At the south-east corner of downtown, Grant Park leads into what is known as Museum Campus, a peninsula that houses three world-renowned science museums: the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. You can really spend the better part of a day in any one of them, so we wouldn't recommend trying to cram all of them in the same day. For the ambitious, there is also the option of purchasing the Chicago CityPASS, which covers tickets to multiple museums and sights around the city and saves some money on buying tickets for each location individually.
Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the only free admission zoos in the United States, is fun for the whole family!
Located in the Old Town neighborhood, the famous Second City improv theatre gave a start to many of the biggest names in comedy such as Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, and Stephen Colbert. They offer an ever-changing series of live improv shows that start from afternoon/early evening to late at night.
One of the most popular Chicago destinations and rated one of the Top Museums in the World on TripAdvisor, the Art Institute is fun for art lovers of any kind. The museum includes an impressive Impressionist exhibit and a massive modern and contemporary art wing.
A classic Chicago tourist destination, we recommend standing in a glass box suspended 1,353 feet above the city.
Millennium Park is home to the famous "Bean" and the setting for a combination of sculpture, architecture, and landscape design. It is also right next to Maggie Daley Park which is a 20-acre public park. It boasts a large playground for children and rock climbing in the summer.
Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot-long pier located on the shoreline of Lake Michigan. You can take a ride on the Centennial Wheel, watch a play in the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, take the kids for an adventure in the Children's Museum, or take a cruise along the Chicago River.
Walk 10 minutes north of the Palmer to enjoy the Chicago Riverwalk. It is a 1.25-mile long path along the Chicago River winding from Lake Street to Lake Michigan lake front. We recommend taking in the sights and enjoying the restaurants along the way - City Winery, Tiny Tapp, and Portofino.
We recommend taking a boat tour to enjoy the Chicago views from the water! We have taken boat tours from Seadog Cruises and Wendella and loved them! Take the Chicago Architecture Tour through the city or take the Extreme Thrill Ride to speed around Lake Michigan.