Chicago is among the largest cities in the United States and it’s known for its bold architecture, it’s skyline punctuated by skyscrapers such as the iconic John Hancock Center, Willis Tower and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. There are plenty of things to do in Chicago, including shows, tours, sports, shopping eating and attractions. Here is a list of 15 great places to explore in Chicago.
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop area of Chicago and was created to celebrate the third millennium. It's a beautiful civic center near Lake Michigan shoreline. The park features a variety of public art and in 2015, it become the number one tourist attraction in the Midwestern United States. Construction of the park began in October 1998, and Millennium Park was opened in a ceremony on July 16, 2004. Because the park sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden.
Navy Pier
600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Navy Pier has been a Chicago icon since 1916 and was originally named “Municipal Pier,” Navy Pier was based on Daniel Burnham’s “Master Plan of Chicago” which was a plan to revitalize the parks, railroads and harbor facilities. Municipal Pier was officially renamed Navy Pier in 1927 as a tribute to the Navy personnel who were housed at the Pier during World War I. Navy Pier underwent a redevelopment in 1994 and offers a diverse and eclectic experience with rides, museum, retail, dining, cruises and much more.
Willis Tower
233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, stands above all other buildings in Chicago and is a 110 story building in the heart of downtown Chicago. In 1969, Sears Roebuck was the largest retailer in the world and they made Chicago their central office. They hired architects to design what would be the tallest building in America. The name changed to Willis Tower in 2009 long after Sears moved out and the Willis Group Holdings, a global insurance broker moved in. There was a multi-million dollar renovation of Skydeck Chicago, with the development of The Ledge. It is a series of extended, glass bays on the 103rd floor with awesome views of Chicago.
Cloud Gate
1 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60602
Cloud Gate is a public sculpture by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor, that is the centerpiece of AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. The sculpture and AT&T Plaza are located on top of Park Grill, between the Chase Promenade and McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink. Constructed between 2004 and 2006, the sculpture is nicknamed The Bean because of its shape, however, viewed from above, with the reflection of the clouds, it’s a gateway to and from the clouds.
Magnificent Mile
410 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
The Magnificent Mile is Chicago’s upscale commercial district with 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 51 hotels, and a host of sightseeing and entertainment attractions. The concept for the Magnificent Mile was part of the 1909 Plan of Chicago. It was constructed during the 1920’s and the earliest building constructions varied in style. The name the "Magnificent Mile" is a registered trademark of The Magnificent Mile Association. The Mag Mile was successfully developed and promoted until it became one of the most prestigious addresses of the city.
Riverwalk
355 Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IL 60601
The Chicago Riverwalk began in 2001 and offers a great pedestrian friendly waterfront that's located on the south bank of the Chicago River in downtown. The Riverwalk is broken down into different sections, 1 The Marina from State to Dearborn connects the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and its new Riverwalk additions to the west. There are restaurants, as well as great seats from which to enjoy views of the Chicago River. 2 The Cove from Dearborn to Clark is a great area for a snack or rent a kayak right along the waterfront. 3 The River Theater from Clark to LaSalle is this urban oasis, with trees growing from the steps, provides shade and a unique respite for city explorers. 4 The Water Plaza from LaSalle to Wells is a sunny cove great for relaxing around a fountain. 5 The Jetty from Wells to Franklin provides an educational component to observe fish and learn about river ecology. 6 The Riverbank from Franklin to Lake is surrounded by floating gardens with stunning views of the confluence of the three branches of the Chicago River.
Chicago-style "deep-dish" pizza
700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
The Chicago-style "deep-dish" pizza was invented at Chicago’s Pizzeria Uno in 1943 by Uno's founder Ike Sewell and the pizza chef Rudy Malnati. The pizza's foundation is a thick layer of dough, made with olive oil and cornmeal and formed into a deep round pan. The pizza crust is baked then covered with mozzarella, meats, and vegetables, etc. A pizza sauce is then added and topped with a grated cheese. On the usual pizza, about a pound of cheese is added. Because of the amount of ingredients in this style of pizza, it is usually eaten with a knife and fork. In addition to Uno, additional famous deep-dish restaurants include, Gino's Pizza, Giordano's, Carmen's, Nancy’s, and Pizano's. In the mid-1970's, two Chicago chains, Nancy's and Giordano's began experimenting with deep dish pizza and created the stuffed pizza. I’ve tried several pizzerias and my favorite are still Nancy’s and Giordano’s. Expect a 45 minute wait for your piece of heaven.
