Museums & Cultural Sights:
Chicago is home to many of the world's top museums. Some of the very best are:
The Art Institute of Chicago: A truly world class art museum containing a wide variety of collections. It has works of African, Asian, American, European, Ancient and contemporary artists. It is best known for it's extensive collection of Impressionist and Post Impressionist works. It includes works by such masters as Chagall, Monet, Picasso and Renoir. The Art Institute of Chicago also contains many great American paintings including possibly the two most famous, Grant Wood's American Gothic and Edward Hopper's NightHawks. The new wing which opened on May 16th greatly expands the art on display and is contained in a wonderful new building. The art in the new wing is modern and is not for everyone. Hours are 10:30-5 and admission is $16. There are occasional free days, currently Thursdays and Fridays from 5-9 are free, and if you show up late in the day they may let you in for a reduced admission.
www.artic.edu
The Field Museum:
A top of the line science and history museum which contains enough exhibits to fill a weeks worth of visits. It has things for people of all ages. The highlight is Sue the dinosaur which the museum purchased for $8.4 million and is the worlds most complete dinosaur skeleton. Some of the best collections are of animals, fossils, dinosaurs and Egypt, but the are many more good collections. The museum is also known for it's exceptional temporary exhibits. Some of the best have been about the Dead Sea Scrolls, Egypt and the Aztecs. The museum is open daily 9-5 and admission can vary, but the basic adult admission is $14 and children's is $9.
www.fieldmuseum.org
Shedd Aquarium: One of the largest and best aquariums in the world. The main attraction are: the oceanarium which contains dolphins and Beluga Whales, Amazon Rising with it's wide variety of fish, turtles, frogs and reptiles, the Wild Reef which has both small and large exhibits containing tiny fish all the way up to sharks. There are also many other smaller rooms with fish from all over the world. The aquarium is open 9-5 weekdays and 9-6 weekends. Admission is $18 for adults and $14 for children and there is an extra charge for the oceanarium. Lines can be very long in the summer so arrive early or skip the line by buying one of tourist cards such as Go Chicago.
www.sheddaquarium.org
Other Great Museums and Cultural Sights:
The Museum of Science and Industry: A family friendly museum whose main attractions are in keeping with the name. There are many hands on activities for kids. Some of the museums best attractions are a coal mine, an actual submarine and Omni Max and 3-D theaters. Hours are 9:30-4 everyday except Sunday when they are 11-4. Admission is $13 for adults and $9 for children. Some exhibits and shows are extra. There is free parking, for now, around the museum.
www.msichicago.org
Lincoln Park Zoo: A very good zoo especially considering it is free. The zoo contains a farm along with many indoor and outdoor exhibits. Some of the most exciting animals to see are two families of gorillas, chimpanzees, lions, tigers and bears. There are also kangaroos, seals, a red panda and many hundreds of other species. Hours tend to be 9-6 but change with the seasons.
www.lpzoo.com
Adler Planetarium: A look at the universe around us with many exhibits and 2 theaters. Hours are 9:30-4:30 Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children. Shows are extra. There is a great view of the city and lake from in front of Adler.
www.adlerplanetarium.org
Museum of Contemporary Art: An interesting collection of modern art. Certainly not everyone's cup of tea. It has a very nice gift shop.
www.mcachicago.org
Chicago History Museum: Better than most local history museums. It is an entertaining look at Chicago's often colorful history. Open 9:30-4:30. Entrance is $14.
www.chicagohs.org
Oriental Institute: A great collection of Egyptian and ancient middle eastern antiquities collected by the University of chicago that few Chicagoans know about. Open 10-6 with a reasonable $5 entrance fee. It can be a bit tricky to find. oi.uchicago.edu/museum
Other Sights:
Navy Pier: A family friendly indoor/outdoor attraction. Great city views and people watching offer free entertainment. There are surprisingly good fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday night during the summer. Navy Pier offers many dinning options from an upscale seafood restaurant to theme restaurants and a nice food court. It has good shopping opportunities for children, teenagers, and people looking for souvenirs. The Children's Museum gift shop is a personal favorite. Entertainment options abound and include rides, miniature golf, boat rides, theaters and a children's museum. Parking is crowded and overly expensive so consider taking a free trolley, city bus, taxi or walking.
www.navypier.com
Millennium Park: A fun place to spend a hour or two. Cloud Gate or "the bean" as local call it is well worth a look and along with Crown Fountain is a work of art children can appreciate. There are often free concerts in the pavilion and summer brings temporary art displays. While it is best in warm weather it is still nice and a lot less crowded in winter, when there is a skating rink.
www.millenniumpark.org
