A stretch of the city's Michigan Avenue world-famous for its designer shopping, posh hotels and stunning lake views, the Magnificent Mile can occupy you for a few hours, or for your entire trip. The eight-story Water Tower Place alone, for example, boasts more than 100 shops and is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Water Tower Place
845 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
312-440-3166
shopwatertower.com
Wrigley Field, in the city's Lakeview neighborhood, has been a Chicago landmark for almost a century. It was built in 1914 and welcomed the Cubs two years later. If you visit between April and September, the regular season of major league baseball, your chances of catching a game are good--but Wrigley is a marvel to behold any time of year.
Wrigley Field
1060 W. Addison St.
Chicago, IL 60613
773-404-2827
mlb.mlb.com/chc/ballpark/index.jsp
A trip to the top of the former Sears Tower is worth it. At 1,353 feet, its Skydeck provides breathtaking views of the entire city, along with the four states adjacent to Illinois. The Skydeck is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, April through September, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. the rest of the year.
Sears/Willis Tower
233 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
312-875-9696
theskydeck.com
Great America theme park opened in 1976 in Chicago's Gurnee suburb under the Marriott brand. Since its purchase by Six Flags in 1984, the park has opened roller coasters, thrill ride and the Hurricane Harbor Water Park. The park opens at 10 a.m. from late April until October, during which it operates under the banner of "Fright Fest," a Halloween-themed celebration. Operation is daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day and weekend-only otherwise.
Six Flags Great America
1 Great America Parkway
Gurnee, IL 60031
847-249-4636
sixflags.com/greatamerica
Whether you come for the Ferris wheel, the food or the Cirque du Soleil shows, Navy Pier is at least an entire day's worth of Chicago activities. Jutting out into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is open year-round, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. between Memorial and Labor Days and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. the rest of the year, with closing postponed two hours on Friday and Saturday nights.
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
800-595-PIER (7437)
navypier.com
You'll know you've reached the Chicago Theatre once you see its trademark marquee which reads, not surprisingly, "CHICAGO." Depending on when you visit, you can choose between musicals, concerts or comedy evenings. No matter which show you see, you'll be astounded by grandeur and beauty to be found within.
The Chicago Theatre
175 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60601
312-795-0034
thechicagotheatre.com
The "largest Science Museum in the Western hemisphere," Chicago's Museum of Science and industry boasts an IMAX theater and interactive science experiments to supplement its world-class exhibitions. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. year-round, with the exception of Christmas Day.
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
773-684-1414
msichicago.org
Home to more than 1,200 animals, the Lincoln Park Zoo's residents encompass 230 of the world's species. The park includes a separate children's zoo and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round, except in winter, when it closes at 4:30 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays during the summer, when it stays open until 6 p.m.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60606
312-742-2000
lpzoo.com
Deciding the location of the best Chicago-style pizza in the city is no easy task. Thankfully, if you head to the Little Italy neighborhood, you'll have an easy pick of contenders. Although it's small, the community is so packed with restaurants, cafes and other Italian heritage that finding your way in can be a challenge. The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, a central and well-known landmark, is a useful jumping-off point.
Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii
1224 W. Lexington St.
Chicago, IL 60607
312-421-3757
ourladyofpompeii.org
Just as the length of a millennium can be confounding, the array of activities within Chicago's Millennium Park can be overwhelming--if you let them. Whether you prefer to lounge in any of the scenic gardens or under the avant-garde Jay Pritzer Pavilion, Millennium Park is an enjoyable excursion right in the city, open daily between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. year-round.
Millennium Park
55 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
312-742-5222
millenniumpark.org
