America’s classic mid-western city is a blend of all that makes a city great — interesting ethnic neighborhoods, a unmatched and beautiful skyline, world-class museums, great architecture, excellent eateries, etc. I love Chicago and am proud to list my favorite Chicago activities and places.
1. Take in the Breathtaking Views from the Top of the Sears (now Willis) Tower — The tallest building in America offers some of the best views in the city of the skyline, Lake Michigan and the sprawling city.
2. Check out the Water Tower — This iconic structure is one of only a few downtown buildings which survived the great fire of 1871. Its juxtaposition with neighboring skyscrapers is both dramatic and fun.
3. Wander Through Lincoln Park — This large urban park, to the north of the city center, is beautifully landscaped and popular with tourists and locals. It even contains the city’s zoo.
4. Stroll Through Millennium Park — The green expanse along the lake front is perhaps most famous for the Frank Gehry-designed entertainment complex, a tangle of sparkling steel.
5. Walk Along Lake Michigan in Grant Park — Another of Chicago’s great urban parks sprawls along the lake. Its signature is the beautiful Buckingham fountain.
6. Swim in Lake Michigan — Just across Lake Shore Drive from mega-skyscrapers is the beach, where many Chicagoans spend their lunch hours or their days off.
7. Learn About the Earth’s Many Creatures at the Field Museum of Natural History — One of the world’s great museums of this type can be found directly on the lake front. Be sure to spend time with “Sue,” the museum’s Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.
8. Learn About the Universe at the Adler Planetarium — This great museum teaches visitors all they need to know about our solar system, stars, and other heavenly bodies.
9. Get Into Water Life at the Shedd Aquarium — Here is another of Chicago’s great museums which center around the natural world and its many interesting creatures.
10. Stroll Along Navy Pier — Containing an amusement park and many shops and eateries, this wooden structure juts significantly into Lake Michigan and provides great views of the Chicago skyline as well as great fun and entertainment.
11. Shop on the Magnificent Mile — This stretch of Michigan Avenue provides some of the best shopping west of New York City.
12. Visit Oak Park — Frank Lloyd Wright, perhaps America’s most noted architect, designed many homes and building in the midwest. This particular one is convenient to Chicago and an excellent example of his “prarie-style” architecture.
13. See a Cubs Game at Venerable Wrigley Field — One of the most hallowed of the venues where “America’s Pastime” is performed is here in Chicago, home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the game’s most unfortunate franchises.
