Visiting Chicago's top tourist attractions, Millennium Park, Navy Pier and Lincoln Park Zoo, are great activities for a balmy summer day. But Chicago summers are not always mild; some days can be uncomfortably hot and humid. Winter weather is typically cold. Luckily, Chicago offers a plethora of indoor activities to please the 45.5 million tourists who visit annually.
Chicago has observation decks on two of its tallest buildings, Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower, and John Hancock. The Willis Tower observation deck provides a view of the city from the 103rd floor. A glass ledge, that extends 4.3 feet over the city, allows visitors to experience exhilarating views of the bustle below. The John Hancock Observatory is on the 94th floor and provides stunning views of Lake Michigan.
John Hancock Observatory
975 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago,IL 60611
888-875-8439
hancockobservatory.com
The Skydeck
233 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
312-875-9696
theskydeck.com
Take an indoor wilderness walk at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and also learn about birds, rivers, animal homes, farming and recycling. One of the most popular permanent exhibits at the museum is the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, a 2,700-square-foot greenhouse, filled with pools, flowers and trees. It is home to more than 75 species of butterflies.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
773-755-5100
naturemuseum.org
Fine art enthusiasts will find plenty of eye candy in Chicago art galleries and museums. The Art Institute of Chicago has an extensive collection, including works from Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh.
There are also scores of art galleries featuring cutting-edge art, as well as works from well-known artists, like Marc Chagall. There are galleries throughout the city, but most are in the River North, South Loop and Michigan Avenue areas.
Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603-6404
312-443-3600
Artic.edu
There are more than 100 theaters in Chicago, where visitors can see live drama, comedy, children's shows, Broadway musicals and performance art. Enjoy original comedy at Second City, where John Belushi, Bill Murray and Gilda Radner launched their careers. Second City is a training center for improvisational comedy; live shows feature topical comedy inspired by today's headlines.
Second City
1616 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60614
312-337-3992
secondcity.com
