Chicago, Illinois follows New York City, and Los Angeles, California as the third most populous city in the United States. It is located along the shore of Lake Michigan. Because it’s so large, there is no shortage of things to see and do. If you don’t have much time to spend there, sticking to the area between Navy Pier and Museum Campus is a good strategy.
1: There’s a water taxi that runs between the Navy Pier and Museum Campus. It’s a great way to see the Chicago skyline. I spent the morning at the museums and took the water taxi over to the pier in the afternoon.2: A pedestrian tunnel leading to Museum Campus. Museum Campus contains popular attractions like the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears football team.3: Built in 1893, the Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world, and has one of the largest collections in existence.4: Shedd Aquarium opened in 1930. It’s a great place to experience sea life, and contains many exhibits, including an over 500,000 gallon coral reef tank.5: The Adler Planetarium was built in 1930, and enjoys the distinction of being the first planetarium built in the United States. Out front, is a statue of the famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus6: After a day of exploring Museum Campus, you can take a water taxi over to Navy Pier, where there are a number of attractions like an observation wheel, dinner cruises, and a children’s museum.7: Richard and Annette Cancer Survivors Garden built in 1996 as a haven for cancer survivors.8: A view of Buckingham Fountain and the Chicago skyline. Buckingham Fountain was built in 1927, and is one of the largest fountains in the world.9: Millenium Park and Cloud Gate. Cloud Gate was created by the artist Anish Kapoor in 2006, and has become a Chicago icon.10: The view from the Willis Tower. It is the second tallest building in the US, and was built in 1972. Willis tower was formerly called the Sears Tower, as the retailers Sears, Roebuck, and Co., financed its construction. As the Sears company declined, ownership of the building changed hands multiple times.
