Tours

Chicago is a city filled with cultural attractions; everything from the stunning architecture beginning at the top of Michigan Avenue, also known as the "magnificent mile" to the landscaped environs of Grant Park which hosts a food lovers paradise known as Taste of Chicago. Chicago is a city of contrasts, and despite it's appearance as an concrete mecca of art and architecture, the city has more than 7300 acres of parkland and over 550 different parks dispersed around town.

Magnificent Mile

Starting at the top of the avenue at Oak Street, the visitor can use the famous Drake Hotel as a point of reference. Going down the "magnificent mile" is an architectural paradise, after all, it was here in Chicago that the first skyscraper was built. The first imposing building at Chestnut Street is the John Hancock Center, here you can voyage 94 stories up to the observation deck and obtain the most amazing views of Chicago and on clear days you can even see Indiana. There is also a open-air skywalk where the visitor can understand more directly why Chicago is called the "Windy City". Further along, you will pass the Old Water Tower, one of the only buildings that survived the fires of 1871, it is made of limestone and has an interesting castle design. Across the street is the new Water Tower Place, a multi-level shopping center with more than 100 stores. At Chicago Avenue, if you feel like seeing a bit of contemporary art, hang a left and visit the Museum of Contemporary Art which specializes in works created after 1945. Before you reach the river, two of the most architecturally exquisite building are based, the Wrigley Building is a masterpiece. Built in 1920 by the chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley, it is actually two buildings and the interior is as beautiful as the exterior. On the other side there is the Tribune Tower, built in 1922, it is a gothic wonder with a little known outer wall, that has bricks and pieces from other buildings and structures around the world. Some stones come from the Great Wall in China, the Taj Mahal, Notre Dame and even the Alamo.

Lower Michigan Avenue

When passing over the river, (which is engineered to flow backwards, an engineering marvel) you will see the two flanks that create an impressive backdrop to the lower end of Michigan Avenue. On the left is the 333 North Michigan Building, completed in 1928, this art-deco inspired building is one of the most ignored buildings in Chicago. Across the street on the other flank there is the London Guarantee Building, another architectural masterpiece built during the 1920's. As you reach the corner of Randolph and Michigan, don't forget to stop by the Chicago Cultural Center, this building used to house the city's library and was the place of reception for diplomats. The interior's wide spaces make the visitor feel extremely small and the attention to detail is quite impressive. On the corner also is the Smurfit-Stone building, it is an unforgettable part of the Chicago skyline, it is the building that looks like the top is shaped as a diamond. Look out below during the winter as the sidewalk is blocked off when icicles 2 feet long come down!

Millenium Park

Across the street, Millennium Park as it is today is a park with many sculptures, walkways and a wonder of landscape design. It had not always been this way, it was a former rail yard and remained a blight for the downtown area until 1977, when the city's denizens lobbied for its transformation. Now there is more than 23 acres that hold outdoor concerts, art exhibitions and is a wonderful place to just stroll through, grab your skates during the winter and hop on the rink or admire the internationally renowned sculptures.

Art Institute

Some of the world's most famous paintings reside at the Art Institute. See Picasso, Chagall, Dali, armor, ceramics, sculpture, amongst art from around the world. And if you go, don't forget to visit the Thorne Miniature Rooms, this exhibit provides a glimpse in miniature of rooms and chambres throughout history. The attention to detail and exactitude is impeccable. Also as an adjunct to the more famous artists, a visit to the School of the Art Institute Gallery 2 is well worth the visit. These galleries display works from the students that attend the school. Further south go to the Clarence Buckingham Fountain for a picnic and enjoy magnificent skyline.

Museum Plaisance

Just south of the Loop, you will find the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, connected by a vast museum campus. Also included in this area is Soldier Field, where the city's beloved Chicago Bears play football. This 57-acre green space is a perfect place to relax, eat a picnic lunch and enjoy the brilliant lake views. A stroll around the Chicago Riverwalk, with its many restaurants, like Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, makes for a lovely afternoon. The Adler Planetarium provides a journey through space for the entire family. The planetarium has an interesting simulation for visitors that gives them a first-hand look at a voyage through our own Milky Way galaxy.

