The third-largest city in the United States, Chicago offers a diverse range of tourist attractions. It's a thriving hub of history, culture, cuisine, and entertainment.
If you're an art lover, you'll want to check out the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago. It houses a massive collection of Impressionist and post-impressionist paintings from around the globe.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago, the second-largest museum in the United States, houses a world-class collection of art. From 5000-year-old Etruscan pottery to contemporary works by Andy Warhol, the Institute’s collections span cultures and time periods.
It’s also home to some of the city’s most recognizable paintings, including Marc Chagall’s America Windows and Georgia O’Keeffe’s Black Cross, New Mexico. Whether you’re an art lover or simply looking for a unique experience, the Art Institute is a must-visit on your trip to Chicago.
To make the most of your trip to the museum, book a guided tour that takes you through major highlights like Picasso’s Child’s Bath or Chagall’s America Windows. The expert guides are highly knowledgeable and will help you navigate your way through the halls.
Adler Planetarium
Located in the Museum Campus, this planetarium is a great place to go with your kids for an interactive learning experience. Founded in 1930, the Adler Planetarium has been inspiring guests to explore their universe for over 90 years.
With a focus on meaningful connections, the Adler connects people to the universe through innovative exhibitions, community partnerships, youth STEAM programs, neighborhood skywatching events and online citizen science. Through these experiences, guests gain confidence to explore the cosmos in their own neighborhoods and return home ready to think critically and creatively about their world.
The Adler Planetarium has two domed theaters, the Grainger Sky Theater and the Definiti Space Theater. The Grainger Sky Theater features a high-tech projection system and the Definiti Space Theater is all-digital and features a stunning panoramic view of the planets, galaxies and moons.
Shedd Aquarium
With over 8,000 aquatic animals living in a vast range of habitats, the Shedd Aquarium is one of the world's largest indoor aquariums and an amazing place to visit with the family. Located on Lake Michigan, Shedd Aquarium is part of Chicago's Museum Campus which also houses the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium.
It is a great place to learn about different ecosystems from around the globe, but also has exhibits that are specifically targeted at kids! My son loved the Polar Play Zone, where he could pretend to be penguins or submariners and touch the backs of starfish.
A few of the other exhibits include the Caribbean Reef, which features sharks, stingrays, and turtles. This exhibit also has a variety of galleries, each with its own theme.
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate, also known as “The Bean,” is one of Chicago’s most famous public attractions. It’s a stainless steel sculpture that reflects the city’s skyline.
It was designed by British artist Anish Kapoor and was installed in 2004 at the opening of Millennium Park. This 110-ton elliptical sculpture is forged from a seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates, which reflect Chicago’s skyline and the clouds above it.
The elliptical shape of the sculpture also provides an interesting perspective, allowing visitors to see the reflections in different angles. It’s also possible to touch the sculpture, which is an experience that you won’t want to miss.
The construction team faced numerous challenges in bringing Cloud Gate to life. For example, stainless steel can be prone to cracking and degrading if heated or cooled too quickly. Engineers had to look for a structure that could be built with less material and could expand or contract to accommodate the changing climate.
