GUIDE TO CHICAGO A proper intro to the city includes world-class museums, sky-high attractions, legendary eats, and more. Follow these must-do’s and it will be love at first sight. FIRST-TIMER’S Start in the heart of downtown on the Millennium Park Campus , where culture, art, and nature converge. Smile at your reflection in the mirror-like Cloud Gate sculpture (better known as “The Bean”) in Millennium Park , then reflect on Impressionist paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, and more at the Art Institute of Chicago . Across the street, the Chicago Cultural Center inspires with a maze of galleries and amazing architecture, while the nearby Harris Theater for Music and Dance welcomes international performers to the stage. Looking for a kid pleaser? Maggie Daley Park lets little ones shake their sillies out in the Play Garden on a huge ship, nature maze, and suspension bridge. Older kids will want to tackle the 40-foot-tall Climbing Wall . And everyone in the family will want to take a loop on the park’s Skating Ribbon , with scootering and rollerblading in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Be sure to check out the free Lincoln Park Zoo , home to a wide range of animals that include polar bears, monkeys, zebras, and more. Enjoy waterfront views on the Chicago Riverwalk . Watch boats coast by as you grab lunch at one of the many restaurants along the Riverwalk. Then get out on the water by setting off on a sightseeing cruise or kayak tour. The nearby Chicago Architecture Center presents fascinating exhibits and also hosts its own city walking tours, as well as acclaimed architecture cruises aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises . Get an up-close view of the city’s iconic movable bridges at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum , or let a Chicago Riverwalk InstaGreeter share their expertise on a free tour. Don’t leave without browsing The Ledge at Skydeck Chicago the local maker-focused Community Marketplace . As night falls, be wowed by Art on theMART ’s light, image, and sound shows, vibrantly displayed on the facade of the Merchandise Mart building. Let Navy Pier reel you in with attractions like the Chicago Children’s Museum , where kids climb through a schooner and dig up dino bones. Grab tickets to a show by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater , which stages classic and modern works by The Bard and his contemporaries. For breezy entertainment, be sure to ride the Pepsi Wave Swinger at Pier Park , embark on a boat cruise on Lake Michigan, or take a spin on the 200-foot-tall Centennial Wheel . Food and drinks are never far, with the Miller Lite Beer Garden and Offshore Rooftop & Bar (the largest rooftop lounge in the world!) located right on Navy Pier. Get your culture fix on the Museum Campus . Say hello to SUE, the largest and most complete T. rex ever discovered, at the Field Museum . Float through the galaxy in a domed sky theatre at the Adler Planetarium . Be mesmerized by the glow of jellyfish and dancing dolphins at the Shedd Aquarium . And if more aquatic adventures are calling, the Shoreline Sightseeing Water Taxi departs right from the Museum Campus. Experience Chicago’s vibrant theatre scene with Tony Award-winning shows and exciting world premieres. See a Broadway in Chicago BY KELLY AIGLON Cloud Gate Field Museum 8 choosechicago.com TOP TO BOTTOM: RANVESTEL PHOTOGRAPHIC; ADAM ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY; FIELD MUSEUM CHICAGO
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