Top 5 Things to Do in Chicago

So you just made it to Chicago, and are thinking of what to do? These are my top 5 things to do in Chicago based on my experiences. Make sure you check out our trip to Chicago here.

1. Art Institute of Chicago

The second-largest art museum in the United States, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago houses nearly 300,000 works of art. This was my highlight of my recent trip to Chicago. The place is humongous and there is so many to see. For those that have watched the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, you can see a lot of the scenes within the movie that were filmed in the museum.

I spent a whole day inside and got to see some notable works of art such as:

2. Check out the Chicago Skyline

A mixture of notable skyscrapers such as Sears Tower (Willis Tower), John Hancock Center, Trump International Tower, Chicago’s world famous architecture, the Chicago River, and Lake Michigan makes Chicago have one of the more picturesque skylines in the world. There are a lot of places to check out the skyline and my favourite place is at:

The Signature Lounge Bar at the John Hancock Center

An iconic tower, The John Hancock Center, was once the tallest building in Chicago reaching 1,128 ft (343.7 m). Because it is located outside the Loop, you will get a better view of the Chicago skyline. Your view will also include the Sears Tower (Willis Tower), which you will not get if you are in the Sears Tower. Head to the Signature Lounge Bar, where you can check out the views from the 96th floor. It is FREE to enter, but you will have to purchase a drink once you are there.

BONUS: If you’re a woman, check out the restroom, as it has an awesome view making a great bathroom experience.

3. The Second City

The Second City is an improv comedy theatre based in Chicago. It opened in 1959, and has since become one of the most influential comedy theatres in the world. Notable alumni include John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carrel, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Mike Myers, and many more.

I have been to their shows three times (1 in Toronto, 1 in a Norwegian Cruise, and 1 in Chicago) and had a blast each time I went. If you like to laugh like me, I highly recommend going!

Tickets start around $19 USD depending on times and the show.

4. Millennium Park and Grant Park

Both public parks are major tourist attractions located within the Loop and with good reasons. Both are amazing urban parks that showcase Chicago’s smart urban design and its modern architecture. The park is also home for Chicago’s most famous attraction, “The Bean”. This attractions is a good guess as the most Instagram-ed place in Chicago.

The parks offers many other famous public art such as the:

• Crown Fountain- a unique work of art that displays digital videos of people’s faces onto the skyscraper like fountain.
• Buckingham Fountain – one of the largest fountains in the world with regular water shows and evening color-light shows.
• The Pritzker Pavilion- designed by world famous Frank Gehry which hosts free concerts in the summer that visitors can enjoy.