as the centerpiece to Grant Park is the stunning landmark known as Buckingham Fountain. The fountain was created to represent Lake Michigan and features four pairs of beautifully Art Deco style sea horses.

Evanston, Illinois

The city of Evanston is located just north of Chicago. Bordering Lake Michigan and home to Northwestern University, Evanston's unique beauty, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks delight visitors and residents of all ages.

Restaurant Recommendations

Au Cheval

It has Chicago’s best burger! The menu has other, almost as delicious options, like the fried chicken, or the foie gras with eggs. They don’t take reservations, and it’s always crowded, so plan to kill some time checking out the rest of the West Loop while you wait. It will be worth it

Pequod's Pizzeria

Deep dish pizza is something Chicago is known for, and it seems to be a polarizing topic - just ask your friend from New York. So if you feel like making a case for it, go to Pequod’s. You’re here for pan-style deep dish pies, with sauce underneath the toppings (unlike traditional deep dish pizzas, which have the sauce on top). What really sets these pizzas apart is their “caramelized” crust, also known as the burnt edges of crispy cheese around the outside of the pie.

Portillo's

Hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches are treated almost as reverently as pizza in Chicago, and the Portillo’s in River North does both very well. So if you need something quick and classic, this is a must-stop. There are tons of people in multiple lines, and the whole huge place is decorated like a garage sale (in a really clean garage). Your job is to make sure of two things: one, that everyone stays in line for Portillo’s Hot Dogs (ignore Barnelli’s, which shares the space), and two, that at least one hot dog and one Italian beef are on the table. Bonus points if you order a chocolate cake shake - that’s when you know you’ve done this spot right.

The Publican

Sometimes when people from either coast visit the Midwest they expect every meal to be meat-centric and heavy. We find the best way to handle this is to meet their expectations and take them somewhere with lots of pork and beer. The Publican has both of those things, but there’s an equal amount of menu space devoted to seafood and vegetables - so you can prove there’s more to this city than the meat sweats. Plus, the space is dominated by a giant communal table that will make everyone feel like they’re eating in a castle.

Big & Little's

Trying to revert back to your college days of a quick dinner before you relax and pregame? Hit Big & Little’s. This funky, cash-only BYOB joint is meant for an easy, inexpensive, and delicious meal. Go basic with the burgers and tacos, or take things to a higher level with the soft shell crab po’ boy or french fries with foie gras.

Green Street Smoked Meats

Grab some Texas BBQ in a giant party garage. After scoping out (and waiting for) a table, order your meats and sides by the pound. Then, hang out on the picnic benches as long as you please.

Smoque BBQ

This Texas-style barbecue joint has been slingin’ its signature brisket and ribs for the better part of a decade, and remains steadfast as the North Side’s top dog for smoked meats. It’s BYOB, so arrive hungry and with a frosty six-pack of your favorite local brew in tow to fend off the inevitable meat sweats.

Doughnut Vault

This award-winning donut shop sets the bar unattainably high with its supremely dense, moist old-fashioned-style donuts. The crave-worthy dough rings come in flavors like toasted almond, classic buttermilk glazed, and lemon-poppy seed, and in limited production daily, which means, once they sell out, they're gone 'til the next morning.

Nightlife

River North

No one can dispute the level of crazy that Hubbard Street in River North reaches. Be it a weekday or the weekend – doesn’t matter. This area of River North is a great location to go bar hopping with friends. The scene is mostly concentrated on Hubbard from State to LaSalle.

Wrigleyville

Then there’s good old Wrigleyville, and on Clark to be exact—the street that couldn’t be ignored even if you tried. Seriously, try walking here on a Saturday night after 10 pm. And during a Cubs game? Madness.

This area might be one of the longest clusters of bars in the entire city. From Belmont all the way past the Field to Grace Street, you’re bound to see residents or tourists enjoying the bar hopping scene.

Wicker Park

We can’t forget about the Six Corners in Wicker Park, because North Milwaukee Avenue has a very distinct place in the world of Chicago nightlife. The eclectic mix of bars, clubs, and pubs that line Milwaukee Avenue are sure to keep you on your toes. Continue north on Milwaukee for about 15 minutes and you’ll reach Logan Square’s bar scene.

Lincoln Park

Another of Chicago’s most bar-populated neighborhoods is Lincoln Park, particularly on Lincoln Avenue from Wrightwood to Fullerton. The vibe around here is generally more casual, but not any less fun.