Chicago offers so many activities and experiences that will leave even the most seasoned traveler daunted. From offering top destinations for amazing fun and educational tours and world class museums to shopping and nightlife ventures to the more innovative centers of the city, you’ll be spoilt for choice and it will become difficult to choose what should you visit and experience.
You can check out cheap flights to Chicago that have an airfare sale going on. International flight deals are available at low fares on our website so go check them out after you’re done reading the article. If you find that you’re confused from so many choices as well or simply don’t know where you should start your tour in Chicago, we’re here to help. Read on to find out the rest.
1) Grant Park
Grant Park, also known as the ‘Front Yard of Chicago’, is a sprawling 319- acres park swathed in greenery. It starts at the eastern edge of the Loop and extends to the northern fringes of the Near South Side.
First-time tourists should prepare to spend a significant amount of time in the park because it hosts other must-visit destinations like The Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Shedd Aquarium.
Right in the heart of Grant Park is Buckingham Fountain, which is one of the largest fountains in the world. The tiered water structure has 133 jets that shoot water as high as 150 ft. into the air during the 20 minute well- choreographed displays.
These events occur every hour from 9 a.m. to 10.35 p.m. from April to October. The fountain’s performance is accompanied by lights and music at night, making the visual even more spectacular.
Additionally, flower gardens, baseball diamonds, walking paths and open grassy lands are available to boot.
2) Millennium Park
A visit to Chicago isn’t ever complete without a trip to Millennium Park. The park spans over 24.5 acres and showcases the best cutting- edge art, landscape and architecture. It provides the backdrop for concerts and festivals as well. Visitors usually come to Millennium Park to see Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate, also affectionately known as ‘The Bean’.
Spanish artist Jaume Plensa designed the Crown Fountain, featuring two 50-foot towers at opposite ends of a shallow reflecting pool. The towers project faces of 1000 different Chicago residents onto LED screens, perfectly aligning them to appear as if they spit water on passersby.
Anish Kapoor, a British artist, fashioned a 110-ton bean-shaped structure from stainless steel, designing Cloud Gate. The elliptical design reflects the Chicago skyline on it. You can also visit the Frank Gehry designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion for a concert, or take a walk in the Boeing Galleries and Lurie Garden. You can also sign up for a Segway tour at McDonald’s cycle center.
3) Lincoln Park Zoo
It sits 2 miles north of the Loop in the North Side neighborhood of Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park Zoo serves as the home for a variety of wildlife, including zebras, sloths and hippos. The Zoo keeps the animals in their natural habitats, like the gorillas are in Regenstein Center for African Apes or you can visit the harbor seals in Kovler Seal Pool.
Best fact for all the backpackers, the entrance fee to visit all the large mammals in the zoo and aquarium is totally free. If you’re visiting with kids, head over to the ‘Farm in the Zoo’ exhibit for interacting with all the barn animals like cows, goats, pigs etc.Use public transportation to reach the zoo due to limited parking and high parking fees.
4) Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is a hub for many stunning collections of impressionist and post- impressionist art works apart from various other genres. An iconic pair of bronze lions guards the building, which houses more than 300,000 artworks.
Filled up to the brim with masterpieces from every era, from Georges Seurat’s iconic painting A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (notable for its appearance in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) to Andy Warhol’s print of actress Elizabeth Taylor, the ideal time to visit here would be in March so that you can see the “Monet and Chicago” exhibition, which has extended its run at the museum.