Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6
Exploring Chicago
C
hicago may still be stereotyped as the home of sausage-loving,
overweight guys who babble on endlessly about “da Bears” or “da
Cubs,” but in reality the city offers some of the most sophisticated
cultural and entertainment options in the country. You'll have trou-
ble fitting in all of Chicago's museums, which offer everything from
action (the virtual-reality visit to the Milky Way galaxy at the Adler
Planetarium) to quiet contemplation (the Impressionist masterpieces
at the Art Institute of Chicago). Check out Sue, the biggest
T. r e x
fossil ever discovered, at the Field Museum of Natural History, or be
entranced by the colorful world of the Butterfly Haven at the Peggy
Notebaert Nature Museum. Stroll through picture-perfect Lincoln
Park Zoo on the Near North Side, and then enjoy the view from the
top of the Ferris wheel on historic Navy Pier.
Best of all, the majority of the places you'll want to visit are in or
near downtown, making it easy to plan your day and get from place
to place.
1 In & Around the Loop: The Art Institute,
the Sears Tower & Grant Park
The heart of the Loop is Chicago's business center, where you'll find
the Chicago Board of Trade (the world's largest commodities, futures,
and options exchange), Sears Tower, and some of the city's most
famous early skyscrapers. If you're looking for an authentic big-city
experience, wander the area on a weekday, when commuters are rush-
ing to catch trains and businesspeople are hustling to get to work.
THE TOP ATTRACTIONS IN THE LOOP
Art Institute of Chicago
You can't—and shouldn't—
miss the Art Institute. (You really have no excuse, since it's conve-
niently located right on Michigan Ave. in the heart of downtown.)
No matter what medium or century interests you, the Art Institute
has something in its collection to fit the bill. Japanese
ukiyo-e
prints,
ancient Egyptian bronzes, Greek vases, 19th-century British photog-
raphy, masterpieces by most of the greatest names in 20th-century
Kids
