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Things to Do in Chicago
 Inside Chicago
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy
Museum
(#1 on map)
Opened in 1930 as the first planetarium in the western
hemisphere, the Adler fuels the imagination of its visitors
with all new exhibits and state-of-the-art computer technology
in the world’s first StarRider Theater while showcasing
a renowned collection of historical astronomy artifacts.
Located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago’s Museum Campus.
Admission is Adults $10/ Children $6. For more information,
visit www.
adlerplanetarium.org or call (312) 922-STAR.
The Art Institute of Chicago
(#2 on map)
One of the world’s great art museums, with collections
dating from 3,000 B.C. through the present, including famous
French Impressionist paintings and drawings; fine and decorative
arts from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin
America; and photography, textiles, and architectural works.
Dine in the elegant new indoor Garden Restaurant or in
the Court Café. Find unique gifts in the Museum
Shop. Admission is Adults $18/ Students $12/ Children under
14 FREE. For more information, visit www.artic.edu or call
(312) 43-3600. Free Admission Thursday, July 15, from 5:00
p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Broadway in Chicago
Broadway Theater will ignite your night on the town and
put you in the middle of the excitement of Chicago tourism.
Broadway in Chicago is the source for terrific seats to
the most exciting shows in Chicago’s bustling downtown
theater district. On the stages of the Ford Center for
the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, the Cadillac Palace
Theatre, the Bank of America Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre,
and the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, you’ll
discover theater productions direct from Broadway and world
premieres of productions destined for Broadway. For more
information, visit www.broadwayinchicago.com or call (312)
977-1701.
Field Museum of
Natural History
(#3 on map)
Discover Sue, the largest and most complete T. Rex ever
found! At the Field Museum, you can get a bug’s-eye
view in Underground Adventure, descend into an Egyptian
tomb, watch glowing lava flow, be dazzled by sparkling
gems, come nose-to-nose with the man-eating lions of Tsavo,
and learn about the world’s cultures and environments.
Admission is Adults $23/ Students $20/ Children under 11
$13. For more information, visit www.fieldmuseum.org or
call (312) 922-9410.
Lincoln Park Zoo
(#4
on map)
You have no excuse not to visit: The Lincoln Park Zoo
is open 365 days a year and — astonishingly — remains
completely free, despite many recent upgrades. Occupying
a prime spot of Lincoln Park close to the lakefront, the
zoo is small enough to explore in an afternoon, but varied
enough to make you feel like you’ve traveled around
the world. For families, this is a don’t-miss stop.
Admission is FREE. For more information, visit www.lpzoo.org/index2.html.
Wrigley Field
(#10 on map)
Wrigley Field is the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs
since 1916. The Chicago Cubs will be playing the Philadelphia
Phillies during the conference - Thursday at 7:05 PM, Friday
at 1:05 PM, and Saturday at 12:05 PM. You can purchase
your tickets online at http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com. Tickets
range from $18 to $290.
Millennium Park
(#5
on map)
Located downtown on Michigan Ave. between Randolph and
Monroe Sts., Millennium Park is an extraordinary showplace
for world-class art, music, architecture, and landscape
design. The brand new, 24.5-acre Millennium Park showcases
Chicago as one of the most culturally sophisticated and
diverse cities in the world — a place where you can
enjoy awe-inspiring public works of art and architecture
as well as ice skating in the winter and alfresco dining
in warm weather months. Admission is FREE. For more information,
visit www.millenniumpark.org.
Museum of
Contemporary Art
Just steps from Michigan Ave. and the historic Water
Tower, the MCA highlights today’s most innovative
and exciting artists. Take a free, guided tour, stroll
through the grand, barrel-vaulted galleries overlooking
Lake Michigan, enjoy lunch at the Wolfgang Puck Café,
and shop in the fun-filled MCA store. Admission is Adults
$12/ Students $7/ Children under 12 FREE. For more information,
visit www.mcachicago.org or call (312) 280-2660.
Museum of
Science and
Industry
(#6 on map)
A world of discovery awaits at the largest science museum
in the Western hemisphere, with 14 acres of hands-on exhibits
designed to spark curiosity, ingenuity, and creativity.
