Spend A Night With The Bluest People Around
The classic that is Blue Man Group has just a few homes across the US and Chicago is one them. One of the best things to do in Chicago at night would be to book yourself a ticket and grab a seat for one of the weirder theatrical performances youre likely to see in your life. For starters, everyone is blue.
Its a multimedia extravaganza that started as a creative disturbance put on by three friends in the Lower East Side of Manhattan when they put on a tiny parade, which involved burning a Rambo doll and a piece of the Berlin Wall. That strangeness persists. Be warned: front row seats are in a splash zone.
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library And Museum
One of four U.S. presidents to reside in Illinois before life in the White House, Abraham Lincoln was the nations 16th president and the leaders hometown of Springfield boasts the largest concentration of Lincoln sites in the state. At the Presidential Library and Museum, watch his entire life story play out under one roof from a TV control room on Election Night 1860, the Blue Room of the White House, an Indiana log cabin and Fords Theatre. Springfield, Illinois, 200 miles southwest of downtown
Enjoy The End Of Fall Colors
There are many places in and near Chicago to admire the beautiful autumn leaves. The peak time for the best fall foliage in Chicago is usually mid to late October but you can usually still see some fall colors in the first half of November. Update: Fall colors in the Chicago area are 1-2 weeks behind schedule this year, so there will be a lot more fall colors in early November than usual!
You can see fall colors at some of Chicagos most popular attractions including Cloud Gate in Millennium Park, the Chicago Riverwalk and Lincoln Park.
If you are willing to leave the city, you can find even more spectacular fall foliage in the suburbs. One of the best spots for fall colors in the suburbs is Morton Arboretum which is home to more than 4,000 different types of trees among 1,700 acres. They publish a weekly fall color report every Friday on their website. Dont miss Human+Nature, an outdoor art installation by renowned South African artist Daniel Popper which features five 15- to 26-foot-tall sculptures.
If you missed fall foliage in the Chicago area, head south. There will likely still be fall colors in other places of the Midwest early November making it a great time for a weekend getaway from Chicago.
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Ed Paschke Art Center
The work of legendary Chicago painter Ed Paschke is preserved at this Jefferson Park art center, and is open until 7pm every night.
Visitors can take either a staff-led tour or can check out an iPod and take a self-guided tour of the gallery.
You can find works from every period of Paschkes artistic career, and even a re-creation of his Howard Street studio including unfinished works of art left after his death in 2004.
Info: The gallery is located at 5415 W Higgins. Details can be found at
Marvel At The Acrobatics Of The Chicago Air & Water Show
Onlookers find themselves awe-stricken year after year at the annual Chicago Air & Water Show the most impressive of its kind across the country.
Grab a spot on the beach, tilt your head up to the sky, and hear the roar of the jet engines soaring overhead as military pilots perform astonishing stunts above the shimmering waters of Lake Michigan.
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Smoke Some Of Illinois Most Essential Legal Green
Who knew that just a few months after Illinois became the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, a full-blown public health emergency would bring our society to its knees? And, furthermore, can you imagine dealing with the past year-and-a-half without a little green? We dont even want to think about it, and you dont have to either. Deemed “essential” businesses with more than $1 billion in sales in 2020, legal weed is clearly here to stay in Illinois. Check out our full dispensary guide for all the hairy details.
Take Part In Chicagos Ongoing Pizza Renaissance
Chicagos world-renown pizza bonafides grew even stronger during the pandemic, with a wave of new pie-centric eateries opening up throughout this comfort food-crazed city. Check out recently opened hotspots like Pizza Friendly Pizza next to Empty Bottle, Pizza Lobo in Logan Square, PB& J in the West Loop, Pizzeria Portofino from Lettuce Entertain You, Pazza Pizza for pizza by-the-slice in Old Town, Detroit-style pies from Five Squared, and new deep dish entry Ruths Panmade Pizza from the folks behind Roots Handmade Pizza. Throw in offerings from Honey Butter and Hot Dougs at Piece and theres never been a better time to carbo load in Chicago.
