Mentioned by Kev's Best
5 Best Art Galleries in Chicago 🥇
"If you’re looking for a traditional museum experience, check out the Field Museum, one of the largest museums of natural history in the world. It features almost 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, so don’t expect to see everything in one visit. Explore its extensive collection of mummy artifacts, Native American pottery, dinosaur bones, and traveling exhibits."
"We walked to the Field Museum from the RV park we were staying at and had a couple of hours to explore. We love how the museum pass gives us the opportunity to do this!. Since we get in for free."
"Children under 3, K-12 teachers, and active-duty military are always free. Illinois residents are admitted free on select days throughout the year. Proof of residency is required."
"Shed Aquarium is located on the edge of Lake Michigan and is home to over 30,000 aquatic creatures. Various exhibits showcase marine and freshwater habitats from all over the world, from a Caribbean reef to North America’s very own Great Lakes. Learn all about the diverse diet of a shark or the aquarium’s rescue and rehabilitation program of sea otters."
"Now openThe Shedd‘s penguins have been busy exploring Chicago’s iconic institutions, but now they’re back home at this lakeside aquarium. Visit them in their natural habitat, along with sea otters, turtles, beluga whales, sea lions, jelly fish, reptiles, and more."
"Built in 1916, Navy Pier was purposed as a mix-used dock for commercial freighters and warehousing, public pleasure cruises and public gatherings. The pier extends 3,300 feet out into Lake Michigan from the Chicago shoreline. Today, Navy Pier is the most visited tourist attraction in all of Chicago."
"Head over to Navy Pier to go up on the Centennial Ferris Wheel!. A fun way to get an amazing view of Chicago and the lakefront. You can get tickets through the Go Chicago Explorer Pass or check with the Loew’s hotel – they sometimes have specials going where you can get tickets with your stay."
"California meets Chicago at Ballast Point, equipped with an on-site brewing room. Nearly 40 beers are available on tap – from fruity and spicy iterations to rich and malty ones – which should be consumed on the cavernous rooftop with space for over a hundred people. You can fill a growler to take away or stick around and nibble on doughy, salt-crusted pretzels."
"The park that gave the neighborhood its name is Chicago’s largest. Its 1200 acres stretch for 6 miles from North Ave north to Diversey Pkwy, where it narrows along the lake and continues on until the end of Lake Shore Dr. On sunny days locals come out to play in droves, taking advantage of the ponds, paths and playing fields or visiting the zoo and beaches. It's a fine spot to while away a morning or afternoon (or both)."
"Once you’ve gotten your fill of sky-high views, catch a ride up to Lincoln Park, one of North Side Chicago’s trendy residential neighborhoods, and named for the city’s largest park, which is the lakeside centerpiece of this part of town. The Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory are both fun to wander through, but I love Lincoln Park for its cafes, boutiques, and adorable homes."
"If it’s warm enough when you visit, try one of the beaches in Lincoln Park. The park also houses a zoo and museums."
"If you are dining out in the Wicker Park district of Chicago, then the top option for Italian cuisine enthusiasts is Tortello. Dario Monni is the owner of this counter-serve restaurant, which is famous for its authentic Italian pasta. One of the best dishes on the menu is the Tortelli, which is pasta stuffed with burrata and then topped with sage brown butter and toasted hazelnuts."
"Restaurants Italian Wicker Park. There are few things in this world that taste better than authentic Italian pasta that's made by hand. Dario Monni, the owner of this sweet counter-service restaurant in Wicker Park, understands that, and his upbringing in Italy only adds to the legitimacy of this operation."
"For people with gluten allergies and sensitivity finding a place where they can eat everything is a true treasure. Wheat’s End is a delightful, bright, and cozy spot on Chicago’s North Broadway with wooden tables, comfortable chairs, and a long banquette along the wall with a few cushions thrown in for full comfort. The menu is surprisingly rich and diverse and has such delights as prosciutto Benedict on a gluten-free English muffin, pancakes, popovers, honey-butter-cheddar chive biscuits, cinnamon rolls, chocolate doughnuts, and orange-cranberry scones."
"The creative mash-ups at this Asian-Latin spot won’t be replicated anywhere else. Chef Rafael Lopez crafts fusion bites like chorizo egg rolls, “bacos” (bao tacos), Cuban banh mi, and Asian-style paella."
"Restaurants Bakeries Bridgeport. This iconic Polish bakery closed in October 2019 after decades of serving pączki, doughnuts, cookies and other candy-colored sweets to its fans. Thankfully, new ownership swept in and restored the spot to its former glory."
"If you’re wondering what happened to Bridgeport Bakery 1.0, it closed. But thankfully version 2.0 has the same delicious treats as the original. And while they have a lot of baked goods besides donuts, we like coming here for their long johns and bismarks."
"Churros are one of those glorious desserts that never disappoints. So, if you’re looking to turn your day into a fiesta, head down to the Xurro Factory. This eatery offers one of the best desserts in Chicago, but be warned, it won’t be easy to eat!"