Some tourist attractions are overrated, overcrowded, and a major letdown to visit. These are just the opposite. Here are six of the best Chicago tourist attractions that are worth your time.
Willis Tower
To some locals, it’s cool to bash the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, but that’s kooky talk. This is the tallest building in North America, and the views from the Skydeck on the 103rd floor are incredible.
Especially since 2009, when they installed glass balconies extending four feet out from the building. These allow visitors to walk out into the air and look 1,353 feet down to the street. You can take some really cool pictures out there.
Some folks prefer the John Hancock Observatory, which has a restaurant/bar (and even an ice skating rink) on one of its upper floors. You can’t go wrong with either the Hancock or the Willis.
The Bean
The Cloud Gate Sculpture, or the “Bean,” opened in 2006 and sits in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. It’s 66 feet across and is composed of stainless steel plates melded together so that no seams are visible.
The Bean has a silver liquid feel that was inspired by mercury. You can have tons of fun taking photos of the warped reflections of the skyline and of the people walking near it. The views of the Bean at night are some of the coolest Chicago photos you’ll ever see.
Lincoln Park Zoo
If you have a thing for animals, stop by one of the best free zoos in the nation. The 35-acre Lincoln Park Zoo is not the most massive zoo in the world, but it houses most of the coolest figures from the animal kingdom, including monkeys, gorillas, polar bears, black bears, giraffes, lions, tigers, rhinos, snakes, ostriches and penguins.
The Lincoln Park Zoo is open 365 days a year, so it’s a great free thing to do in Chicago on a holiday or during winter. And the zoo is just a short walk from Lake Michigan, so you can also stroll over to the lakefront to get some great views of the water and the downtown skyline while you’re here.
Garfield Park Conservatory
It took me a while to make a trip over here, because flowers don’t do a lot for me. But the Garfield Park Conservatory is so much more than flowers. The Fern Room shows how Chicago might have looked millions of years ago, a wet land with towering green trees and ferns everywhere. You can see cacti from various countries around the world, fruit trees from tropical climates (bananas, anyone?), and, yes, pretty flowers as well.
The Conservatory suffered damage during a 2011 hailstorm but is still open and free to the public, and they even have a free parking lot, which is rare in this city.
The Art Institute of Chicago
As I mentioned during last week’s Chicago Museum Guide post, the Art Institute is the art museum to visit even if you’re not a fan of art museums. It’s pretty strange to be walking around seeing all these iconic paintings that you used to study in Humanities class. You can literally spend hours at the Art Institute. It’s near the Bean in the center of downtown, so there’s no reason not to stop by!
Wrigley Field
Established in 1914, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest park in baseball. With its ivy-covered walls and relatively small capacity, the park has an old-time feel. The place didn’t even have lights until 1988.
Even though the Cubs are pathetic as a franchise (yeah, I said it), having not won a World Series championship since 1908, taking in a Cubs game is a great experience just for the atmosphere and the history.
Oh goody, I’ve made it one – the Art Institute. I’d love to see the Sears Tower and the Bean.
InsideJourneys recently posted..Weekly Photo Challenge: Two Subjects
Don’t miss the Bean!
Love it that the city offers all kinds of free attractions that sound so great, so that everyone can enjoy. And it must have been interesting seeing how Chicago might have looked millions of years ago.
Ayelet – All Colores recently posted..Art on Electricity Cabinets in Netanya, Israel
I think all the free stuff that happens here might be partially responsible for the city’s budget problems, but at least we as visitors get to enjoy the free sights
Great to see Wrigley Field on your list – watching a baseball game there is always a MUST for us when we’re in Chicago!
Dani | Globetrottergirls recently posted..Jumping Into the “Travel Closet” in Egypt
I’m taking in my first White Sox game later this month, so that will be an interesting comparison!
Some of my favorite spots in Chicago, Scott. However, last time I was in the Willis Tower it was still the Sears Tower. Great views from there.
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..Cruising San Francisco Bay
Most people still do call it Sears.
Ah, the bean. I’d love to play around with taking photos in its reflection. I know Wrigley Field is maybe Chicago’s most popular attraction, I’d go for the bean.
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The only problem with Bean photos is there are always tons of people around it. Fewer at night, though.