ATTRACTIONS
Amusements
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... mapChicago 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. more... mapDeep River Waterpark
9001 East Lincoln Highway (US 30) • Crown Point, IN 46307
Located Within the Chicagoland Metro Area
219-947-7850
"The Indiana's premiere, Chicagoland's largest and the Midwest's favorite family waterpark." Generally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. They offer discount group rates, family packages, season passes, birthday packages, and private park rentals. more...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... mapNavy 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... mapOdyssey 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... mapSears 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... mapShedd 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. more... map
Historic Homes & Buildings
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. mapCuneo 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. more... mapFrank 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. more... mapGlessner 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. more... mapOld Saint Patrick's Church (circa 1853-1856)
700 West Adams Street • Chicago, IL 60661
312-648-1021
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 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 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. more... map
Museums & Galleries
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. mapArt 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... mapBrauer 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. mapDavid 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... mapDuSable 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
Part of a 57-acre lakefront museum campus that includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium, near Soldier Field, the Charter One Pavilion and Grant Park; the Field Museum was founded to house the biological and anthropological collections assembled for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Its collections of more than twenty million specimens have been amassed through world-wide expeditions, exchange, purchase, and gifts. The Field Museum has four gift stores. more... mapInternational 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... mapJane 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... mapMartin 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. mapMexican 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... mapMuseum 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... map
Parks, Gardens & Zoos
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. mapChicago 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. more... mapGarfield 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... mapIrons 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. more... mapLincoln Park Zoo
2001 North Clark Street • Chicago, IL 60614
312-742-2000
Visitors will find several species of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians with more than 2,300 individual animals at Lincoln Park Zoo, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Adults and children will be fascinated with such animals as the snow leopard, spectacled bear, chinstrap penguin, pygmy hippopotamus, and the Allen's swamp monkey. Accommodating up to 50 riders, the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel features 48 artisan-crafted wooden animals and two chariots. more... mapLittle 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. more...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. map
Science & Technology
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... mapMcDonald'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. mapMuseum 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... map
Tours & Cruises
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. more... mapChicago 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... mapChicago 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. more... mapChicago 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. more... mapPresidential Bike Tour
740 East 56th Place • Chicago, IL 60637
DuSable Museum
312-729-1000
Ride in the footsteps of Chicago's favorite son, Barack Obama, and learn about the 44th President's amazing journey to the White House. This easy riding 2.5 hour bike tour is fun, educational, and inspiring. Leaves from Millenium Park at 9:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Leaves from the DuSable Museum at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. more...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. more... mapWendella 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. more... map
Vineyards, Wineries & Breweries
Goose Island Brewing Company
1800 W. Fulton • Chicago, IL 60612
Since 1988 Goose Island has consistently brewed Chicago's finest and freshest hand-crafted ales and lagers. Brewermeister, Greg Hall, produces a variety of unmatched seasonal brews, as well as classic standards. more... map
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