Attractions in Chicago
Magnificent Mile
Chicago's answer to New York's Fifth Avenue. A bustling, pedestrian friendly high end shopper's paradise. It has at least 460 stores, 275 restaurants and 51 hotels. Address: Michigan Ave. Chicago River to Oak St
Architectural River Cruise
The Chicago Architecture Foundation offersan hour long cruise down the Chicago River, giving a history of Chicago Architecture with an enchanting view of the city. Address: Michigan Avenue & the River. Southeast corner of the bridge. Blue awning. Opening hours: Seasonal, see home page for more information.
Phone: +1 312.902.1500
Price: Price: $28-$30
Internet: www.cruisechicago.com
Art Institute of Chicago
World's largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of the Louvre in Paris, along with numeral special exhibitions. Address: 111 S. Michigan AvenueOpening hours: Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 10:30am-5pm; Thurs 10:30am-8pm; Sat & Sun 10am-5pm.
Phone: +1 312.443.3600
Internet: www.artic.edu/aic
The Field Museum
In 1997, Chicago's famous natural history museum, purchased Sue, the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered.
Address: 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Opening hours: 9am-5pm Daily
Phone: +1 312.922.9410
Internet: www.fieldmuseum.org
John G. Shedd Aquarium
The aquarium is the largest indoor aquarium in the world.
Address: 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
Opening hours: 9am-6pm Daily; Thursdays 9am-10pm
Phone: +1 312.939.2426
Internet: www.sheddaquarum.org
Navy Pier
A family attraction that features entertainment, amusement park rides, shopping, dining, lake front cruises, and more than 50 acres of gardens and parks.
Address: 600 E. Grand Avenue
Opening hours: Pier itself is always open. Shops & attractions vary in hours.
Phone: +1 .312.595.7437 (PIER) or +1.800.595.7437
Internet: www.navypier.com
Robie House
This 1909 creation is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous houses in the prairie style. Designated by Wright himself as "the cornerstone of modern architecture".
Address: 5757 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Opening hours: Tours only: Monday-Friday 11am, 1pm, 3pm;
Closed on Tuesday & Friday in February; Saturday & Sunday
11am-3.30pm; Saturday & Sunday 11am-3:30pm, every half hour.
Phone: +1 773.834.1847
Internet: www.wrightplus.org
Sears Tower
The tallest building in North America, and the third tallest building in the world. Stunning views!
Address: 233 S. Wacker Drive
Opening hours: May-September 10am-10pm daily; October-April 10am-8pm daily
Phone: +1 312.875.9696
Internet: www.thesearstower.com
Neighborhoods
The Loop
Downtown in Chicago is synonymous with the Loop. The Loop refers to a core of primarily commercial, governmental, and cultural buildings contained within a looping of elevated train tracks in the center city.
Downtown
Greater downtown Chicago extends beyond the Loop and is bounded by the Chicago River to the north and west, by Michigan Avenue to the east, and by Roosevelt Avenue to the south.
The North Side
North Michigan Avenue is known as the Magnificent Mile, from the bridge spanning the Chicago River to its northern tip at Oak Street. Many of the city's best hotels, shops, and restaurants are to be found on and around elegant North Michigan Avenue.
Old Town West of LaSalle Street, principally on North Wells Street between Division Street and North Avenue, is the residential district of Old Town, with some of the city's best-preserved historic homes.
Chinatown, Chicago
Chicago's large Chinese neighborhood is full of popular restaurants, nightclubs, and shops displaying Asian wares.
Lincoln Park
Chicago's most popular residential neighborhood is home to two major museums and one of the nation's oldest zoos. The area also contains many of Chicago's most popular nightclubs, restaurants, retail stores, and off-Loop theaters, including the nationally acclaimed Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Wrigleyville is the name given to the neighborhood in the vicinity of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.
The South Side
South Loop was Chicago's original "Gold Coast" in the late 19th century, with Prairie Avenue (now an historic district) as its most exclusive address. Cermak Road (where Chinatown begins), and from Lake Shore Drive west to the south branch of the Chicago River is one of the fast-growing residential neighborhoods in the city.