We LOVE the architectural tour! Often dubbed by critics (us) as the best thing to do when your parents/cousins/friends come to town. The tour takes you down the Chicago River and teaches about the founding and development of Chicago through an architectural lens. It takes about 90 minutes and even has a bar on board! We recommend getting tickets ahead of time!
TimeOut Market is a very buzzy food hall with vendors from all sorts of restaurants in Chicago, from Ethiopian classics to BBQ. Grab a drink, mosey around, and nosh to your heart's content!
Come for the taxidermy bird exhibits, stay for the absolutely iconic diva that is SUE the T-rex skeleton. It costs about $30 for an out-of-state adult, but is still cheaper than the aquarium (which tbh you should skip!).
We love the Art Institute for it's great mix of classic and modern art! Live your Ferris Bueller fantasies and stare longingly at a Seurat. Once you're done, make sure to head across the street to check out the Bean (who just re-opened after her BBL).
We love the zoo! It’s free for everyone (even out of towners) and is gorgeous in the Fall. You can easily see the whole zoo in ~2-3 hours.