Chinatown
2206 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
The Chinese laborers started coming to USA to work on the completion of transcontinental railroad and 80% of of the laborers were Chinese. Once the railroad was completed in 1869, the Chinese moved on to find more work, some of the workers going to Chicago. The anti Chinese act, a United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers, caused discrimination against the Chinese. The first Chinese immigrant to arrive in Chicago was T.C. Moy who arrived in 1878. When he arrived, and found little prejudice, he encouraged his fellows to join him. Over 80 of his followers joined him within one year of writing to them. The same laws against the Chinese were still in effect in Chicago as they were in the rest of America, they found little discrimination. During the time of 1890, there were around 560 Chinese in the city of Chicago. They took on their own businesses such as small shops, restaurant, and laundry areas. The largest immigration of Chinese came in the 1950’s through the 1960’s. During this time, Chicago ranked fourth on the list of Chinese population throughout America. Chicago was home to between 7,000 to 14,000 Chinese immigrants. The Argyle and Broadway sections of Chicago were chosen for the new location of Chinatown. Entrepreneur Jimmy Wong started of the buying of the land by purchasing 60% of the properties on both sides of the block. He also helped those who wanted to start up businesses in the area. This portion of Chinatown is now known as the ‘Small Saigon’ because it does not house the majority of Chinese immigrants. Southern Chinatown is still home to oncoming Chinese, and when they adapt to their new surroundings and learn English eventually move away from Chinatown. There are services to help those Chinese who first come over such as food, shelter, work, and education. Chinatown is a cultural identity and heritage marker for Chinese Americans. Many of them, who do not live in Chinatown, go to Chinatown for their groceries, food, items, and publications. It is a tourist attraction to those who do not live, work, or shop in the town. It is an introduction into Chinese culture and cuisine for people who wish to learn
The McCormick Tribune Plaza and Ice Rink
1 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60602
McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink is a multi-purpose venue within Millennium Park. On December 20, 2001, it became the first attraction in Millennium Park to open. It offers a free public outdoor ice skating rink that is generally open four months a year, from mid-November until mid-March, when it hosts over 100,000 skaters annually. For the rest of the year, it serves as Plaza at Park Grill, Chicago's largest outdoor dining facility and hosts various culinary events as well as music during its months of outdoor operation.
The Lakefront Trail
500 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a 18-mile-long partial shared use path for walking jogging and cycling, located along the western shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. The trail passes through and connects Chicago's four major lakefront parks along with various beaches and recreational amenities.
Buckingham Fountain
301 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Buckingham Fountain is in the center of Grant Park. Dedicated in 1927 by Kate Sturges Buckingham in memory of her brother, Clarence Buckingham, it is one of the largest fountains in the world. Built in a Rocky rococo wedding cake style and inspired by the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles. It operates from April to October, with regular water shows and evening color-light shows. The fountain itself represents Lake Michigan, with four sets of seahorses symbolizing the four states that border the lake, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
The Chicago Cultural Center opened in 1897 and houses the city's official reception venue where the Mayor of Chicago welcomes Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. Originally the central library building, it was converted in 1977 to an arts and culture center. As the nation's first free municipal cultural center, the Chicago Cultural Center is one of the city's most popular attractions and is considered one of the most comprehensive arts showcases in the United States. Each year, the Chicago Cultural Center features more than 1,000 programs and exhibitions covering a wide range of the performing, visual and literary arts.
Old Water Tower
806 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
Built in 1869, the water tower is the second-oldest water tower in the United States. It was created for Chicago’s municipal water system, and originally housed a 135 foot iron standpipe used for firefighting, the pressure in the pipe could be regulated to control water surges in the area and it drew clean water from water cribs in Lake Michigan. The tower gained prominence after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The tower was the only public building in the burned zone to survive, and is one of just a few of the surviving structures still standing. In the years since the fire, the tower has become a symbol of old Chicago and of the city's recovery from the fire. The Chicago Water Tower now serves as a Chicago Office of Tourism art gallery and features the work of local photographers and artists, and filmmakers.
The Signature Room at the 95th - John Hancock Center
875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
The Signature Room at the 95th opened in 1993 was has been awarded the “Business Impact of the Year Award”, “Most Romantic Restaurant” and “Best View,” The Signature Room at the 95th and Signature Lounge on the 96th are part of the quintessential Chicago experience. This year, 2018, The Signature Room at the 95th® is celebrating 25th years.
Chicago Fashion Outlet
5220 Fashion Outlets Way, Rosemont, IL 60018
Fashion Outlets of Chicago opened on August 1, 2013 and is located just five minutes from O'Hare International Airport and 15 minutes from downtown Chicago. It is a two-level indoor outlet shopping mall featuring over 130 designer including Gucci, Armani, Prada, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Burberry, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Swarovski, and more. It features a variety of quick-service food options at the food court. Fashion Outlets of Chicago offers unique services for domestic and international travelers including a partnership with TSA-certified BAGS Inc. for special concierge programs, enabling visitors to print boarding passes and check shopping bags and luggage directly to their final destination.
Check out this YouTube video tour experience of Chicago.
