Artifact Center at Spertus Museum 618 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605, 312-322-1754, Children, as well as adults, will enjoy this hands-on archeological experience that lets visitors explore the mysteries of the ancient Middle East. Explore a 32 foot long hill called a "tel" or work on any of 12 digging sites with authentic tools to discover pottery and other replicas of real artifacts under the sand while visiting this center. more... 

Chicago Children's Museum 700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, Located at Navy Pier, 312-527-1000, A special place of education, exploration, and stimulation, this museum is the number one children's museum in Chicago and offers unique, hand-on exhibits and activities with permanent exhibits including the Dinosaur Expedition, Water Ways, Playmaze, and Treehouse. 

Hancock Observatory, The 875 North Michigan Avenue, Ninety-Fourth Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, Located at the John Hancock Center, 312-751-3675, 888-875-VIEW, This observatory towers over 1,000 feet above Chicago and features an open air Skywalk, the Midwest's highest open air experience, as well as a Chicago history wall, and 3-D talking telescopes that speak four languages and create startling real sound effects. Sky Tours which takes you on a personal audio tour of Chicago's incredible sights and remarkable history are available. more... 

Laser Quest 1524-C Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, IL 60515, 630-705-0500, Laser Quest is live action laser tag at its best. Enter the multi-level arena where fog, music and special effects combine to provide an incredible combination of tag and hide & seek. For family and group events, birthday parties or on your own, Laser Quest is interactive intense fun for ages 7-77.

Navy Pier 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-595-PIER, Visitors to this Chicago landmark will enjoy a ferris wheel, carousel, and Wave Swinger, as well as a children's museum, an IMAX theatre, an 18 hole miniature golf course, and boat ride tours. There are over 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, and attractions of every kind located at this popular attraction. more... 

Odyssey Fun World 19111 South Oak Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60477, Located in Tinley Park, 708-429-3800, Voted Chicago Southland's "Best Family Fun Center" and "Best Miniature Golf Course," this amusement center offers numerous indoor and outdoor attractions including 250 redemption and video games, a laser tag adventure, batting cages, a four level soft playland for children, 36 holes of Adventure Golf, two go-kart tracks, bumper boats, a KIDZ Adventure park, speed boats, and a cafe. more... 

Sears Tower Skydeck 233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, 312-875-9696, The tallest building in the world, this building stands over 1,700 feet tall and features a skydeck overlooking the west side of Chicago's downtown Loop. more... 

Shedd Aquarium 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, 312-939-2438, This aquarium opened in 1929 and is one of the oldest public aquariums. Over 6,000 aquatic animals representing more than 700 species from all parts of the world are featured inside the aquarium. 

Clarke House Museum (circa 1836) 1827 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616, Located in the Prairie Avenue Historic District, 312-326-1480, The oldest domestic structure in Chicago, this Greek Revival house was built by the Henry B. Clarke family and is filled with furnishings and wallpaper from the period. An informative time line is displayed in the basement that tells how the histories of the house and city are intertwined and tours are available Wednesday through Sunday. 

Cuneo Museum and Gardens (circa 1914) 1350 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60061, Located in Vernon Hills, 847-362-3042, Situated on 75 serene acres that includes lakes, fountains, formal gardens, antique classical statuary, a private nine hole golf course, and a conservatory housing exotic plants, this mansion has opulent Venetian style architecture and was built by architect Benjamin Marshall. Features of the mansion include double formal dining rooms, a 40 foot high great hall with arcaded balconies, a sky lighted ceiling, a grand staircase, and a private chapel with exquisite stained glass windows. An outstanding collection of Oriental rugs, silver, and sculptures is inside the mansion, as well as fine old master paintings and a custom made gilt grand piano. 

Frank Lloyd Wright's Frederick C. Robie House (circa 1910) 5757 Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, Located On the Campus of the University of Chicago, 773-834-1847, Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, this spectacular Prairie style house is considered an architectural masterpiece and features 174 exquisite art glass windows and doors. The house is a cornerstone of modern functional form and tours are available.  

Glessner House Museum (circa 1887) 1800 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616, Located in the Prairie Avenue Historic District, 312-326-1480, Explore Chicago's history and architecture by touring this magnificent house that was built by H.H. Richardson and is the only surviving Richardson building in the Midwest. This National Historic Landmark is filled with an outstanding collection of 19th and early 20th century furniture and decorative arts and docent guided tours are available Wednesday through Sunday. 

