Table Of ContentEYEWITNESS TRAVEL
TOP
CHICAGO
ELAINE GLUSAC
ELISA KRONISH
ROBERTA SOTONOFF
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Top 10 Chicago The Top 10 of
Highlights Everything
Welcome to Chicago ......................5 Moments in Chicago History .......40
Exploring Chicago ..........................6 Skyscrapers..................................42
Chicago Highlights .......................10 Niche Museums ...........................44
Willis Tower and Its Views ...........12 Parks and Beaches ......................46
The Art Institute of Chicago .........14 Film Locations..............................48
Field Museum ..............................18 Off the Beaten Path .....................50
Museum of Science Kids’ Chicago ................................52
and Industry ..............................20 Performing Arts ...........................54
Navy Pier ......................................24 Blues and Jazz Joints ..................56
John G. Shedd Aquarium ............28 Bars and Clubs ............................58
Lincoln Park Zoo ..........................30 Places to Eat ................................60
Magnificent Mile ...........................32 Shopping Destinations .................62
Millennium Park ..........................34 Chicago for Free ...........................64
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park ...36 Festivals and Events ....................66
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CONTENTS
Chicago Streetsmart
Area by Area
The Loop .......................................70 Getting To and Around
Near North ...................................78 Chicago ...................................108
Northside ......................................86 Practical Information .................110
South Loop ...................................94 Places To Stay ............................116
Far South ....................................100
General Index .............................120
Acknowledgments .....................126
The information in this DK Eyewitness Top
10 Travel Guide is checked regularly.
Every effort has been made to ensure that
this book is as up-to-date as possible at the
time of going to press. Some details,
however, such as telephone numbers,
opening hours, prices, gallery hanging
Within each Top 10 list in this book, no hierarchy arrangements and travel information, are
of quality or popularity is implied. All 10 are, in liable to change. The publishers cannot
the editor’s opinion, of roughly equal merit. accept responsibility for any consequences
arising from the use of this book, nor for any
Throughout this book, floors are referred to in material on third party websites, and cannot
accordance with American usage; i.e. the “first guarantee that any website address in this
floor” is at ground level. book will be a suitable source of travel
information. We value the views and
Front cover and spine Tour boat in downtown suggestions of our readers very highly. Please
Chicago near Michigan Avenue Bridge write to: Publisher, DK Eyewitness Travel
Back cover The Neo-Classical building housing Guides, Dorling Kindersley, 80 Strand, London
the Museum of Science and Industry WC2R 0RL, Great Britain, or email
Title page The iconic clock outside Macy’s and [email protected]
the Chicago Theatre behind on N. State Street
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Top 10 Chicago ❮❮ 5
Welcome to
Chicago
Chicago has been called the “City of the Big Shoulders” for
its industrial brawn, the “Second City” for its size, and the
“Windy City” for its politics – all of which the city embraces
with good-humored warmth, confidence, and imagination.
With Eyewitness Top 10 Chicago, it’s yours to explore.
The city’s own motto is “urbs in horto,” or city in a garden, and
its connection to nature is readily apparent, from the vast Lake
Michigan shoreline to the Chicago River that divides the city. Its
public living room is art-filled Millennium Park, and its playground
is Navy Pier, jutting into the lake with carnival-like attractions as
well as more high-minded distractions such as the Chicago
Shakespeare Theater. Both the Lincoln Park Zoo and the John G.
Shedd Aquarium offer exposure to natural life beyond the region.
Culture abounds indoors and out. Birthplace of the skyscraper,
Chicago has a range of architecture spanning the lofty Willis Tower
and the earth-grounded Prairie School homes of Frank Lloyd
Wright in Oak Park. Museums are similarly diverse, from the Art
Institute of Chicago, stocked with treasures bestowed by civic-
minded 19th-century collectors, to the natural history curiosities of
the Field Museum and the scientific wonders of the Museum of
Science and Industry. The arts come alive nightly in more than
200 theaters and many jazz and blues clubs in town.
Whether you are visiting for a weekend or longer, our Top 10
guide distills the best of Chicago, from the hidden neighborhood
pub to the bustling Magnificent Mile. There are tips for the best
freebies and tours, places to take the kids and dine memorably,
plus seven easy-to-follow itineraries, designed to make the most
use of your time in the city. Add inspiring photography and detailed
maps, and you’ve got the essential pocket-sized travel companion.
Enjoy the book, and enjoy Chicago.
