Streets stretch out into the distance. Buildings stretch up into the clouds. When the wind kicks up and swirls around you in a magical dance you almost feel like you are starring in your own version of the Wizard of Oz. Chicago has a grand history involving illustrious sports teams, exceptional journalism, state-of-the-art construction, diverse ethnic groups, an illustrious musical heritage of jazz and blues, and so much more. Chicago is a feast for the eyes, ears, nose, and heart.
ATTRACTIONS, MUSEUMS, AND PARKS
Sears Tower Skydeck
Did you ever dream you could travel through four states in the blink of an eye? You can on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world. Look out through the panoramic observatory and you can see all of Chicago as well as Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Blink a few times just to prove this spectacular sight isn't a figment of your imagination.
If you can draw your attention away from the view long enough you will find a plethora of interactive museums detailing the history of Chicago and a small-scale version of the entire city. And if the height doesn't make you lose your appetite there are three gourmet restaurants and a food court with the same jaw-dropping view as the observatory. The Sears Tower Skydeck is your one chance to see the beautiful Chicago skyline from above the skyline.
Lincoln Park
Before it was a band, Lincoln Park was once the site of a gruesome shooting. Nefarious gangster John Dillinger was shot and killed by the FBI at the Biograph Theater in 1934. Since then, Lincoln Park has become Chicago's most popular neighborhood for family fun.
It has a great place to stroll or roller blade along Lake Michigan and houses a free zoo, one of the oldest but most modern in the country, featuring giant lizards, Galapagos turtles, and chimpanzees whose crayon drawings have been shown in galleries across the world. The Lincoln Park Zoo is also the world leader in gorilla breeding. Over three dozen have been bred there since 1970. None have become nefarious gangsters, respected artists, or famous rock bands.
Magnificent Mile
Olympians have to hurry through the mile. You will want to take your time once you've been introduced to the Magnificent Mile. Over 3,000 feet of shopping nirvana awaits you as you walk along Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lincoln Park. The mile is home to every type of store imaginable, from upscale shops one would expect to see on Rodeo Drive to tiny boutiques with tourist memorabilia. But the most famous building on the mile is the home of the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune Tower is a mammoth gothic structure with rocks from buildings and monuments from all over the world embedded into its base. The Magnificent Mile is quite a stretch of land. Just don't forget to stretch.
Navy Pier
You won't find any military personnel at this Navy Pier. The only people spending time here are fun families looking to have a great time. The pier is a giant dock housing restaurants, shops, English pubs, a movie theater, IMAX theater, the world's only stained glass window museum, a children's museum, an ice skating rink, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a 525-seat theater modeled after the Swan Theater in London, and an incredibly exciting 19-acre amusement park right on the water. There is also the Crystal Gardens, an acre-long indoor garden with palm trees, exotic flowers, and an exquisite view of the Chicago skyline. Joining the Navy was never this much fun.
Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is the only aquarium where the building is just as beautiful as the tropical fish it houses. It is one of the oldest public aquariums in the world with a breathtaking marble façade and monstrous pillars that remind visitors of a European palace.
Inside the attractive walls are over 200 tanks of more than 8,000 tropical fish, moray eels, sharks, and so much more, making it the world's largest indoor aquarium. The attached multi-level Oceanarium, a huge cluster of pools that seem to merge with a nearby lake, is the home to beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, and penguins. Shedd aquarium is the epitome of beauty, both in its design and the creatures that inhabit it.
MUSEUMS
Field Museum of Natural History
African animals, mummies, and dinosaurs - oh my! You'll have the sinking feeling you aren't in Chicago anymore when you step into the African plains, ancient Egypt, or the time of the dinosaurs.
There is a massive exhibit that seemingly transports you to crowded Johannesburg streets and rolling Sahara sand dunes. There is a perfectly recreated Egyptian burial chamber housing twenty-three real mummies. There is room after room of dinosaur fossils dating back tens of millions of years. But the beaming prom queen at this dance is Sue. Sue is the best example of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton found anywhere in the world. Once you've seen everything this museum has to offer you'll need to step through the exit doors to remember you're in 21st Century Chicago.
Art Institute of Chicago
There's a little bit of Paris right in the heart of Chicago. From the instantly recognizable bronze lions flanking the entrance to its collection of art dating back to as far as 5,000 years ago, the Art Institute of Chicago has become a staple of the city. Its impressionist and postimpressionist collection is second only to the Musee d'Orsey in Paris, but the museum also proudly displays modern art, Chinese jades, photography and textiles, architectural drawings and models, and even medieval armor. There are individual tours available as well as tours designed for small groups and classrooms or field trips. Bonjour de Chicago.
Sources:
http://www.chicagotraveler.com
(Accessed February 18, 2004)
http://www.chicago-travel-services.com/
(Accessed February 18, 2004)
http://www.lonelyplanet.com
(Accessed February 18, 2004)