Catch a ton of fun Chicago things to do

Grant Park/Millennium Park Navy Pier Art Institute of Chicago Sears Tower Skydeck Shedd Aquarium Lincoln Park Zoo Adler Planetarium

Soldier Field. Built in honor of World War I veterans, Soldier Field is home to the Chicago Bears of the National Football League plus many other sporting events like professional soccer. The vast history of the venerable stadium is palpable.

A “doughboy” foot soldier statue greets visitors inside Gate O at the stadium’s south end. In addition, a dramatic Veteran’s Memorial water wall is located at the north entry point to the stadium to honor American veterans of all wars from every branch of service. For more information, visit www.soldierfield.net.

Grant Park/Millennium Park. Located between Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan, Grant Park is Chicago’s principal downtown park. In 2001, it was expanded to the north with the addition of the 93,000 square-meter MillenniumPark. The park includes an outdoor music pavilion, which can accommodate up to 14,000 people, an ice rink and a theater that was built below ground. A 935 foot-long footbridge connects the two parks. For more information, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.   [Top]

Navy Pier. A Chicago landmark since it first opened in 1916, Navy Pier was originally designed as both a shipping and recreational facility. Today it is a unique blend of restaurants and shops in addition to phenomenally popular attractions, including the 50,000-square-foot Chicago Children’s Museum, a 440-seat IMAX Theater and Crystal Gardens, a 32,000-square-foot indoor botanical park. For more information, visit www.navypier.com.   [Top]

Art Institute of Chicago. One of the world’s great art museums, the Art Institute of Chicago houses a collection spanning 5,000 years of artistic expression. Paintings, prints and drawings, sculptures, photographs, video, textiles, and architectural drawings and fragments are complemented by a year-round schedule of exhibitions. What’s more, the museum presents a plethora of educational programs on a daily basis, everything from lectures and workshops to performances and symposia. For more information, visit www.artic.edu.   [Top]

Sears Tower Skydeck. For the best view as well as the best overview of Chicago, there’s only one place to go-the Sears Tower Skydeck. At 1,353 feet, the Skydeck is the highest observatory in the city. On a clear day, you can see 40 to 50 miles, which includes breathtaking views of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.the-skydeck.com.   [Top]

Shedd Aquarium. The largest indoor aquarium in the world, 76-year-old Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium to maintain a permanent exhibition of both freshwater and saltwater fish. With the opening of the Oceanarium in 1991, Shedd nearly doubled in size. Its vivid recreation of the Northwest Pacific coastline became a model for both aquariums and natural history museums. For more information, visit www.sheddaquarium.org.   [Top]

Lincoln Park Zoo. Just minutes north of downtown Chicago, you’ll discover Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest zoological gardens in the country. A leader in wildlife conservation, community education and recreation, the 138-year-old zoo gives all those who visit a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gaze directly into the eyes of a western lowland gorilla and stand toe-to-toe with a black rhinoceros. For more information, visit www.lpzoo.com.   [Top]

Adler Planetarium. America’s first planetarium, the Adler is home to more than 35,000 square feet of exhibits. Each one provides the perfect passageway to explore the universe-from scale models of the Solar System to ancient astronomical instruments to interactive adventures. For more information, visit www.adlerplanetarium.org.   [Top]