Welcome to one person's top picks for things to see and do in Chicago. There are many more exciting activities than those on this list, but these have been handpicked and are recommended.
Barack Obama lives in a big White House in Washington DC. But not that long ago, he came from humbler beginnings - a big, beautiful brick Kenwood home in Chicago's lovely Hyde Park area. On a rare occasion, he still visits "home", but don't think the Secret Service will let you anywhere near. However, you can take a walk around the neighbourhood, the 5000 block of South Greenwood Avenue, and breathe that pre-presidential air that still wafts around.
There is a miniature replica of his house at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. The front of the home is white pine bark and catalpa beans. In real life it's brick, but it seems that nobody has noticed. The Secret Service won't stop you from going inside the miniature replica...but somebody probably would stop you if you tried.
Chicago is home to two zoos, which is very impressive. The larger one is just a little out of the way, but well worth the detour. The Brookfield Zoo stretches across 216 acres, including both interior and exterior exhibits. Since it first opened its doors in 1934, (when it rewrote the rules on keeping animals in cages by using moats and ditches) the Brookfield Zoo has grown to include over 450 species of animals. Some of the more intriguing exhibits now on display are Feathers and Scales, Tropic World (including animals from rainforests of three continents), The Swamp and The Living Coast. There are also two different African habitats.
One of the most prestigious aquariums in the world is the John G. Shedd Aquarium, part of Chicago's famous Museum Campus. One of the more intriguing sites is the glow-in-the-dark jellyfish, which bob around. The sea dragons with their lacy parts drifting and floating are amongst the most whimsical creatures on display. In all, there are 22,000 aquatic animals - fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and even birds and mammals. This non-profit foundation, open since 1930, is dedicated to both public education and conservation, helping on a number of projects to protect endangered species and bringing people into contact with an undersea world that might just as well be another planet to most of us. It is impossible to spend an hour in the Shedd Aquarium without being filled with wonder and awe. It is just that spectacular.
The Mambo Cafe. "Yum" Need I say more?
Speaking of "yum", who would ever come up with a chocolate tour? Well, somebody did and she deserves to get a little more attention than she does. Valerie Beck describes herself as "Chief Executive Chocolate Lover", and she offers a guided walking tour of all the finest chocolate establishments in Chicago's Loop. This makes an ideal outing for both tourists and locals, because who wouldn't want to taste chocolate. If you have kids or a sweet tooth, this is a one-of-a-kind tour that will make your visit to Chicago memorable.
Hats off to Chicago Food Planet, a series of unique food tasting tours through some of Chicago’s historic neighborhoods. They describe it as a non-touristy, local experience so you feel like a native Chicagoan. They lead people of all fitness levels on foot - yes, it's a walking tour - from one ethnic restaurant to another, all the way recounting tails of food and history, as well as architecture and culture. This is a unique hands-on (and moth-on!) experience that most visitors to Chicago overlook.
You won't want to miss the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the most important art museums in the USA, also featuring a well-known art school. Probably the most important painting it houses is the ever famous "American Gothic", but it is a very large museum covering a variety of art forms, from ancient armour and weaponry from the age of chivalry to the Grand Masters to modern architecture.
As we said earlier, there really are so many things to do in Chicago, Illinois, that it is hard to choose just those few. We did not even mention...
- Shedd Aquarium
- The Hancock Observatory
- Navy Pier
- Buckingham Fountain
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
- MIllenium Park
- Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
- Soldier Field
- Chicago Blues Festival
- Hundreds of delicious restaurants
- Two dolphin shows
Author Resource:-
Corey Rozon is a website marketing consultant from Canada.
These recommended Chicago tours and activities are brought to you by your local Chicago fence installer. Among its offerings are Chicago aluminum fence installation.
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