Are you in Chicago for a conference or a business meeting and want to make the most out of your visit? Looking for a great place to stay or seeking to visit the famous tourist attractions in Chicago? Then this article is for you, as I present some of the more worthwhile places to stay in, dine at and visit in downtown Chicago.
Chicago has been ranked as the best city to live in, with nearly 3 million inhabitants and over 44.17 million more coming in to visit and see the sights. It is the largest city in the Midwest and the third largest city in the United States. Home to the Bears, the Bulls, the Blackhawks, the Cubs and the White Sox, Chicago offers not only a variety of sports but also different tourist attractions. Top destinations include the Navy Pier, with its shops, lake tours and children’s museums, Millennium Park and Buckingham Fountain. Chicago offers a range of museums, theaters and musicals as well as a world class shopping district.
Speaking of shopping, if you are interested in shopping ‘till you drop, then try visiting the Magnificent Mile, particularly the Water Tower Place located at 835 N. Michigan Avenue which offers over one hundred outlets and boutiques along with cafes and high-end stores. In fact majority of the Michigan north end area offers a variety of shops not only for the rich and famous but also to those looking for a good bargain. The Magnificent Mile is truly the ultimate shopper’s paradise.
Aside from a selection of restaurants, shops and magnificent architecture, the 3,000 feet long Navy Pier also houses a 46 meter or 150 feet tall Ferris Wheel located at the north of Grant Park. It attracts nearly eight million tourists annually. The Museum Campus, which opened in 1998, also continuously draws a crowd as it is home to three of the major museums in Chicago: the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. If you want your kids to enjoy the colossal fish tanks with exotic sea creatures and dolphin shows then bring them to the Shedd Aquarium which offers a variety of animals the parents will enjoy too. The Adler Planetarium is perfect for admiring natural beauty as it an observatory that overlooks the lake. The Field Museum showcases an educational experience of rare artifacts from all over the world with dinosaurs and sometimes even special exhibits such as the King Tutankhamun exhibit.
If you are looking to witness a magnificent art collection then try the Art Institute of Chicago located at the southern part of the Grant Park adjacent to the Museum Campus. The Art Institute presents masterpieces from the impressionist era of Monet and Seurat to the more modern pieces of Hopper and Warhol. Unique art pieces from the Renaissance and medieval Europe are also presented. Visiting Chicago is incomplete without first trying out the theater district which offers a wide selection of Broadway shows, dance acts and ballet performances.
No one can tour all of Chicago in just one day or even one weekend that is why I hope I helped in guiding your Chicago experience. Happy vacation!