Clockwise from top: Chicago skyline; lion statues outside the Art Institute of Chicago; Sue, the
Tyrannosaurus rex exhibit at the Field Museum; Arthur Heurtley House, Oak Park; window at the
Richard H. Driehaus Gallery of Stained Glass; Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park; Botanic Garden
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6 ❯❯Top 10 Chicago
Exploring Chicago See inset, left
Spiaggia
Thanks to a convenient
Lincoln Park Zoo
concentration of attractions, Fhroamnke Lalnodyd s tWudriigoht SecoCnitdy Magnificent
it is easy to cram Chicago’s Mile
highlights into a few days, or OAK CPTAAR KGREEN LINE amraepa orifght LakeP aSrhkore
even a weekend. The following STREETERVILLE
tpmtcowiat ayocfuk’k-sel e als ydtni hg idwmeh f itmmtoshu,eo risdrs-ostedu eaoan sfyy d oyfistooui,urnr a sreyne rovdlauifs r fl iitinteoa, sv tah oanerrds e . 00 kmmiles 5 5 PMILuSseEuNamn do fI nSMETRAdc i u e TRsnAtINcrey Valois MAviechniugean BUS NShaCavhkyei Pcsaipegeroare
To Second City Theater
AFTERNOON BUS (2 mCihleisc)ago River CFohuicnadgaot iAornc hCirtueicsteure
Make your way to Navy Pier (see
CTA GREEN
pp24–5) for a whirl on some of the LINE Millennium Park
carnival rides. Then hit retail magnet, See inset, left Station
Magnificent Mile (see pp32–3). Finish BUS
up at a jazz or blues club (see pp56–7). Millennium
Park Grill Park
DOWNTOWN BUS Art Institute
Four Days in Chicago Willis of Chicago
Tower
Magnificent Mile is a great, bustling Day 1
shopping experience. MORNING
Sign up for the Chicago Architecture
TDwayo 1 Days in Chicago pFaWpnoa3dul2 knd– dui3sap)e t timtooh nbtea a (Mksreekae iga npnt 1tiMhfi1e5cic)e ph nruiigtvl easMenri lcoAerfv u (etsihsneeeeu eci.t y. 00 myaerdtesrs 505000 METRA TRAIN BuFcokuinngtahianm
MORNING AFTERNOON
Take a Chicago Architecture After lunch at Spiaggia (see p83),
Foundation cruise (see p115) along continue northward for a stroll in the Grant Park John G. Shedd
the Chicago River to get an overview leafy Lincoln Park Zoo (see pp30–31). Aquarium
of the city’s design prowess. Walk a
few blocks south to explore Day 2 SOUTH
SIDE
Millennium Park (see pp34–5). MORNING Field
Museum
AFTERNOON Browse the vast collections of the Art
Take the bridge from the park to the Institute of Chicago (see pp14–15). See inset, left
Art Institute of Chicago (see pp14–17) Take the bridge from the Modern Wing
to admire the Impressionist collection. into Millennium Park (see pp34–5), and
See the city on high from nearby Willis grab lunch at Park Grill (see pp34–5).
Tower (see pp12–13), indulge in pizza
at Uno’s (see p61), and then catch a
comedy show at Second City (see p55).
Day 2
MORNING
Start your day with a visit to the John
G. Shedd Aquarium (see pp28–9) – if
you book online in advance you can
skip the line. Afterward, cross the
Museum Campus to the famous Aviation exhibit at the Museum of
Field Museum (see pp18–19). Science and Industry
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Exploring Chicago❮❮ 7
See inset, left
Key
Two-day itinerary
Spiaggia
Four-day itinerary
Magnificent
Mile
Lake Shore
Park
STREETERVILLE
Michigan
Avenue
Navy Pier
Willis Tower is the tallest
building in Chicago. BUS Chicago
Shakespeare
To Second City Theater
BUS (2 mCihleisc)ago River CFohuicnadgaot iAornc hCirtueicsteure
CTA GREEN
LINE Millennium Park
See inset, left Station
BUS
Millennium
Park Grill Park
DOWNTOWN BUS Art Institute
Willis of Chicago
Tower
00 myaerdtesrs 505000 METRA TRAIN BuFcokuinngtahianm plaNyagvroyu Pnide rf oisr aa llle aisguerse.
AFTERNOON
Take a trip on the CTA
Green Line “L” out to Grant Park John G. Shedd
Oak Park (see pp36–7) Aquarium
to see architect Frank Lloyd
Wright’s former home and SOUTH
SIDE
studio. On the return, get off Field
Museum
in the Loop to hit one of the
many restaurants and bars See inset, left
in the area (see p77). Day 4
MORNING
Day 3 Spend the morning exploring the
MORNING many exhibits of the Museum of
Start at the John G. Shedd Aquarium Science and Industry (see pp20–21)
(see pp28–9), then cross the Museum in Hyde Park, including the coal
Campus to marvel at Sue, the giant mine and German WWII submarine.
Tyrannosaurus rex on display at the AFTERNOON
Field Museum (see pp18–19). Have lunch at Valois cafeteria (see
AFTERNOON p105), then take the Metra train to
Admire the city from aloft at the Willis Millennium Park (see pp34–5). Rent a
Tower (see pp12–13). Then visit Navy Divvy bicycle and ride the Lakefront
Pier (see pp24–5) for a lake cruise, Recreational Path (see p64). After
dinner, and a performance at Chicago dark, stroll around the illuminated
Shakespeare Theater (see pp25 & 55). Buckingham Fountain (see p72).
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Top 10 Chicago
Highlights
The futuristic Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park
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