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Architecture River Cruise
For first-time visitors to the city, there is no better introduction to the marvels of Chicago’s world-famous skyline than the ninety-minute boat tour given by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. While you cruise the Chicago River in an open-topped boat, a...
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Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute is full of treasures (including Grant Wood’s American Gothic and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks) but small enough to manage in an afternoon. Particularly impressive is its collection of more than 2,000 European paintings and sculptures, among them Impressionist...
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Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Fans of the great architect may feel the need to make a pilgrimage to Wright’s home and studio, where he lived and worked from 1889 to 1909. You can take a guided tour of the buildings, which were renovated by...
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Lincoln Park Zoo
One of the most appealing attributes of the Lincoln Park Zoo is that it’s free, so you don’t have to deal with tickets or lines but can simply stroll in and out at any of several entrances at your leisure....
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Millennium Park
Originally intended to coincide with the millennium, the much-anticipated park’s opening date kept being pushed further and further back as the plans became more complex and additional funds had to be raised. The result, unveiled in 2004, is magnificent—compact, so...
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Robie House
Designed in 1908 by Frank Lloyd Wright, Robie House is a—if not the—quintessential example of Prairie-style architecture. Its sweeping horizontal structure, open layout and cantilevered roof influenced generations of designers.
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Shedd Aquarium
Opened in 1930 by the president of Marshall Field and housed in a gorgeous Beaux Arts building on Lake Michigan, the Shedd is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, with 32,000 aquatic animals. In addition to piranhas,...
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The Loop Sculpture Walk
One of Chicago’s most beloved assets is its phenomenal public art, of which there’s a surprising amount. In the course of a twenty-minute stroll through the Loop, you can ogle more than a dozen enormous outdoor sculptures by the likes...
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The Second City
The famous improvisational show that trained comedy luminaries John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, John Candy, Mike Myers and Eugene Levy still garners praise. And with tickets rarely costing more than $29 a show, it’s a steal. Buy tickets online...
Chicago

Courtesy City of Chicago
With its world-class museums, kid-friendly attractions, historical monuments and architectural marvels, there’s plenty to bring repeat visitors back to Chicago. In the summer, the city’s lakefront beaches and beloved green spaces come to life, and there’s always something to do at night, be it catching a comedy show, hitting a jazz club or joining the raucous crowd at Wrigley Field.