Travelling to Chicago?
Check top tourist attractions in Chicago

Known as the Windy City, Chicago offers many attractions to anyone visiting the city. It is a busy city, full of life with beautiful beaches, some fantastic museums and great entertainment, including a number of worthwhile Blues clubs. Being the third largest city in the United States, Chicago also boasts plenty of shopping, art and nature. Chicago is home to the first modern skyscraper and is a must-see destination for those interested in 20th century architecture. Full of special events throughout the year, Chicago is an exciting city to spend time in.

Lincoln Park Zoo

At 1,200 acres, Lincoln Park Zoo is the largest park in Chicago. Besides for its vast array of animals, Lincoln Park Zoo provides a beautiful walk along wide shady paths, through flowering gardens and past stately Georgian Revival buildings. It is a free zoo and is home to 80 species of mammals, 70 species of reptiles and 75 species of birds. The Sun Bear's Children Zoo is a wonderful experience for little ones, offering a Treetop Canopy Adventure and hands-on fun. Another great exhibit for the kids is the Farm-in-the-Zoo experience with cow milking, butter churning and honey tasting.

For hotel rooms near the Lincoln Park Zoo, visit Chicago Hotels

Magnificent Mile

Magnificent Mile is a wide boulevard that can be found between the Chicago River and Lake Shore Drive at the Northern part of Michigan Avenue. The boulevard sports museums, restaurants, fancy hotels and exclusive shops. Also in the area, visitors can see the Michigan Avenue Bridge which was constructed in 1920 and landmarks such as the Tribune Tower and the John Hancock Center. Dubbed Magnificent Mile in 1947 by real estate developer, Arthur Rubloff, in an attempt to portray the elegance of the area, the name stuck.

At ChicagoHotels.org you can also find a special section about hotels near the Magnificent Mile.

Millennium Park

Millennium Park is a wonderful attraction that should not be missed, if only for its landscape design and architecture. At least once a week, concerts are held in the 4,000 seat concert venue, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Alternatively, the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance seats 1,500 people. The Crown Fountain is an innovative design that attracts adults and kids to its reflecting pool and video images. With no shortage of beautiful flowers and greenery, innovative architectural designs and entertainment facilities, visitors can spend hours strolling around Millennium Park.

Sears Tower

From 1974 when it was built until 1997, Sears Tower was the tallest building in the world, even surpassing the World Trade Center Towers by 25 meters. The building is made up of nine skyscrapers, or framed tubes. Visitors to the tower can enjoy an amazing view of Chicago from the skydeck – the Sears Tower's observation deck. Be sure not miss out on the Ledge- the glass balcony that makes up part of the skydeck and allows visitors to look straight down onto Chicago. In 2009, Sears Tower was renamed Willis Tower, but this name is struggling to stick.

Shedd Aquarium

A fabulous aquarium with several different exhibits, Shedd Aquarium is a must-see. It boasts a Caribbean Reef within a 90,000 gallon aquarium that houses around 70 different species. The 3 million gallon oceanarium aims to provide a look into sealife at the Pacific Northwest coast. It is home to white-sided dolphins, otters, seals and Beluga whales, among others. There are dolphin shows multiple times a day. From the aquarium, visitors will also be treated to a great view of Chicago's skyline and of Lake Michigan.