Eat BREAKFAST

0.5-1.0 hr stay

John Hancock Building & 360 Chicago ($$)

875 N Michigan Ave, chicago

360 Chicago is an observatory located on the 94th floor of the historic John Hancock Center in the heart of downtown Chicago. It offers breathtaking views of the city and Lake Michigan from over 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile. Visitors can also experience "The Tilt" for an additional fee; a series of floor-to-ceiling windows slowly tilt outside the building to 30°. There is also a Bar (CloudBar) to enjoy a drink (or two) while overlooking the view.

1.0-1.5 hr stay

Museum of Contemporary Art ($$)

220 E Chicago Ave, chicago

A contemporary art museum near Water Tower Place is one of the world's largest contemporary art venues. Visitors can experience the work and ideas of living artists and understand the historical, social, and cultural context. The museum includes sculpture, photography, dance, performance, and music. Museum's collection consists of more than 2,000 works, 2,500 artworks spanning media and movements from the 1920s to the present.

Eat LUNCH

1.0-3.0 hr stay

The Magnificent Mile (Free Entry)

Magnificent Mile, chicago

Visitors can see the Blue Man Group or House of Blues show. There is also "The Comedy Bar" for a fun time. The Chicago Cubs' official store is there if you are into sports. Many eateries are either along the Mile or on cross streets. There are some great street performances on the walkways. There are always some special events; check them out at https://www.themagnificentmile.com/things-to-do/events/ before you go. Endlessly high-end brand-name stores like LV, Burberry, Gucci, and more. Public Restrooms are available at 900 North Michigan Shops, Water Tower Place (835 N. Michigan Avenue), and The Shops at North Bridge (520 N. Michigan Avenue).

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1.0-2.0 hr stay

Shedd Aquarium ($$$)

1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr., chicago

Shedd Aquarium, a national historic landmark, has been home to more than 32,000 unique animals since 1930. It welcomes more than 2 million visitors to meet beluga whales and bluegills, rockhopper penguins and rockfish, alligators and an alligator snapping turtle, and so much more from the world's oceans, lakes, rivers, and reefs. Several permanent exhibits at Shedd include Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Stingray Touch, Oceanarium, Fantasea, One World, and 4D Theater.

Eat LUNCH

0.5-1.0 hr stay

Buckingham Fountain (Free Entry)

301 S. Columbus Dr., chicago

Buckingham fountain, one of the largest in the world, runs daily from early May through mid-October. Visitors can enjoy a major water display for 20 minutes every hour when the water goes 150 feet in the air. It is considered one of the finest ornamental fountains in America.

0.75-2.0 hr stay

Chicago Lakefront Trail (Free Entry)

Lakefront Trl, chicago

Chicago's 18-mile-long scenic Lakefront Trail is an 18-mile-long stretch that extends from Ardmore Street on the North Side to 71st Street on the South, connecting to great neighborhoods, parks, and beaches. The trail passes through Edgewater, Uptown, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, South Loop, and Hyde Park neighborhoods. Each neighborhood offers its own unique experiences and a lot of things to do. Visitors and locals enjoy walking, running, biking, and rollerblading on the trail. Popular places on the route include south park shore, Jackson park, promontory point, 31st street harbor, northerly island, grant park, Maggie Daley park, Ohio Street beach, North Ave beach, Lincoln Park zoo, Belmont harbor, Montrose beach, and Foster Beach.

0.5-1.5 hr stay

Chicago Riverwalk (Free Entry)

Riverwalk, chicago

The 1.25-mile path from the lakefront to Lake Street, Chicago Riverwalk, is an open, pedestrian waterfront located on the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. It connects four distinct districts; The Confluence, The Arcade, The Civic, and the Esplanade, with many places to stop and relax, various tours, and food vendors. The riverwalk offers glamorous architectural views of the city and refuge from the city's hustle and bustle.

