Chicago’s lakeshore is home to world class arts and music centers, bustling parks, and a thriving food scene.
To some visitors, The Loop and Downtown Chicago is the real Windy City. The square area which runs from Navy Pier to Shedd Aquarium on the lakeshore and from Goodman Theater to West Roosevelt on the river is home to some of Chicago’s biggest attractions. Put your walking shoes on, because there’s a lot to see.
Chicago Cultural Center, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the soaring Willis Tower are all here. Get a sense of the city’s architectural triumph from the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower or take a riverboat ride to get amazing views of the clusters of skyscrapers that make Chicago so special.
Explore Grant Park, known as “Chicago's Front Yard,” which is home to the enormous Rococo Buckingham Fountain. Then make your way to the smaller Millennium Park and stand with childlike wonder in front of the huge silver jellybean Cloud Gate sculpture. This modern installation really put Chicago back on the map when it was unveiled in 2006.
You see, as recently as the turn of the millennium, Chicago wasn’t the draw it is today. Its revival is due in no small part to the city’s commitment to arts and culture. Head down South Michigan Avenue to find incredible institutes, amazing museums, and events spaces. Over on Northerly Island, meanwhile, you’ll find the Planetarium and Field Museum. No matter when you visit, there will be arts and music events running across one or other of the parks.
Alternatively, take a break from all that learning for a splash around on the beach, if you’re here in summer. Come nightfall, the Loop is packed with places to enjoy: theaters, old-school Chicago taverns, seasonal restaurants, craft beer bars, and pizzerias. You don’t have to walk more than a block or two to find something you’ll love. It’s the best of Chicago in a more compact space.