Best Museums in Cook County

"Consider it the Art Institute’s brash, rebellious sibling, with especially strong minimalist, surrealist and conceptual photography collections, and permanent works by René Magritte, Cindy Sherman and Andy Warhol. Covering art from the 1920s onward, the MCA’s collection spans the gamut, with displays arranged to blur the boundaries between painting, sculpture, video and other media. Exhibits change regularly so you never know what you'll see, but count on it being offbeat and provocative. Illinois residents get free admission on Tuesday."

"Museum of Contemporary Art With an ever-changing set of temporary exhibitions, you never really know what you’re going to get at this museum. It’s good for modern art lovers but sometimes verges on just being weird."

"The National Museum of Mexican Art, southwest of the Loop, is dedicated to stimulating and preserving knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture. It is one of the largest collections of Latino art in the nation, and it is also the only Latino institution to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums. The current collection includes more than 5,500 objects."

"Head to the National Museum of Mexican Art for one of the best collections of Latin works in the country. Mexican culture is celebrated with art spanning over 3,000 years and a whopping 10,000 piece permanent collection."

"Explore the natural world at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park|© Serhii Chrucky / Alamy Stock Photo. In a city with one of the most famous urban landscapes in the world, there’s a need for Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – an institution that aims to help nurture a connection between the people of Chicago and the natural environment. Besides the beautiful permanent exhibits like the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, the museum is known for hosting stellar family-friendly events, from critter meet-and-greets to kombucha-brewing workshops and yoga classes suitable for all ages and levels."

"At Peggy Notebaert, Children are connected to nature and science through the museum’s hands-on exhibits, family events and education programming. Learn about the specimen and archival collections: birds, eggs and nests; mammals; amphibians and reptiles; insects and spiders; fossils and more. You'll find an indoor treehouse that can be climbed on and in to learn about animal habitats (there’s even a crow’s nest at the top)."

"Children under 3, active-duty military, veterans, and Illinois K-12 teachers are always free. Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents. Meet the fish at the Shedd Aquarium."

"This center dedicated to the famous artist is located in Jefferson Park, and with its bright mural you can’t miss it. You can check out an iPod at the front desk for a self-guided tour, or visit the first Thursday of the month at 2pm for a thirty-minute guided tour."

"And as always, you can find more photos of our adventures on Instagram @VoyagingHerbivore and to get updates straight to your inbox, enter your email below in the footer, or to the right on the sidebar. If you want to help us out even more, you can buy us a bit of fuel!. If you have any questions, comments, or other vegan restaurant recommendations for Chicago, be sure to comment below."

"Upton’s Breakroom is a casual café that serves light vegan fare in a bright, modern setting. Located next to Upton's Naturals seitan factory, the charming little restaurant offers a small menu with a variety of seitan-based dishes such as chick seitan Korean tacos, pastrami seitan sandwiches, bowls of rice, kale, warm seitan chunks, and bright-green nut pesto, and vegan soft serve. Blending natural textures and flavors to create an innovative and satisfying menu, Upton’s Breakroom is the ideal spot for a quick lunch or a languid dinner of exotic vegan fare."

"Head on down to Seitanville and grab some vegan comfort food and the famous soy-based ice-cream!. Upton’s Breakroom is an unassuming little shop where you can not only sit down for a bite, but you can shop their products as well. You’ve almost definitely seen their products as you wander the health food store – check out the packaging below!"

"Upton's Breakroom sits below Upton's Naturals, a natural-based food business out of Chicago. The company's focus is on vegan diets and meat alternatives, so it's only fitting that the Breakroom's menu would be completely vegan. Fried bacon mac and burgers (all meat-and-cheese free!) await you in West Town!"

"Restaurants Wicker Park. If you're into the idea of a plant-based diet but can't fathom giving up sweets, pasta and sushi, the menu at Uncooked might pique your interest. With locations in Fulton Market and Wicker Park, the vegan spot offers uncooked, plant-based eats that emulate dishes like ravioli, ramen, sesame noodles and cacio e pepe."

"Everything Uncooked offers is raw, from breakfast through dessert, for a unique vegan dining experience. Think fresh salads loaded with crisp vegetables, hummus, vegetable noodles and overnight oats. There are also fresh juices, and Uncooked uses compostable utensils and packaging for a fully sustainable operation in one of the best restaurants in Chicago."

"The Loop is stuffed to the breaking point with quick-service Mediterranean joints, the kind where you can get falafel or shawarma served with just enough vegetables to make you feel semi-good about lunch. Most are perfectly passable, if not altogether exciting. Naf Naf is the exception."

"Choose a pita or bowl; add meats, salads, and garnishes; and finish it off with sauces. What separates it from the competition is the quality — the fluffy bread is baked on site, juicy chicken shawarma comes straight off the spit, and the falafel bear a perfectly crisp exterior."

"Plant Based Junkie takes your favorite burgers and other fast food and adds delicious plants to the mix. The "Chicken" sandwich comes in mild or spicy and their vegan cupcakes are the talk of the town!"

"Known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, Portillo’s has been a staple of Chicago since 1963. Most of the hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers and sides on the menu cost $5 or less. Besides Chicagoland, Portillo’s also has locations in Arizona, California and Indiana."

"Portillos isn't exactly new in Chicago but the new Avondale location on Addison and Kimball adds to our city's legacy. Get an Italian Beef with giardiniera peppers or a chocolate cake shake for dessert!"

"Portillo's is the king of sandwiches in Chicago and a meat lover’s dream. Paired best with the chocolate cake shake."