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1.0-3.0 hr stay

Navy Pier (Free Entry)

600 E Grand Ave, chicago

Chicago's lakefront treasure, Navy Pier, is 50 acres of unparalleled attraction space. Nearly nine million people visit Navy Pier annually, making it the most visited attraction in Illinois and the Midwest. There are many indoor and outdoor attractions at Navy Pier, such as Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Children's Museum, impressively large Centennial Wheel, Carousel, Drop Tower, Navy Pier Beer Garden, and many more. You will also find shops, eateries, and theatres.

Eat LUNCH

1.5-2.0 hr stay

Chicago Architecture River Cruise ($$)

112 E. Wacker Drive, chicago

Chicago's riverboat architecture tours are well known among visitors and locals alike. The 90-minute tour discusses more than 50 famous historic and modern landmarks, including Willis Tower, Navy Pier, the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Merchandise Mart, Lyric Opera, 333 West Wacker, Marina City, and many more. The tour guide also tells the fascinating stories of how a small settlement grew into a world-famous Chicago city.

0.5-1.5 hr stay

The Second City (Price varies)

230 W North Ave, chicago

The improv comedy club has launched some of the biggest names in the business, including John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and about 500 others. They also offer improv lessons. The comedy shows are filled with never-ending laughter. There are many levels of shows, from amateur to professional, with their own charms. It is the oldest running improv club.

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1.0-2.0 hr stay

Lincoln Park (Free Entry)

N Lincoln Ave & W Fullerton Pkwy, chicago

Lincoln Park is one of the most affluent and picturesque neighborhoods in Chicago. It's a few stops from the city with many exciting places, including the namesake park (Lincoln Park), beach, restaurants, museums, theatres, shops, and bars. The neighborhood is home to the country's oldest free zoo. Visitors will enjoy the manicured gardens, many lakefront green spaces, and breathtaking city views.

Eat LUNCH

0.5-1.0 hr stay

North Ave Beach (Free Entry)

1600 N Lake Shore Dr., chicago

One of Chicago’s most famous beaches, it features a unique and popular beach house with 22,000 square feet of space that features something for everyone and is permanently docked along this beach. This sleek, ocean liner-inspired building, decked out in a crisp blue and white, boasts one of the best views in the city. The beach house has upper decks and portholes for looking at the magnificent horizon or the multitudes of bikers, runners, walkers, and rollerbladers streaming down the lakefront trail.

1.0-2.0 hr stay

Wicker Park (Free Entry)

N Damen Ave & N Milwaukee Ave, chicago

Wicker park is famous for being an artsy neighborhood that always has something cool going on. There is something for everyone, including unique shopping places, trendy restaurants, coffee houses, and bars. The neighborhood is home to the historic victorian style homes built between 1873 and 1903.

0.5-1.0 hr stay

The 606 (Free Entry)

1805 N Ridgeway Ave, chicago

The 606 is a former elevated rail line, the Bloomingdale Line, converted into a combination walking, jogging, and biking path from Ashland Avenue to North Ridgeway Avenue. The trail connects to ground-level neighborhood parks, an observatory, art installations, and other amenities. There is a lot to see architecturally, lovely plantings along the way, with many entrances and exits along the route.

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0.75-1.5 hr stay

Garfield Park Conservatory (Free Entry)

300 N Central Park Ave, chicago

One of the largest and most stunning conservatories was designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen and was opened to the public in April 1908. This two-acre "Landscape art under glass" occupies contains many permanent plant exhibits incorporating specimens from around the world. The beautiful glass building is separated by theme and temperature/ humidity. There is a room for desert plants, one for food-producing plants, and a treehouse room for kids. Beautiful specimen plants, exquisitely well maintained. There are also ten-acre outdoor gardens.

Eat LUNCH

0.5-2.0 hr stay

Music Box Theatre ($)

3733 N Southport Ave, chicago

Opened in 1929 with a capacity of 700 seats, Music Box has been a premier venue for independent and foreign films in Chicago for the last two decades and is the largest theatre space operated full-time in Chicago. The theatre has the same architecture and design as it was when it opened with a dark blue ceiling with twinkling stars and moving cloud formations as we see in the night sky. The walls, towers, and blue ceiling take the viewers to an Italian courtyard in an open-air Tuscan palazzo.

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