Beautiful museum in the heart of downtown Chicago, highly recommend visiting! Home to an amazing collection of Impressionist, American and Modern Art. Family favorites? Edward Hopper's "The Nighthawks," the Medieval Gallery of Armor, Chagall's "American Windows," the Bisa Butler special exhibit and Japanese Prints.
The architecture boat tour along the Chicago River is a fun way to see the city and also learn more about its history and architecture. We recommend this tour offered by the Architecture Center. This is an absolute favorite of everyone's. This tour is very popular so we recommend purchasing tickets in advance at architecture.org
The Riverwalk goes along the south side of the Chicago River downtown. Lined with art, small green spaces and restaurants and bars, it is a fun place to stretch your legs, people watch and just generally hang out. Watching all the different boats go by is very fun. Favorite family game? Watching the large tourist boats navigate their way through the throng of tiny electric boats, pleasure cruisers (with beautiful people onboard) and kayaks. Best with a beer or cocktail in hand.
Beautiful park built on top of a rail yard that still operates below! Home to "Cloud Gate" the sculpture better known as "The Bean," and The Crown Fountain, two huge pillars of glass with faces projected on them which periodically "spit" water. Huge, wet fun for kids of all ages!
Terrific natural history museum. Particularly fun exhibits are "Inside Ancient Egypt" where you feel you are inside an actual pyramid, "Evolving Planet" which walks you through the evolution of Earth, culminating in the display of "Sue" the most complete T Rex skeleton ever uncovered, and a special exhibit "Becoming Jane" which explores the life and work of Jane Goodall.
For those who want to make the trip, this museum has an actual German U-boat captured in WWII, a recreation of a working coal mine, the beautifully refurbished Pioneer Zephyr , one of the first diesel-electric passenger trains, a real Boeing 727 jet hanging off a balcony, a special exhibit about the evolution of the Marvel Superheroes over time, and a family favorite, a huge miniature train layout as well as tons of other exhibits about science of all kinds.
Go Cubs Go! The Cubs will be at home playing the Pittsburgh Pirates over Labor Day weekend and nothing beats fun at the old ballpark, especially here at the second oldest ballpark in the nation (second only to Fenway Park in Boston!). "The Friendly Confines" is a beautiful park in a fun neighborhood at the Addison stop on the El Red Line. If you can't make it to the game, there is a great atmosphere surrounding the stadium-a park with a Jumbotron for watching the game, many classic bars and restaurants and some great Chicago souvenir shops.
Fun comedy club that's a training ground for many that end up on Saturday Night Live. They have several stages and venues and tickets sell out quickly so get tickets in advance if you want to enjoy an evening of great comedy.
Located in beautiful Lincoln Park on the near north side of the city. The zoo is free and is near the Lincoln Park Conservatory and miles of pretty walking paths. The Number 151 Sheridan Bus or the Number 156 LaSalle bus drop you off at the zoo. Pick up the 151 along the east side of Michigan Avenue and the 156 bus along the east side of LaSalle Drive.
A wonderful, interactive museum for young children, located on Navy Pier. There are several bus lines that will take you to Navy Pier, pick any of them up at any bus stop on the west side of Michigan Avenue (the southbound side)
Located at the top of what used to be known as the Hancock building, it is a 360 degree observation floor with great views (on a clear day!), several exhibits and the "Tilt," a glass chamber that sticks out from the building and tilts you away from the building so you can look straight down. There is also a bar up there, which you may need before you go out onto the Tilt.
Historic pier which did actually house Naval Operations during World War II. After the war, it became the Chicago campus of University of Illinois. Leah's grandfather and grandmother went to school here. Today the Pier is a nice place to walk and people watch and has lots of hyper-touristy attractions. There is a rooftop bar out near the end of the Pier with great city and lake views.