Nandita Dutta 
There are several great places to visit in Chicago. The city is famed for its architecture and museums. Whether you want to spend your day walking around the downtown area or enjoying some water activities, you can find something to do for everyone in the area.
Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the largest science museums in the world. Located in Hyde Park, the museum features over three hundred thousand square feet of exhibits. Visitors can enjoy hands-on activities and live demonstrations. In addition to the more traditional exhibits, the museum often hosts special events and has a variety of temporary exhibits.
The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry is located in the former Palace of Fine Arts. This beautiful building was the site of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. It is now home to the museum and is located on eight acres of land in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.
The museum is open to the public Monday through Friday and Saturday. It offers a variety of hands-on and interactive experiences, including live science demonstrations, 3D movies, and an Omnimax Theater. There are also a number of temporary exhibits that draw visitors from around the globe.
One of the most popular exhibits at the museum is the U-505 Submarine. This submarine was part of the German navy during World War II. When the United States Navy sunk the sub, the Germans claimed that it had sunk as well. As a result, the submarine escaped American and Allied ships for weeks.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest art museums in the world. Its collections are internationally renowned. It features European, American, and Asian art. Moreover, it has the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of Paris.
The Art Institute of Chicago is home to works by Seurat, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Chagall. The collection also contains works by lesser-known artists from around the world.
The Art Institute of Chicago’s permanent collection is composed of more than 300,000 objects. Works of art include paintings, sculptures, photography, and decorative arts. In addition, the museum hosts more than 30 special exhibitions each year.
Since its establishment, the Art Institute of Chicago has expanded to accommodate its growing collection. As a result, it now has two wings: the Modern Wing and the Contemporary Wing. Each wing is dedicated to a different type of art.
The modern wing is located near the lakefront, providing visitors with scenic views of Monroe Harbor. Visitors can enjoy daily lectures and gallery tours. They can also view the works of artists like Gerhard Richter, Joan Mitchell, and Jackson Pollock.
The contemporary wing features installations by Jasper Johns and Cy Twombly. You can also explore Japanese screens by Tadao Ando.
Grant Park
Grant Park, located in Chicago’s Loop, is a massive, open space that includes gardens, fountains, and performance venues. Its southern section features stunning views of the lakefront. Aside from being the perfect place to watch the sunset, it is also home to several summer festivals and other cultural attractions.
Grant Park’s most popular area is Millennium Park. It features several attractions, including outdoor concerts, public art, and a crown fountain. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a large performance venue that hosts big concerts.
If you are a fan of music, then you should check out the Grant Park Music Festival, a large music festival held every summer. Other festivals in the park include Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza.
One of the world’s largest fountains is the Buckingham Fountain. This fountain is dedicated in memory of Clarence Buckingham. From May through October, it is filled with water and light displays. The water and light show happens every 20 minutes.
Another popular attraction is the Shedd Aquarium, which is one of the best aquariums in the world. In addition to aquatic life, visitors can see the work of contemporary artists and architects.
The Art Institute of Chicago is the largest art museum in the country. With more than 260,000 pieces, the museum is the perfect place to spend a day. You can also visit the museum’s modern wing, which houses contemporary masterpieces by artists such as Picasso, Dali, and Warhol.
Maggie Daley Park
Maggie Daley Park in Chicago is a unique addition to the city’s landscape. It is located in the Loop neighborhood of the city, adjacent to Millennium Park. This whimsy-filled park features a variety of recreational activities and is a great place to spend a family day.
During the summer, you can find free concerts in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. The park also hosts free kids’ movies. There are also outdoor contemporary sculpture displays.
The park also has an 18-hole miniature golf course. For $12, you can rent skates or scooters. In the winter, the skating ribbon is open for ice skating.
There are several other outdoor recreation activities in the area, including a climbing wall, an in-line skate track, and pirate-themed playgrounds. You can rent a locker for $2, or buy branded gear from the Rink Cafe.
Maggie Daley Park is also home to a three-acre Play Garden. Each playground is themed, and children can enjoy play areas for different age groups.
One of the most popular attractions at Maggie Daley Park is the outdoor rock climbing facility. Climbing walls are split into beginner and advanced levels. A quarter-mile skating ribbon is also available for use during the summer.
Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is one of the most popular places to visit in Chicago. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the aquarium boasts a wide variety of habitats and exhibits. As a matter of fact, the aquarium is home to over 8,000 aquatic animals.
For more than 80 years, the Shedd has been committed to the conservation of animals. This includes marine mammals, sharks, sea turtles, and other creatures. They also promote animal welfare and help protect the planet.
Shedd Aquarium is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. During the winter months, it closes at 5 PM. In addition to its various exhibits, the aquarium features live animal presentations. Visitors can touch stingrays and sea lions.
The Shedd Aquarium is a must-see for all families. It is located on Museum Campus, which also includes the Adler Planetarium and Field Museum.
The Shedd Aquarium offers a variety of activities, including a four-D experience. With the 4-D Experience, visitors can see a movie and then enjoy a splash. Another fun option is the Polar Play Zone, which has rockhopper penguins. These adorable birds have a special diet of seaweed and can grow to be up to 500 pounds.
Sky Rink
If you are in Chicago for the holiday season, you should make time to check out the newest and hottest ice skating rink in town. The rink is located on the fourth floor of the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. For a mere $7, you and your family can ice skate along the city’s iconic Michigan Avenue.
Not to be outdone, the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which is located inside Millennium Park, draws massive crowds on the weekends. Despite its throngs, the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is still one of the better skating rinks in the city. On the bright side, if you aren’t into skating, there are plenty of other things to do in the city.
In addition to the ice rink, the Peninsula Hotel offers a number of holiday programs, from a Christmas party to afternoon tea. You might even be able to spot Santa and Peter the Bear on your ice skate excursion. To top off the day, you can enjoy a hot mug of gluhwein at the on-site cafe. This rink is for ages 12 and older, but the hotel accepts donations for younger kids.
Besides being a great way to cool off and see the sights, ice skating is also a great form of exercise. Even if you can’t skate, you can get in some cardio exercise by strolling around the rink or taking in the views from the open air terrace.
Shoreline Sightseeing
Shoreline Sightseeing in Chicago offers a great way to see the city from the water. You can take a guided tour of the Chicago skyline, or choose a specialty cruise. The company has been running tours of the lakefront since 1939.
Aside from their classic Lake Michigan tours, Shoreline also offers themed cruises. They have a beer tasting cruise, Irish-themed cruises, and Oktoberfest Cruises. Depending on the day, guests can enjoy a live music performance on the boats.
Shoreline Sightseeing is a family-owned company that began in 1939. Today, the company operates the largest fleet of vessels in Chicago. This includes six water taxis and 11 touring vessels. These vessels are comfortable and clean, and offer passengers panoramic views of the Chicago skyline.
Tours include stories from expert guides who share in-depth knowledge of the history and architecture of Chicago’s landmark buildings. Visitors can see buildings designed by Mies van der Rohe, Helmut Jahn, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Guests can also explore the city by day, or by night. Nighttime tours give visitors a chance to experience the beauty of the city’s waterfront at night. During the summer, fireworks are displayed every evening at Navy Pier.