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Acclaimed Productions: On Stage And At The Museum
Several of Chicago’s world-class museums are located in and around The Magnificent Mile district. New exhibits open all the time, and Chicago is frequently an exclusive stop in the United States for touring collections of art. Museums offer accessible pricing – and even free admission for Illinois residents on certain days of the week!
Be sure to plan a trip to the theater. Chicago stages visionary productions in innovative spaces, and welcomes touring productions and musicals from across the country. Plus, the city’s famous comedy scene will have you laughing the night away.
And of course, let’s not forget about Chicago’s winning sports teams!
If you are planning a trip and want to know what to see and where to visit, please use our comprehensive directory of the attractions, tours, live music, museums, sport teams, theaters and more things to do on The Magnificent Mile.
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Museum Of Science And Industry
Limitless inspiration for kids, the Museum of Science and Industry has show-stopping exhibits on an amazing scale.
The venue is the old Palace of Fine Arts, built in 1933 in Jackson Park for the Worlds Columbian Exposition.
Some of the jaw-dropping sights here are a full-size German U-505 submarine captured during the Second World War, the Pioneer Zephyr, a glorious stainless steel diesel locomotive from 1934 and the first Boeing 727 to enter commercial service.
Young scientists can wrap their heads around big concepts at the Science Storms exhibit, which has a Tesla coil, Foucault pendulum and Wimshurst machine.
There are relics from the Apollo missions at the Henry Crown Space Centre, while the central pavilion has a replica of a deep-shaft bituminous coal mine, in which youll take a mine train and see historic equipment from the 1930s.
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Get Free Access To Popular Attractions
OK. Admittedly purchasing a tourist discount passisn’t free, in fact, these passes can seem expensive.
However, the all-inclusive tourist passes include most of the city’s popular tourist attractions and tours, including hop-on-hop-off bus tours and boat cruises.
In fact, they usually offer over 80 options to choose from.
The object of these all-inclusive passes is to experience as many things in a day as you have time for.
These passes are sold in increments of days, and the longer the pass the less the daily cost is.
So, if you plan efficiently, you will end up getting free access to several tours and attractions.
Enjoy The Views At The John Hancock Center
The John Hancock Center is a massive skyscraper located on North Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. For me, the 100-story tall building, which stands at 1,127 feet tall, is one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the city.
Oh, and dont forget, you can head to 360 CHICAGO, an incredible observation deck on the 94th floor of the building, for breathtaking views of the city, Lake Michigan, and the Magnificent Mile.
Its really great at sunset or if theres really low fog. Sometimes, the viewing deck will actually be above the clouds. Its magical.
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Very Best Things To Do In Chicago
The US isnt just the more popular cities of NYC, Los Angeles and Nashville, there are so many more fun US cities that sometimes get overlooked when planning a trip to the US. This is why I wanted to share some of the very best things to do in Chicago, its a city that has so much going for it and is totally fun to boot!
Now, I know it can be a little difficult to whittle down a few key cities to visit in the US, especially if youre short on vacation time. After all, the sheer size and diversity of the US mean that one end of the country feels very different from the other. This is exactly why I wanted to share a few key tips on the best things to do in Chicago.
I loved visiting and Im already itching to get back to the windy city.
Perched on the banks of Lake Michigan, Chicago has some amazing places to see, especially when you visit for the very first time. Heck, theres still so many of the best things to do in Chicago even if youve visited a few times. Its the kinda city thats always changing and theres always something new popping up.
With that in mind, I wanted to share some of the best things to do in Chicago on your next visit. Have the best time!
Learn About Architecture At Frank Lloyd Wrights Home And Studio
As a noted visionary of American architecture who started his career in Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright is a treasure to the city.
He designed more than 1,000 structures in his lifetime, many of which still stand in Chicago to this day.
Theres no better way to get an in-depth view of his achievements than by touring his home and studio in Oak Park.
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Now Head Out And Have Some Fun
Chicago is full of energy, and that energy seems to surge when the sun goes down. Whether youre looking to enjoy the sights of the citys skyline, take in a basketball game or have a few laughs at a show, theres something in this town for everyone, including plenty of 24-hour things to do in Chicago.