Old Saint Patrick's Church (circa 1853-1856) 700 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60661, 312-648-1021, Old St. Patrick’s was founded as the first English-speaking parish in the city. One of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the Romanesque style church is the oldest public building in the Chicago. Features of the magnificent building include 15 stained-glass windows, the “Faith, Hope & Charity” windows, and 12 side windows inspired by the Celtic designs of Ireland's Book of Kells. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

ABA Museum of Law 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-988-6222, This museum exhibits and documents famous trials in American history that shaped and shocked the nation. Sensational trials featured at this museum including the Lizzie Borden murders, the 1935 Lindbergh baby kidnapping and murder case, the O. J. Simpson murder trial, and the Oklahoma City bombing.  

Art Institute of Chicago 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603, 312-443-3600, Founded in 1879, The Art Institute of Chicago houses a collection spanning 5,000 years of artistic expression in medias such as paintings, prints and drawings, sculptures, photographs, videos, textiles, and architectural drawings and fragments during year round exhibits. The museum is also host to lectures, workshops, and performances throughout the year. more...

Brauer Museum of Art Valparaiso University Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL 46383, Located in Valparaiso, 219-464-5365, A nationally recognized collection of 19th and 20th century American art is showcased at this museum that focuses on American and international religious art. more...

Chicago Cultural Center 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602, 312-744-6630, Chicago's architectural showplace for the lively and visual arts, this landmark historic building also offers daily programs and exhibitions covering a wide range of the performing, visual, and literary arts. The center is available to rent for special events and occasions. more... 

David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, The 5550 South Greenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, Located on the Hyde Park Campus, 773-702-0200, A focal point for art in the Chicago area, this museum houses a permanent collection of over 8,000 objects that spans five centuries of both Western and Eastern civilizations. The collection features modern, contemporary, decorative, and East Asian art, as well as Old Master works.  more... 

DuSable Museum of African American History 740 East Fifty-Sixth Place, Chicago, IL 60637, 773-947-0600, Dedicated to the collection, preservation, study, and dissemination of the history and culture of Africans and Americans of African descent, this museum is the first and oldest independent museum in the nation. Various programs offered at this museum include exhibits, children's events, concerts, films, and literary discussions. more...

Field Museum, The 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, 312-922-9410, The largest and most complete T. Rex ever found is located at this museum that also contains the man-eating lions of Tsavo, featured in the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness." Visitors of this museum can also get a bug's-eye view in the Underground Adventure, descend into an Egyptian Tomb, and watch a glowing lava flow, as well as numerous other adventures. more... 

International Museum of Surgical Science 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610, 312-642-6502, Located in a historic landmark mansion, this museum contains over 10,000 objects related to the history of surgery with artifacts featured on all four floors of the mansion and displayed by either the country it came from or the discipline it represents. more... 

Jane Addams Hull House Museum 800 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60607, 312-413-5353, Commemorating the work of social welfare pioneer and peace advocate Jane Addams, this museum is housed in two original Hull-House buildings and is an internationally recognized symbol of multicultural understanding, educational innovation, and social service. This museum is filled with original furnishings, paintings, photographs, and rotating exhibits. more... 

Martin D'Arcy Gallery of Art, The 6525 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626, 773-508-2679, The only museum in Chicago that showcases Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art, this museum is situated on the north shore of Lake Michigan and features over 500 important works of art including paintings and decorative arts dating from 1150 to 1750. more... 

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum 1852 West Nineteenth Street, Chicago, IL 60608, Located in the Pilson/Little Village Community, 312-738-1503, Situated in the largest Mexican community in the Midwest, this museum showcases the art and culture of Mexico and features multiple exhibits, lectures, and special events. more... 

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, Located in the Magnificent Mile, 312-280-2660, MCA houses a magnificent collection of contemporary art since 1945. Medias include painting, sculpture, photography, video and film, and performance. This museum also features a gift store, bookstore, restaurant, a 300-seat theater, and a terraced sculpture garden.  more...

Terra Museum of American Art 664 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-664-3939, The collections of this museum highlight 19th and early 20th century American art with selections from the collections and special exhibitions on display throughout the year. more... 

Camp Sagawau 12545 West 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60439, Located in Lemont, 630-257-2045, A 12 acre dedicated nature preserve and environmental educational facility that features a canyon estimated to be 100,000 years old and offers a variety of seasonal programs to the public, as well as over 70 different nature education programs throughout the year. 

Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road, Chicago, IL 60022, Located in Glencoe, 847-835-5440, Situated on 385 serene acres, this relaxing venue features 23 spectacular gardens set on a series of islands and lakes that contain over two million plants. Three native habitat areas are also on site and year round exhibits, festivals, tours, and special events are held here. 

Garfield Park Conservatory 300 North Central Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624, 312-746-5100, Open year round, the Garfield Park Conservatory is the sister facility of the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Visitors will be able to enjoy its six greenhouses and two exhibition halls through self-guided or guided group tours. Room rentals are available for special occasions.  more...

Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center 2453 Vollmer Road, Chicago, IL 60461, Located in Olympia Fields, 708-481-2330, Home to diverse wildlife and habitats, this 37 acre nature preserve offers a wide variety of educational programs including environmental education, adventure education, corporate training, and outdoor recreation. 

Lincoln Park Zoo 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, 312-742-2000, At Lincoln Park Zoo you will find 70 species of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians with more than 2,300 individual animals. Adults and children will be fascinated with animals such as the Iranian leopard, spectacled bear, chinstrap penguin, pygmy hippopotamus, and the Allen's swamp monkey.  more...

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center 9800 South 104th Street, Chicago, IL 60480, Located in Willow Springs, 708-839-6897, Designed to educate visitors about the importance of wildlife and environment, this forest preserve nature center was once a schoolhouse built in 1886 and sits on land that was once a fruit orchard planted in 1806.

Plum Creek Nature Center 27064 Dutton Road, Chicago, IL 60401, Located in Beecher, 708-946-2216, 815-727-8700, A fine educational and recreational nature center that features local natural history exhibits and hands-on displays for children plus offers family programs throughout the year, camping, and picnic facilities. more...

Wolfe Wildlife Refuge 109th & Laramie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60453, Located in Oak Lawn Park District, 708-857-2200, Explore the natural beauty and animal habitats of this beautiful 45 acre wetlands preserve that offers visitors activities such as bird surveys, seed collections, and plantings. A children's playground, volleyball and basketball courts, picnic areas, and a walking path are also on site. 

Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum 1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, 312-922-STAR, 800-978-7890, "The first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere," this planetarium opened in 1930 and fuels the imagination of its visitors with exhibits and state-of-the-art computer technology. A renowned collection of historical astronomy artifacts are also on display. more... 

McDonald's-The Future at Navy Pier 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-832-1640, A wide range of laser light shows, videos, and gadgets to fascinate children of all ages is on site at this exciting and unique facility that also includes a 7,000 square feet of dining space and a retail counter that offers novelty and specialty items.  

Museum of Science and Industry 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637, 773-684-1414, The restored and converted Palace of Fine Arts, the last remaining major structure from the 1893 World's Fair, opened in 1933 to the public as the Museum of Science and Industry and was the first museum in North America to develop the idea of hands-on, interactive exhibits and it has remained a true Chicago site to visit. Its many interesting items on display include a working coal-mine shaft elevator from 1933, a WWII captured German submarine on the National Register of Historic Places, a 1914 Ford Model T, a British Spitfire WWII Fighter Plane, the Apollo 8 Spacecraft, and the world's first permanent exhibit on AIDS/HIV. more...

Cruise Chicago 330 North Wabash, Chicago, IL 60611, Cruise Chicago's Summer of George provides private chartered cruises of all kinds. Specializing in corporate meetings and social outings, they can accommodate any group size from 50-150. As each of their events is planned to their clients' unique taste, they will happily prepare a customized quote for your upcoming event. From formal dinner cruises to themed social outings, their experienced event coordinator will make your occasion one that you will not soon forget.

Chicago Architecture Foundation 224 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-922-TOUR, This foundation offers an exciting mix of over 65 tours, as well as exhibitions, lectures, and special events, that are designed to enhance the public's appreciation of Chicago's world famous architecture.  more... 

Chicago Neighborhood Tours 78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602, 312-742-1190, "Visit the World, One Neighborhood at a Time" with this tour company that offers interesting tours of specific areas in Chicago including tours of Uptown, Chinatown, Greek Town, Historic Bronzeville, Beverly Hills, Pullman, and Devon Avenue. 

Chicago Theater Stories Walking Tour Southwest Corner of Randolph & Michigan, 773-508-4894, A storytelling walking tour of the Chicago downtown theater district. Tours daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. Reservation required.  more...

Mystic Blue Cruises 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, Mystic Blue provides casual and fun dining cruises in Chicago.

Odyssey 401 East Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-321-7620, Climb aboard this elegant, climate controlled yacht for unique brunch, lunch, dinner, and moonlight cruises and enjoy sumptuous appetizers, entrees, and desserts while listening to the vibrant pulse of live music. 

Shoreline Sightseeing 474 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 3511, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-222-9328, A variety of tours are offered by this tour company including water taxi tours, skyline lake tours, and architecture cruises where you'll learn how Chicago architects pioneered many revolutionary building techniques. Event charters and group tours are also available.

Wendella Boat Tours 400 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-337-1446, "Chicago's original and most comprehensive boat tour," this tour company provides live narration of the famous sites and history of this city. They also operate a water taxi service, the city's original water transportation system.