Things to do in Chicago

Chicago being a town with a booming tourist economy, there are plenty of visitor-friendly options: walking tours of famous architecture; boat cruises on Lake Michigan; even bus tours of infamous gangster locations. If you visit when the weather is nice, you can join the locals at the parks and the beaches along Lake Michigan.

Millennium Park

The newest addition to Chicagos wide open spaces within the city limits, this vast public space is home to many indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family. The McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink, for example, is good fun for everyone. The Peristyle is a duplication of the curving row of paired Greek columns that could be found on the corner of Grant Park, near Michigan and Randolph from 1917 to 1953. There is also an outdoor music pavilion, a public fountain, the Lurie Garden and much more.
Phone: +1 312 742 1168; website: http://www.millenniumpark.org/

North Avenue Beach

North Avenue Beach and Chess Pavilion are located close to Lincoln Park. The beach offers a pleasant place for tourists to swim, sunbathe and relax. Among the other attractions are the recently renovated North Avenue Beach House, providing snack bars and general facilities and an old chess pavilion nearby where many entertaining chess matches take place. North Avenue Beach can be found near the North Side district of Chicago, across the North Avenue Bridge.
Phone: +1 312 747 0832

Bah' House of Worship

The most popular of all the sights in the northern suburbs, the Bah' House of Worship is an ethereal structure that seems not of this earth. Designed by the French-Canadian Louis Bourgeois, the gleaming white building was completed in 1953 and is basically a towering 9-sided 135-foot dome, wrapped in a delicate lacy facade that discloses the Eastern influence of the Bah' faiths native Iran. It is one of only seven Bah' temples in the world, and the only one in the Western hemisphere. In 1978, the Bah House of Worship was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States government. Surrounded by formal gardens, the domes latticework is even more stunning as you look upward from the floor of the shelter, which is flooded with light during the day. Displays in the visitor centre downstairs explain the Bah' faith. Temple members conduct informal tours of the building and exhibits for anyone who asks.
Phone:1 800 22 UNITE ; website: www.us.bahai.org/how

Sears Tower Skydeck

A ride up to the Sears Tower Skydeck is a must for any visit to Chicago. Visitors can enjoy tremendous views of the city from the tallest building in North America. The citys rich history can be explored by means of the Skydecks new exhibits that bring the skyline to life. Begin your exploration on a multi-media elevator ride. You can learn more about Chicago with touch computers in six languages.
Phone: +1 312 875 9696; website: www.theskydeck.com

Lincoln Park Zoo

The zoo is home to lions, tigers, bears and hundreds of endangered and exotic species. This urban outdoor wildlife park is set in near-natural environments against the backdrop of the amazing Chicago skyline. The zoo features an ape house, a birdhouse and a 12-million dollar conservatory with rain forests, savannahs and deserts beneath a 45-foot high glass dome. Children are sure to enjoy the Childrens Zoo or the five-acre Farm-in-the-Zoo. After a stroll through the park, visit the zoo gift shops or have lunch or dinner at the Park Place Caf or the Gorilla Grill.
Phone: +1 312 742 2000; website; http://www.lpzoo.org

Chicago Botanic Garden

Regardless of its name, the first-rate Chicago Botanic Garden is located 25 miles north of the city in the suburb of Glencoe. This 385-acre living sanctuary features 8 large lagoons and a selection of distinct botanical landscapes, including Evening Island and the Gardens of the Great Basin. In the grounds are also a large fruit-and-vegetable garden and a 100-acre old-growth oak woodland. Seasonal exhibits celebrate nature and life indoors and out with special events, flower shows, art, guided walks, lectures, musical performances, plant sales and more. If youre here in the summer, dont miss the extensive rose gardens (just follow the bridal parties who flock here to get their pictures taken). The Botanic Garden also houses an exhibit hall, an auditorium, a museum, a library, education greenhouses, an outdoor pavilion, a carillon, a caf, a designated cycle path and a garden shop. Carillon concerts are held at 19:00, Monday evenings from late June through August.
Phone: +1 847 835 5440; website: www.chicago-botanic.org

The Hancock Observatory

Hancock Observatory is located in the John Hancock Center on Chicagos north side. The observatory is located on the 94th floor and is 1,000 feet above the ground.
Skywalk is the citys highest open-air viewing area and lets you feel and hear the Windy Citys vibrant hum from 1,000 feet in the air. An 80-foot History Wall traces Chicagos rise from marsh to metropolis. Other attractions include talking telescopes, interactive exhibits and audio Sky Tours.
Phone: +1 312 751 3681; website: www.hancockobservatory.com

Navy Pier

Built during WWI, this 3,000-foot-long pier served as a Navy training centre for pilots during WWII. Any military atmosphere has long disappeared now that the place has been transformed into a lively tourist hub. A mix of carnival, food court and boat jetty, the pier is an enjoyable place to stroll (if you dont mind crowds), but the best views of the city can be seen from its very end.
Phone: +1 312 595 PIER; website: www.navypier.com