Guests can “take off” on an authentic Boeing
727 airplane for a simulated cross-country flight; descend
down a mineshaft for a tour of a realistic Illinois coal
mine; explore the legendary U-505, a German submarine captured
on the high seas during World War II; or take in a thrilling
movie at the five-story Omnimax® theater. Live demonstrations,
costumed exhibit interpreters, groundbreaking temporary
exhibits, and special programming bring the wonders of
the museum to life for all ages. Admission is Adults $15/
Children $10.For more information, visit www.msichicago.org or call (773) 684-1414.
If you’re arriving early – Free Admission
on Tuesdays!
Navy Pier
(#7 on map)
Located on Lake Michigan just east of Chicago’s
downtown area, Navy Pier has been a Chicago landmark since
it first opened in 1916. It now showcases a unique collection
of restaurants, shops, and plenty of entertainment. At
Navy Pier, you’ll find the Chicago Children’s
Museum, an IMAX theater, Crystal Gardens (an indoor botanical
park), the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Smith Museum
of Stained Glass Windows. Admission is FREE. For more information,
visit www.navypier.com or call (312) 595-PIER.
The Hancock Observatory
The 94th-floor observatory at the John Hancock Center,
features an open-air skywalk, the Midwest’s highest
open-air experience; Sky Tours, which takes you on a personal
audio tour of Chicago’s incredible sights and remarkable
history; Soundscope 3-D “talking” telescopes
that narrate in four languages and create startling real
sound effects; a Chicago history wall; and a theme park-style
ticketing area that re-creates the construction of the
John Hancock Center. Admission is Adults $15/ Children
$10. For more information, visit www.hancockobservatory.com or call (888 ) 875-VIEW.
Sears Tower
Skydeck
(#8
on map)
Get the best view of Chicago from one of the world’s
tallest and most famous buildings. Admission is Adults
$15.96/ Children $11. For more information, visit www.the-skydeck.com or call (312) 875-9696.
Shedd Aquarium
(#9 on map)
The world’s largest indoor aquarium offers more
than 22,000 aquatic animals from around the world. See
all Shedd has to offer with the All Access Pass, which
includes the original aquarium building, Wild Reef, Amazon
Rising, and the Oceanarium. Admission is $24.95 Adults/Children
$17.95. For more information visit www.sheddaquarium.org or call (312) 939-2438.
Jazz and Blues
Your Chicago trip should definitely include jazz and
blues—the choices are great. Some longstanding favorite
haunts for blues include Blue Chicago, Buddy Guy’s
Legends, House of Blues, and Kingston Mines. For jazz,
Andy’s Jazz Club, The Back Room, Green Dolphin Street,
and Joe’s Be Bob Café & Jazz Emporium
at Navy Pier are all great stops. For more information
on jazz and blues clubs visit www.choosechicago.com/dining_nightlife.html.
The Second City
Since 1959, The Second City has been entertaining audiences
with its signature brand of socio-political satire. The
starting point for many famous actors, directors, and writers,
The Second City is a Chicago institution not to be missed!
Show Tickets $12 –$ 40. For more information visit
www.secondcity.com or call (312) 337-3992.
Outside Chicago
Oak Street
The nearby Magnificent Mile, the glamorous boutiques
and brand names of Oak Street take you to a different world.
Lake Michigan and the city skyline are a glorious backdrop
to the upscale shops, making your excursion in Chicago
like no other. For more information visit www.oakstreetchicago.com.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio
This complex in Oak Park served as Wright’s private
residence, studio, and architectural laboratory during
the first twenty years of his career from 1889 to 1909.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust offers guided
interior tours of the Home and Studio. Oak Park contains
the world’s largest concentration of Wright-designed
structures—26 in all. For more information visit
www.wrightplus.com or call (708) 848-1978.
North Shore
The distinctive and inviting communities of Chicago’s
North Shore— Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, and Northbrook—are
conveniently located just minutes north of downtown Chicago,
along the shores of Lake Michigan. Along the region’s
picturesque shoreline is an area rich in renowned cultural
attractions, recreational activities, award-winning restaurants,
and five-star shopping.
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