Did you know that Chicago had 57.6 million visitors in their city in 2018? That beat their record by over 2 million people from the year prior.
So why do so many tourists go Chicago sightseeing? What is there to see and do in the Windy City?
With so many historic buildings, delicious deep-dish pizza, and some extraordinary architecture, there are many Chicago tours that you won’t want to miss! The best part? These are tours you can create yourself!
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Keep reading to learn about what to do in Chicago.
Go on a Helicopter Ride
One of the best ways to see the city is by taking a helicopter ride over it. This way, you can see some beautiful historic buildings and give yourself one of the best architectural tours of the city.
Learn more here about taking a helicopter ride above the city.
Try Out Deep Dish Pizza
You can’t go to the Windy City and leave without having deep-dish pizza. If you have a day or two here, you could try out several places as a snack between meals! Just grab one slice here and there.
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You’ll want to try Burt’s Place, George’s Deep Dish, and Milly’s Pizza in the Pan for some of the best deep-dish in Chicago.
Shop in the Local Neighborhoods
There are so many hidden gems in Chicago, and one great way to find them all is by wandering through different local neighborhoods to go shopping.
If this sounds like a great time, here are a few of the more local neighborhoods to support:
- Andersonville
- The Clark Street passage
- Wicker Park and Bucktown
- Little Village
Each area has its own unique flair and quaint shops.
Visit Millennium Park
In the heart of downtown Chicago lies Millennium Park. It’s a beautiful place to have a picnic or just simply touch “the Bean.”
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If it’s a hot summer day, feel free to cool off in Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain.
You can walk on the half-mile pier of Navy Pier over Lake Michigan. At the end, you’ll find a 196-foot-tall Ferris wheel that will take you up and around for beautiful views of the city.
There are also newer art spaces, performances, public plazas for hanging outside on a nice day, and even free programming.
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See the Architecture of the City
Walking around on your own architectural tour of the city, you can find many historic buildings that you wouldn’t want to miss.
Don’t miss the following sites:
- Chicago Cultural Center
- Rookery Building
- Wrigley Building
- Tribune Tower
- John Hancock Center
Chicago Tours You Can Do on Your Own
Instead of spending money on Chicago tours, you can make your own! Whether you visit some local shops or walk around to see the architecture of the city, you’ll see some beautiful sights.
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