There’s so much to see and do in the Windy City; you could never hope to do the city justice in one visit, unless you were planning on staying a month or so.
Most of us don’t have that luxury of time, though, so here are a few ideas on attractions that all offer a real flavour of Chicago.
Take Me Out to The Ball Game
Even if you don’t know much about the sport of baseball, a trip to the iconic Wrigley Field is a must-do! Everything about the the Chicago Cubs’ home stadium is photogenic and nostalgia-inducing. Located in Wrigleyville, you can take a tour of the stadium, catch a game, and explore the Park at Wrigley.
Source: Chicago Cubs via Facebook
You can book ahead, but it’s possible to walk up to buy tickets on the day of a game and find a variety of differently priced seats. It’s not a necessity, but knowing a little about the sport before you go to a game is a good idea. The Cubs won the MLB World Series in 2016 and though they’re not the favourites to win the 2017 World Series, bet365 odds on the Cubs winning it outright are still pretty high at +750, with favourites LA Dodgers available at +350 and the Cleveland Indians at +400.
Arrive in plenty of time and get a seat early so you can watch the team practice. Regardless of your knowledge of baseball, you can soak up the atmosphere – sitting in the bleachers with a beer and a hotdog while the game’s in play. If hotdogs, nachos and pretzels don’t appeal, you might be pleased to know that some of Chicago’s top chefs also run a rotating menu at Wrigley Field.
Just outside the stadium, there’s the Park at Wrigley where there’s a constant round of community events going on. Watch an outdoor movie, join a yoga class or poke around the Green City Market farmers’ market every Thursday from June to October (game days excepted).
Music, art and room to breathe in Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a great place to take in a slice of Chicago lifestyle. The 24.5 acre park plays host to events such as the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival and the Grant Park Music Festival every year. The Pritzker Pavilion provides plenty of free concerts when the big events aren’t taking place and it’s a great location to have a picnic dinner while the Millennium Park Summer Concert Series is on.
“interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plen” (CC BY 2.0) by squidish
Just wandering around Millennium Park is interesting enough in itself, with works of art such as Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate – a reflective sculpture that’s known locally as “The Bean” and the Jaume Plensa Crown Fountain. The Fountain celebrates Chicagoans with its two big screens showing photos of local faces seemingly spewing out the fountain water. During the summer, there are also temporary public art exhibitions on the Chase Promenades.
Take in the view from up high
Source: Davide Bergonzini – Photographer via Facebook
One thing you have to do from one vantage point or another in Chicago is take in the city’s magnificent skyline. Two of the best places to do this are the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck and Willis Tower’s Skydeck Chicago. If you’re wondering what happened to the Sears Tower, don’t worry, it’s still there – it was renamed as the Willis Tower in 2009, causing a lot of local outrage at the time.
Both decks give you fantastic views and it’s possible to see up to 55 miles in any direction from 360 CHICAGO on a clear day. Interactive screens aid identification of landmarks too. The Skydeck gets you nine floors higher and there’s the thrill opportunity of standing on The Ledge, a glass platform that sticks out beyond the building’s exterior.
Of course, these are just three of the highlights Chicago has to offer its visitors, but whatever you get up to in the Windy City, it’s sure to be a blast!
