Chicago Office of Tourism 78 E. Washington St. Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 744-2400 Population 2783726 Time Zone Central Latitude/Longitude 41.85° /-87.65° Today's Forecast HIGH: 64 LOW: 49

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Attractions

Chicago's hottest tourist draw continues to be Navy Pier. Marked by its enormous Ferris wheel, Navy Pier boasts of multiple gardens and outdoor stages, boat tours and children's rides, restaurants, shops and an IMAX theater, and its the home of the Chicago Children's Museum and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Lake Michigan cruises offer fabulous views of the skyline and the city's famous skyscrapers. Sightseeing boats also board at docks along the Chicago River nearer Michigan Avenue. Back on land, see Chicago's historic buildings up close through the excellent tours of landmark structures that are offered at the Chicago Architecture Foundation's ArchiCenter.

Clustered on the museum campus at the south end of Grant Park, the Field Museum of Natural History, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium offer a wide variety of compelling exhibits. Further south, in the area of the University of Chicago, you can visit the U-boat, coal mine and other favorites at the Museum of Science and Industry. In the Lincoln Park area, on the city's north side, are the newly reorganized Chicago History Museum, the Notebaert Nature Museum, and Lincoln Park Zoo, one of a handful of zoos in the country that still offer free admission. The city's ethnically oriented museums include the DuSable Museum of African-American History, the Spertus Museum of Judaica, the Polish Museum of America, and the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture.

Chicago is home to the distinguished Chicago Symphony Orchestra, acclaimed in Europe as the world's best. Opera enthusiasts should make their way to the Civic Opera House, home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Theater lovers will discover classics and new works being performed at The Goodman, Steppenwolf, and the plethora of storefront theaters where budding writers and directors experiment with new approaches and seasoned performers hone their technique. Big-time touring productions, Broadway tryouts and long-running hits like Wicked appear at ornate Loop venues like the Cadillac Palace, LaSalle Bank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, and Auditorium Theatre.

Big league sports have been hot in Chicago for over a century. One of the nation's great sentimental favorites, the Chicago Cubs play at venerable Wrigley Field, while southside baseball is represented by 2005 World Series champs the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Soldier Field was so thoroughly modified that it lost its landmark status but as long as the Bears are winning no one seems to mind. The United Center features home games by the NBA Bulls and the NHL Black Hawks. Hockey fans can also head to Rosemont to see AHL hockey being played by the very popular Wolves at Allstate Arena. The Chicago Rush play Arena Football there too. And, big league soccer now has its own facility in suburban Bridgeview, where the Fire take the pitch at Toyota Park.

If you are feeling in an outdoors mood, rent skates or a bicycle, or explore Chicago's lakefront parks on foot. On sunny days, Chicagoans and tourists alike flock to the lakeshore for the cool breezes, green grass, and beautiful views. Oak Street Beach is just off the end of Michigan Avenue, with North Street Beach and Montrose Beach stretching out further north.

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