Top-5 Chicago Attractions

Top-5 Chicago Attractions

By Tom Burton

Chicago is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world and there are several things to do in a day at the city. While students are resting their brains over the summer break, here are the five best things to do in the third largest city in the U.S. on a day trip.

5. Explore the Chicago waters.

Between Lake Michigan and all of the waters that run through the heart of the city, exploring Chicago via the water is a great activity for friends and family.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago Line Cruises offer boat tours along the water, according to odysseycruises.com. Odyssey dinner boat cruises are also offered. They are a great sightseeing opportunity and a good evening activity.

If boating is not your thing, spend time at one of the 24 beaches along the lake front of fresh-water Lake Michigan. City visitors have several opportunities to experience the Chicago waters.

4. Learn about animal life.

Chicago is the perfect tourist destination for animal lovers. The city has many different places to see and learn about different kinds of animals.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is a free admission establishment that offers opportunities to see animals such as hippos, zebras and much more. The zoo also offers the Kovler Seal Pool, where visitors can get up close and personal with seals, according to Lincoln Park Zoo’s website.

For those who prefer to be indoors, the Shedd Aquarium is one of the more popular tourist attractions in Chicago. The Shedd Aquarium is one of the world’s largest indoor aquariums that houses about 32,000 creatures, according to Shedd Aquarium’s main website.

Whichever types of animals, Chicago offers opportunities to see them and learn more about them.

3. Spend a day at Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is filled with amenities and activities to entertain a family for the whole day. Between the stores, restaurants and carnival rides, Navy Pier is a must-visit tourist attraction.

Navy pier is most iconic for its ferris wheel that stands at 196 feet, giving riders a scenic view of the entire city from the top of the ride. The pier also offers other family entertainment such as a miniature golf course and the Chicago Childrens Museum .

Adults can get in on the action with catching a movie at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater or variety of shops. If all these activities become exhausting, grab a refreshing drink at the Miller Lite Beer Garden.

Whatever activity it may be, Navy Pier accommodates to almost everyone and is worth at least one visit in a lifetime.

2. Attend a Chicago sporting event.

Chicago is a great sports town and nothing is better than rooting for your favorite Chicago sports team.

Spend the day watching your favorite baseball team at the brand-new Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, or the friendly confines of the newly-renovated Wrigley Field, home of the 2016 World-Series Champion Chicago Cubs.

After the 27th out, grab a bite to eat and head to the United Center to watch the six-time NBA-champion Chicago Bulls or the Chicago Blackhawks, who have three Stanley Cup wins since 2010. Chicago is passionate about their sports teams and nothing is better than feeling like a part of the action.

1. Visit a museum.

Chicago may be one of the best cities in the country at offering different options for viewing and learning new things. With museums such as the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Art Institute of Chicago, this city has almost everything to see.

The Field Museum is a historical museum that offers exhibits that showcase artifacts from multiple eras and destinations. One of their more popular exhibits is the Ancient Egypt exhibit, which includes a three-story Egyptian tomb and a depiction of life on the Nile river, according to the museum’s main website.

The Museum of Science and Industry showcases more than 35,000 artifacts and a variety of hands-on exhibits, according to the museum’s main website. The U-505 submarine exhibit was launched in 1997 and is a must-see during your trip to this museum.

A day in Chicago is not complete without a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, which is widely regarded as the top tourist destination in the city. The museum holds a large collection of more than 300,000 works from all over the world, according to the museum’s main website. The museum was built on a 14-acre former Palace of Fine Arts, which hosted the Columbian Exposition in 1893.