Down the way is the Shedd Aquarium, an aquatic paradise where you can see more than 650 species of fish, amongst other marine life. Similar to Sea World, you can watch marine mammals like dolphins interact with their trainers and sometimes with the public. The aquarium also has some great places to enjoy lunch while looking out over majestic Lake Michigan. On the other side of the park is the Field Museum, as you enter you will see the most complete fossilized skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex ever found, named "Sue" she menacingly greets visitors as they enter. Built in 1893, this was the Palace of Fine Arts during the World's Columbian Exposition and is dedicated to expanding knowledge of civilizations from pre-history up until the present. One day is simply not enough here, most visitors find that it is almost impossible to accomplish in this amount of time.

Hyde Park

This neighborhood on the near south side of Chicago is filled with interesting architecture and other delights that are sometimes hardly visited, even by the city's inhabitants. Home to the University of Chicago and the home of Barack Obama, the university is one of the best in the world, it has the accolade of creating the most Nobel laureates alongside with the notoriety of being the birthplace of the atomic bomb. The campus was created in 1881 and there are many intriguing sculptures throughout. Don't forget to stop by the Renaissance Society, an art gallery dedicated to the avant-garde and post modern movements. The Museum of Science and Industry certainly is that, with more than 350,000 square feet holding more than 800 exhibits. You can also catch a movie at the Omnimax theater, After a day of touring the museum, visit the neighboring Jackson Park. When you become hungry, a local favorite is the Calypso Cafe. One other must see is the Robie House, by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It has been called a masterpiece in modern home architecture and well worth the visit just for the windows alone. Another museum located in the Hyde Park area is the Oriental Institute Museum. This museum houses art from the near east and has an amazing collection of works from ancient Persia. The Hyde Park Art Center is another gallery to put on the "to do list" while in Hyde Park, since 1939 it has provided a space for artists throughout the city to express their creativity in the visual arts.

River North

In this neighborhood of Chicago, River North has the second largest amount of galleries in the country, outside of Manhattan. This area was a former warehouse district that became an art district which features galleries like the Carl Hammer Gallery and the David Leonardis Gallery, nearby grab a steak at Gene & Georgetti, this steakhouse is considered a Chicago landmark and a place to hob-nob with powerbrokers from City Hall. A visit to River North is not complete until you visit the The Merchandise Mart, once the largest building in the U.S. in terms of floor space (the Pentagon now holds this title), the "Merch" as it is affectionately known provides both retail and wholesale products to an international clientele. If it's comedy that your looking for, a little further outside of this neighborhood on Halstead Street, go and visit the world famous Second City, where an innumerable amount of actors and artists have honed their craft.

North Side

Visiting the north side of Chicago can take years to really see it all, since the amount of restaurants, galleries, shops, monuments and general points of interest are abundant. One favorite Chicago pastime is just strolling through Lincoln Park. There is also a free Zoo, a nature conservatory, rowing canals, bike paths and many other outlets from the concrete surroundings. Grab some lunch at Bacino's Pizza, then stop in the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. No tour of the north side is complete without visiting Wrigley Field, home to those lovable losers, the Chicago Cubs. This field is a veritable trip back in time, catching a ballgame during the summer is one of the rites of passage for any North sider. For the die-hard Cubs fan or even the general baseball one, the park provides a guided tour with Wrigley Field Tours, a 90 minute tour about 100 years and counting of losing baseball. The neighborhood of "Wrigleyville" is also a good place to grab a beer and enjoy one of the many restaurants in this nostalgic residential area. A little further north on Clark Street is Graceland Cemetery and Crematorium, this cemetery is Chicago's version of the Père Lachaise in Paris, all of Chicago famous are buried here and the architecture is amazing. For a more upbeat time, head over to the Vic Theatre and catch the "brew and view" where you can watch a film and drink cheap beers.

Loop

This part of town is known as the loop because of the "El" train that loops around the area. One fixture of this area is the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) where the views are stunning. Around the corner on Canal Street, visit Union Station which is a must for any lover of architecture. Two other architectural marvels in this area are the Monadnock Building and the Rookery Building, the former is still regarded as the first skyscraper in Chicago. Afterwards, go towards State Street and catch a show at the Chicago Theatre or grab some lunch at Mossant Bistro. The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture & Design and the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre are also nearby. At Daley Plaza, you can't miss the Picasso Statue, which resembles a baboon, it is a gift from the famous artist standing at over 50 feet tall.

There are many different ways to experience all that Chicago has to offer, from exploring on foot to signing up for tours with knowledgeable guides that will teach you about the diverse history of this incredible city. It has over seventy neighborhoods, so get started!

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