Chicago Sightseeing

Welcome to the Chicago Sightseeing page!

Below you'll find information about Chicago sightseeing recommendations for the 2012 Conference:

Adler Planetarium

Address: 1300 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 922-7827
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekends
Cost: Varies, but approximately $28/adult, $22/child to see exhibits and 3-D or other show
Why: Telescopes and sundials dating back to the Renaissance, and a theatre experience that can make you feel like you’re traveling through super-novas and constellations.
Website: http://www.adlerplanetarium.org

Art Institute of Chicago

Address: 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603-6404
Phone: (312)443-3600
Hours: Monday – Wednesday from 10:30 to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10:30 to 8 p.m., Friday – Sunday from 10:30 to 5 p.m.
Cost: Adults/$18, Children, Students, and Seniors (65+)/$12
Why: One of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings in the world, and exhibits ranging from ancient artwork from Asia to modernist sculptures
Website: http://www.artic.edu

Field Museum

Address: 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605-2496
Phone: (312)922-9410
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (last admission is 4 p.m.)
Cost: ranges from $15-$29 per adult, $12/–$29 per child, depending on exhibits and access desired
Why: Sue, the world’s largest and most complete T. Rex, and collections in botony, geology (gems from around the world!) and anthropology
Website: http://www.fieldmuseum.org

Museum of Science and Industry

Address: 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: (773)684-1414
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: general admission – $15/adult, $10/Child, $14/Senior, with special exhibits and the IMAX movie available to “add on” for between $8–$10 a piece
Why: See U505, a real German WWII submarine, stand inside of a tornado, and see You! The Experience, which celebrates the connections between mind, body, and spirit
Website: http://www.mischicago.org/

Shedd Aquarium

Address: 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312)939-2438
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Expanded summer hours TBA)
Cost: Approximately $30/adults, $20/children, but prices vary based on shows and exhibits selected
Why: Sea horses to whales, featuring creatures from around the world, as well as the Oceanarium and a variety of special shows
Website: http://www.sheddaquarium.org

Lincoln Park Zoo

Address: 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (312) 742-2000
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekends
Cost: free
Why: A world of wildlife, just minutes north of downtown, featuring creatures from all over the world
Website: http://lpzoo.org

Chicago History Museum

Address: 1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (312) 642-4600
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $14/adult, $12/students 13-22 with ID, free for children 12 and under
Why: Exhibits on Chicago history, from President Lincoln’s connections to the city to “Unexpected Chicago,” with surprises from the museum’s over 22 million artifacts
Website: http://www.chicagohs.org

Navy Pier

Address: 500 East Grand Avenue
Phone: (312) 595-PIER or (800) 595-PIER
Hours: vary depending on venue
Cost: varies depending on attraction, venues selected
Why: A Ferris Wheel, Shakespeare Theatre, fireworks and more!
Website: http://www.navypier.com

Millennium Park

Address: located in the heart of downtown Chicago, bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the north and Monroe Drive to the south.
Phone:
Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost: free
Why: The “Bean” sculpture, elaborate gardens, 525 free events each year – Millennium Park is a 24.5-acre park featuring the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists, and designers.
Website: http://www.millenniumpark.org/

Chicago Architecture Foundation

Address: 224 South Michigan Avenue
Phone: (312)922-3432
Hours: vary, depending on tour selected
Cost: varies, depending on tour selected
Why: Chicago’s architect is world-renowned– CAF offers walking tours, and the CAF River Cruise features certified volunteer tour guides interpreting more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River.
Website: http://www.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=698

Additional Resources

Chicago Tourism Bureau – Chicago’s Official Tourism Website

Information on attractions, tours, and recreational activities in the city, with an “event finder” that is searchable by date
Click here for the website, http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en.html