A visitors guide to Chicago's most popular shopping centers, museums, sports fields, art galleries and other exciting attractions and sights.
Ninety million people visit Chicago each year and the number is steadily increasing. They come to see the museums, stare up at the sky scrappers, taste Chicago's food, immerse themself in the rich culture and listen to the world famous music. Many people spend a lifetime exploring Chicago but on a more limited time frame there are some places that are must visits.
At the top of Chicago is the Sears Tower, rising 1,450 feet. The Windy City is the home of modern skyscrapers and the Sears Tower is one of the tallest in the world. Visitors rise 103 stories to the Skydeck on the 110th story in just seventy seconds. From the Skydeck on a clear day, there is a view of fifty miles, including four states, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. There is more than just great views of the city's architecture and skyline, the lake and its boats there is a museum quality exhibition with the sights and sounds of Chicago.
Sears Tower is located at 233 South Wacker Drive in the middle of Chicago's loop.
An alternative to the crowds and long lines at the Sears Tower is the equally impressive view from the John Hancock Tower. The third tallest building in Chicago, the Hancock Tower rises 1,107 feet in to the sky but the open air viewing deck sets it above the rest of the world's skyscrapers. The porch is screened in but allows visitors to feel the power of the wind at 1,000 feet. The Tower also features talking telescopes describing the city's views.
The John Hancock Tower is located at 875 North Michigan Avenue, along the Magnificent Mile.
The Magnificent Mile is why Chicago is known for shopping. Along a mile of Michigan Avenue there are hundreds of high class stores and top name designers. It's Chicago's version of Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive or New York's Fifth Avenue, however the density of first rate shops is unmatched anywhere. There are literally hundreds of shops along Michigan Avenue and the surrounding blocks including Tiffany, Giorgio Amrani, FAO Schwartz and Louis Vuiton.
The Water Tower Place and 900 North Michigan Avenue are two of Chicago's most popular high rise malls. Water Tower is a mall within a skyscraper, with 100 stores ranging from J. Jill to French Connection United Kingdom to Abercrombie and Fitch. 900 North Michigan Avenue, is more upscale with stores like Max Mara, Diesel and Gucci.
The Magnificent Mile runs from the Chicago River to Oak Street along and in the area surrounding Michigan Avenue.
Chicago is the home to a world class art gallery, visitors spend hours exploring The Art Institute Of Chicago and admiring the masterpieces of Renoir and Van Gough. The Art Institute is known for their French Impressionist Collection, including the world's largest collection of Monet's paintings. The Institute is also home to extensive collections of European and American contemporary art with paintings, sculptures and other mediums from Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.
There is also activities for the kids, the Kraft Education Center with interactive exhibits.
The Art Institute is located at 111 South Michigan Avenue.
Just down the street from The Art Institute is a popular stop for both adults and children, The Field Museum of Natural History is located along the shore Lake Michigan. The Field Museum is home to six acres of exhibits including Sue, a 65 million year old Tyrannosaurs Rex. Sue is the largest and most complete T-Rex fossil ever found. In addition to Sue, the Museum is home to 600 other fossils.
One of the more popular exhibits is Inside Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egypt exhibit is the home to 23 mummies and a working canal where a living marsh with papyrus is grown.
The Museum is located at 1400 S. Michigan Avenue.
On sunny summer afternoons, thousands of Chicagoans indulge in the tradition of skipping work to catch the Cubs playing at Wrigley Field. Fans are transported back to baseball's past with a field covered in real grass and ivy covered brick walls. The Friendly Confines, as the locals call it, was built in 1916 remains almost unchanged for the good and bad. The only major chance came in 1988 when against the opposition of the local residents and baseball purists, Cubs added lights to allow the playing of night games.
Even though the Cubs haven't won the World Series since 1908, fans fill the stadium for every game, with everyone is hoping this year is the proverbial "next year" when the Cubs go all the way.
Wrigley Field is located at 1060 W. Addison Street, on the north side of Chicago.
A must see during the summer is Navy Pier on Chicago's lakefront. The 3,000 foot long pier, was built during World War I as a Navy training center for pilots. Today, the pier is home to some of the cities best shopping, food, culture and music. On the pier's 50 acres there is the Skyline Stage for live music performances, the Chicago Children's Museum, a 3D Imax Theater, the Chicago Shakespear Theater, the Ferris Wheel and a radio station.
Before visitors leave, day or night they head to the end of the pier for a unique and beautiful view of the city lights and skyline that can only be seen from there or a boat in Lake Michigan.
Navy Pier is located at 600 East Grand Avenue.
One of Chicago's newest attractions in the Millennium Park that opened in the summer of 2004. The site of the park was once an eyesore, run down railroad yard and parking lots has been transformed into a beautiful 245 acre luscious green park. But it is much more than a park, there is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, an outdoor concert venue. One of the most noticeable features of the pavilion is the architecture of the pavilion itself. The structure rises 120 feet into the sky with a "headdress" of stainless steel ribbons over the 4,000 seats. There are an additional 3,000 lawns seats to accommodate everyone for some of the best live music, dance and theater in Chicago.
During the winter the pavilion closes, but the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is opens for hours of skating fun.
Millennium Park is located on Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets.
Los Angles may have replaced Chicago as the country's second largest city but Chicago still has many sights, culture, attraction and shops that rival the best in the world.
