Ten Places I'd Like to Visit in Chicago

Chicago has so many attractions to see, so it took a bit of research to see which places I most wanted to visit. Eventually, I narrowed it down to these ten:

Shedd Aquarium

1.    Shedd Aquarium

Once the largest indoor aquarium in the world, it was also the most visited aquarium in the country in 2005 and was the most popular cultural attraction in Chicago in 2007. The aquarium received awards for best exhibit from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for Amazon Rising in 2001, Wild Reef in 2004, and Seahorse Symphony in 1999. I love sea creatures, especially turtles, and would want to visit a place that houses them.

2.    Willis Tower

One of the tallest buildings in the world, Willis Tower stands at 108 stories and 1,451 feet. Besides space for companies and businesses, its views over Chicago (such as the Skydeck), make it a popular place for tourists to visit. I’d love to visit the thrilling Skydeck and see Chicago from above.

The Tilt

3.      360 Chicago

The fourth tallest building in Chicago, 360 Chicago (formerly known as the John Hancock Center) stands 100 stories, 1,127 feet tall. It houses offices, restaurants, condos, America’s highest indoor swimming pool, the Observatory (an attraction that has Chicago’s only open-air SkyWalk), and a new attraction, the Tilt (a window that extends outwards from 1,000 feet). I’d love to visit just for the thrill of walking on the SkyWalk and tilting over The Magnificent Mile.

4.      The Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile is considered a melting pot of global flavors and offers a variety of restaurants to choose from. Bars, cafés, gourmet and casual restaurants offer American, Italian, Asian, French, Indian cuisine, among others. Eating Chicago’s cheesy-caramel popcorn mix, traditional Chicago hot dogs, and deep dish pizzas at the Magnificent Mile are definitely on my to-do list.  

The Magnificent Mile and the types of food you can eat

5.      The Field Museum of Natural History

One of the largest natural history museums in the world, the Field Museum has diverse, high quality exhibitions feature the earliest fossils, past and current cultures, and interactive programming to demonstrate our present conservation needs. In Chicago, I’d enjoy seeing the museum’s extensive artifact collection.

Navy Pier

6.      Navy Pier

Chicago’s number one tourist attraction, Navy Pier runs 3,300 feet along Lake Michigan. Today, attractions at Navy Pier include sightseeing tours, dinner cruises, fireworks, fairs, expositions, and seasonal festivals. I’ll make it a point to visit Navy Pier when at Chicago, to visit the Chicago Children’s Museum and watch fireworks.

7.      Art Institute of Chicago

An art museum in Grant Park, the Art Institute in Chicago holds Impressionist, American, Asian, and modern art, among others. It is the second largest art museum in the U.S. I’d love to visit to see the various art pieces they hold.

Millennium Park

8.      Millennium Park

Considered the world’s largest rooftop garden, Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago. It features several public art and has received awards for its green design and accessibility. After seeing pictures of Millennium Park, I’d love to see the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the Cloud Gate, and the Crown Fountain, some of the many famous attractions there.

9.      Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

The mission of America’s first planetarium, the Adler, is to inspire understanding and exploration of the universe. To do so, it has three full size theaters, space science exhibitions, and antique scientific instruments. In 1931 it was given the gold medal of the American Institute of Architects and was named a National Historic Landmark in 1987. After hearing about the Doane Observatory, where people can see planets, stars, and galaxies in person, I’d love to visit.

10.  Cadillac Palace Theatre

Located in the heart of the Theatre district, the Cadillac Palace Theatre shows extremely popular Broadway musicals such asThe Lion King, Les Miserables, and Wicked. The Last Ship and Charlotte’s Web are two shows that will be playing during our stay in Chicago. I hope the Chicago cohort will be able to watch a play or musical there!

 

The Cadillac Palace Theatre