Welcome to Chicago

Chicago is a world-class city of unsurpassed beauty, attracting visitors from around the nation and the world. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of the Midwest, Chicago is home to the Blues, several sports teams, an internationally renowned symphony orchestra, spectacular live theater, celebrated architecture, thousands of restaurants, and world-class museums and shops. For business. For pleasure. Chicago is your kind of town.

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Chicago's Landmarks

Chicago's buildings were designed in a wide variety of architectural styles over the centuries. The Chicago Historic Resources Survey, completed in 1995, was a decade-long research effort by the City of Chicago to analyze the historic and architectural importance of all buildings constructed in the city prior to 1940. By today, 259 Chicago Landmarks have been designated by the City Council, including 217 individual designations, 38 landmark districts, and four district extensions, totaling 6,500 properties. Experience the history in Chicago's unique architecture. More about Chicago's Landmarks

Brookfield Zoo is located on 216 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, and is only twelve miles west of downtown Chicago--close to everything, but a world away! The Zoo first opened in 1934 and became world renowned for its use of natural barriers, such as moats, rather than cages. Chicago's Brookfield Zoo featured the first Giant Panda exhibit in the United States and is home to more than 2,000 animals from all over the world. More about the Brookfield Zoo

Field Museum

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and meet Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found! At The Field Museum, you can get a bug's-eye view in Underground Adventure or descend into an Egyptian tomb. Experience the world of volcano and their flowing lava; be astonished in the sparkling Halls of Gems and Jades. Don't be afraid if you come nose-to-nose with the man-eating lions of Tsavo or walk next to a giant dinosaur. Discover the world in Chicago’s Field Museum with your family. More about the Field Museum

One of the great art museums of the world, the Art Institute of Chicago presents a collection spanning 5,000 years of artistic expression. Paintings, prints and drawings, sculptures, photographs, video, textiles, and architectural drawings are complemented by a year-round schedule of exhibitions. And there's more. The museum presents programs-lectures, workshops, performances, symposia, travel, or courses, every day. Visit often, find your favorites, and make the Art Institute your museum in Chicago. More about the Art Institute of Chicago

Enjoy the ultimate in river cruising with Chicago's First Lady. Chicago's Finest Fleet of vessels have been delighting passengers with breathtaking tours and events on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. Only the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago's First Lady Cruises can showcase Chicago's world renowned city architecture with style, class and comfort. Learn about the architecture and design of over 50 buildings as described by CAF-Certified Docents/Guides and enjoy an outstanding architectural tour with open-air and air-conditioned seating. More about the Architecture River Cruise Tours

From high-end retailers that target big spenders to discount merchandise for those who can’t resist a great sale, Chicago has it all! The Magnificent Mile offers hundreds of top retailers including four separate shopping centers. Oak Street is known for its upscale boutiques and specialty gift stores. State Street, located in the very heart of the city, provides a unique blend of department stores, discount chains and Midwest's largest jewelry district. Lincoln Park’s Armitage Avenue provides boutique shopping along quaint tree-lined streets. Wicker Park/Bucktown delivers unique shopping adventures in a neighborhood that is known for its artsy-bohemian spirit. More about Shopping in Chicago

The Chicago Blues Festival has presented countless number of blues notes and moments to millions of blues fans from around the world on Chicago's lakefront Grant Park. This annual outdoor event is the largest free-admission blues festival in the world. It showcases international, national and local Chicago artists on over five stages. As the largest of the city's music festivals, the Chicago Blues Festival draws more than 750,000 people who enjoy four days and six stages of blues music in Grant Park, at Columbus and Jackson. Mark your calendars as every summer in Chicago will be filled of music not to be missed. More about the Annual Chicago Blues Festival

The Shedd Aquarium, located on Chicago's Museum Campus, is the world's largest indoor aquarium with more than 8,000 aquatic animals representing more than 700 species from all parts of the world. The Caribbean Reef, teaming with bright, colorful new corals and more than 60 species of animal, includes bonnet head sharks, southern stingrays, angelfish and a hawksbill sea turtle. Divers hand-feed sharks, sea turtles and eels at scheduled times during the day. Get eye-to-eye with a shark at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. More about the Shedd Aquarium

Proudly referred to as Chicago's "front yard," Grant Park is among the city's loveliest and most prominent parks. The site of three world-class museums -- the Art Institute, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Shedd Aquarium -- the park includes the museum campus, a 1995 transformation of paved areas into beautiful green space. Grant Park's centerpiece is the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, built in 1927 to provide a monumental focal point while protecting the park's breathtaking lakefront views. It is also the site of Chicago's famous Blues Festival and the annual Taste of Chicago, held each summer. More about the Grant Park