This list of options only begins to scratch the surface of all the Windy City has to offer. And thats what makes it so outstanding. In addition to these one-of-a-kind experiences, Chicago is home to more than 200 theaters, 200 art galleries and 7,300 restaurants. Our city also houses 26 miles of lakefront, 15 miles of bathing beaches, 36 annual parades, 19 miles of lakefront bicycle paths and 552 parks.
At Bobbys Bike Hike, we pride ourselves on helping our customers enjoy the best our city has to offer. And we do that from the seat of a bicycle.
We cant wait to share our favorite city with you. Contact us today to book an Ultimate City Food Tour at Night by Bike or book an evening Bikes, Bites & Brews Tour. Discover for yourself what makes Chicago so special at night!
Visit The Neon And Light Museum
The new Museum of Neon and Light pop-up opened in September for limited run. Stand in, under and around 70 professional neon and light-based sculptures in a dazzling and dramatic immersive exhibition. The Neon and Light Museum is an expansion of the successful On Neon show presented here in 2020 by the Ken Saunders Gallery, which, since 1995, has exhibited important and innovative artists working with glass in the world.
When: Ends November 30, 2021.
Hours: Thursday-Friday: 4pm-10pm, Saturday: 11am10pm, Sunday: 11am6pm
Where: 325 West Huron, Chicago
Cost: $40 per person. Online reservations are required.
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Take A Free Walking Tour
There are a lot of interesting things to see in this city, and many of them are included on free walking tours.
We have pay-what-you-wish services covering a variety of subjects such as the architecture of the city, the Chicago Riverwalk, the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, and even a Ghost tour!
Check this list of free Chicago walking tours to find one youll enjoy.
Back In Time On A Prohibition Tour
The Windy City has always been known for its ties to the mob.
With a lively guide dressed as a Chicago gangster, visitors will zoom around town on a private bus, stopping into around 10 relevant sites like the Biograph Theater, Holy Name Cathedral, and St. Valentines Day Massacre.
Throughout the two-hour tour, youll hear all the stories of the decorated mobsters that ruled the town in the Prohibition Era .
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Race Against The Clock At An Escape Room
Race against the clock and put your teamwork and puzzle-solving skills to the test with an epic escape room challenge.
Visit The Escape Game and choose from gold hunting, prison breaks, heist mysteries, even rocketing to Mars, all within 60 minutes of non-stop excitement.
Think you have what it takes to bust out? Sign up for one of the most fun things to do in Chicago and find out!
Let The Kids Run Wild At The Chicago Childrens Museum
Located at Navy Pier, the Chicago Childrens Museum is regularly considered the premier kids museum nationwide.
The immersive attraction features a plethora of hands-on exhibits that the youngsters absolutely love perhaps none more so than the Dinosaur Expedition, where they can dig for bones and pretend to be archaeologists.
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Watch The Chicago Fire Soccer Team At Soldier Field
Soccer might not be the most popular sport in the US, but its fans are as loud and as passionate as any.
When visiting the Windy City, immerse yourself in that passion by attending a Chicago Fire match at Soldier Field.
If youre looking for a few hours to kill before kickoff, head to the Field Museum right next door.
Looking for more things to do in Chicago? Check out TourScanners full list of tours and activities in Chicago. If you know other cool places to visit in Chicago, do not hesitate to comment below.
Mob And Crime Bus Tour
Source: getyourguide.com
Now their misdeeds are in the distant past, theres no denying the fascination evoked by Chicagos prohibition-era mobsters.
Names like Al Capone, Bugs Moran and Dion Johnny Torrio remain household names.
The city has changed so much in the last century that youd never guess that benign looking neighbourhoods witnessed a bitter war that claimed scores of lives in the 1920s and 30s.
So you have to turn to local historians, and GetYourGuide.com offers a 90-minute Mob and Crime Bus Tour.
This uncovers the dark past of the Windy City, profiling notorious men like Capone and John Dillinger.
Youll visit the site of the Valentines Day Massacre and the Biograph Theatre, where Dillinger was gunned down by FBI agents.
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