The Best Chicago attractions and the places you must visit

Chicago is called “Windy City” because of its windy weather. Chicago is bordered along with Lake Michigan. It is the largest city of Illinois and the third-largest city in U.S. Chicago is a short drive from the Illinois-Wisconsin border & the Illinois-Indiana border.

The bluest waters outside of the Caribbean make Chicago beautiful and unique. It is located along Lake Michigan and has amazing beaches with crystal blue water. Chicago has more bridges than any other city. It has 37 movable bridges that spread across the Chicago River.

The following Chicago attractions will keep you excited during your visit to Chicago and provide many fun things to do in the city.

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1. Shedd Aquarium

silhouette photo of group of people watching fishes on underwater aquarium

The indoor aquarium in Chicago was the largest indoor facility in the world once. The aquarium is located on Lake Michigan, on the Museum Campus Chicago. The aquarium was a gift from John G. Shedd to the city. Shedd Aquarium was the most visited aquarium in the US in 2005 and 2007. It surpassed the Field Museum as the most popular cultural attraction in Chicago. The Shedd Aquarium was Opened on May 30, 1930, and it has 32,000 animals inside as of today.

Shedd Aquarium gives you an amazing 360 view of 70 species including sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles living in a 90,000-gallon tank. Its 4D experience like vibrating chairs and moving air will enhance your excitement. It will make you close to the creatures and you will want to touch them.

2. Skydeck

In a competition in 1974, Skydeck (The Willis Tower) surpassed the World Trade Center in New York and became the world’s tallest building. It’s the highest observation deck in the United States. Tripadvisor listed it in the “top 10 attractions of the world” in 2019. Skydeck is 442.1 m tall with 108 stories (as counted by standard methods).

For tourists, it is one of the best places to visit and experience. It’s kind of an adventure and gives a thrilling experience. The building sways in the wind and you can see far over the plains of Illinois and across Lake Michigan to Indiana, Michigan. This jaw-dropping panoramic view can be seen from the 103rd floor of the Skydeck. Glass doors of the Skydeck extend 4.3 feet out of the building and provides a thrilling and wonderful view of the four states of the U.S.

3. Navy Pier

You won’t like to miss this one. Navy Pier was completed in 1916 and it’s one of the top attractions of Chicago. The Pier is stretched into Lake Michigan and mostly attracts tourists in summer by being an events hub. But it is a happening place throughout the winters as well. Following things keep the Pier happening the 12 months:

In the Rides and Games, the Pier has Centennial Wheel which soars to nearly 200 feet. It gives one of the best wheel ride experiences because of being an iconic part of Chicago. Centennial Wheel and other rides are available inside Pier Park. Funhouse Maze will let you navigate your way through 4000 square feet of mazes, tunnels, and games.

In the cultural attractions, Navy Pier has Crystal Garden which is an indoor garden created in a six-story glass atrium. It gives a beautiful view of the lakefront and has 80 live palm trees, Twinkle lights, and leapfrog fountains. There’s also a Kid’s Museum for kids aged 10 or under. The museum is fun as well as educational for kids. Kids can dig for dinosaur bones and can splash in the water playground. It has also an award-winning theatre named “Shakespeare Theatre” which hosts 650 performances a year.

For Food and Drinks, The Pier has a lot of options for drinks and meals. It has the country’s largest rooftop bar named “Offshore Rooftop & Bar”. It gives a panoramic lakefront and city views from atop Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. Also, the Miller Lite Beer Garden becomes one of the most visiting places in Chicago because of its free live outdoor music. There are more options like America’s Dog & Burger, Beat Kitchen, Big Bowl Chinese Express, Billy Goat Tavern, Giordano’s, Brown Sugar Bakery, Lirica, and The Original Rainbow Cone.

4. The Field Museum:

The real name of The Field Museum is the Field Museum of Natural History. It is one of the world’s biggest Natural history museums located in Chicago, Illinois. Status as a premier natural history through the size and quality of educational and scientific programs is always maintained by the museum. The high-quality exhibitions of the museum attract 2 million people every year.

The Museum is categorized as follow:

1. Permanent exhibitions

Animal Halls
Evolving Planet
Inside Ancient Egypt
The Ancient Americas
Cultural Halls
Geology Halls
Geology Halls
Working Laboratories
Sue, the Tyrannosaurus rex

2. Scientific collections

Collection care and management
Collection records
Collection us

3. Library

Ayer collection
Laufer Collection
Photo archives
Karl P. Schmidt Memorial Herpetological Library

5. Museum of Science and Industry

This science museum is located in Chicago, Illinois, in Jackson Park. It’s built between The University of Chicago and Lake Michigan. The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the U.S.

Get a mind-blowing experience by navigating through a mirror maze, climbing aboard a World War II German submarine, watching a 40-foot tornado, alight into an Illinois coal mine, and much more. The Museum of Science and Industry has great exhibits on mining, telecommunications, automobiles, aviation and aeronautics, agriculture, time, space travel, and medicine. It also contains a 3,000-square-foot model railroad and a World War II German U-505 submarine.

6. Millennium Park

Millennium Park is the heart of Chicago and the second home to Chicagoans. This is where the people gather to picnic on the grass, enjoy free movies and concerts, bathe in the crown fountain and do a lot of other fun.

There are few things you shouldn’t miss doing in Millennium Park.

Find your Peace at Lurie Garden.
Don’t feel like a kid while Climbing the rock at Maggie Daley Park.
Splash around in Crown Fountain.
Capture yourself with the “Cloud Gate” aka “The Bean”.
Grab lunch at Chicago’s largest outdoor dining venue “The Plaza” at Park Grill.
See outdoor art at the Boeing Galleries
Enjoy the art performances at the jaw-dropping venue “Harris Theater for Music & Dance”
Watch the shows under the stainless-steel canopy at “Jay Pritzker Pavilion”. The pavilion has 4,000 plus additional lawn seating for 7,000.

The Best Chicago attractions and the places you must visit on a trip to Chicago