Go Chicago

Ten Great Places for Live Music in Chicago

By Leave a Comment

Chicago is a music town, full stop. The city has given rise to more eminent musicians, bands, singers, and performers than any one place has right to claim, and the very history of such foundational genres like jazz, rock, and the blues wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for the influence of Chicago and its music-loving people.

So now you find yourself in Chicago—you’ve got to go to a gig, right? Here are ten great places to enjoy some live music while you’re visiting Chicago.

Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park

Chicago is home to a remarkable array of summer music festivals and seasonal concert schedules, with perhaps the crown jewel of the city’s venues that cater to outdoor live music being Millennium Park’s spectacular Pritzker Pavilion. World-famous architect Frank Gehry designed the pavilion, and its sound system is impressive. The summer programming is high-end and varied and free, so don’t miss the chance to pack a picnic dinner and spread out on the venue’s Great Lawn for an unforgettable evening. Even if you’re not super-interested in that night’s performance, the setting is breathtaking—a truly quintessential Chicago experience.

Metro

Metro is a Chicago music institution, having hosted thousands of acclaimed shows in the thirty-some years of its existence. Metro’s reputation as a career-making space was cemented in its early days, during the 1990s, when artists like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sleater-Kinney took the stage here. Today it’s known for being an intimate venue where well-known acts can connect with their audience. Metro’s location on bustling Clark Street in the heart of the lively Wrigleyville neighborhood just down the street from the one-and-only Wrigley Field means there are an abundance of fun things to do near the venue before or after any show you attend.

Constellation

Constellation on Western Avenue in Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood may not look too exciting from the outside—just a long, one-story brick building—but on the inside, something special is usually taking place. The live programming at Constellation tends toward the forward-thinking, so if you find yourself craving thought-provoking jazz, boundary-pushing classical, or just want to catch something new and different, it’s the spot for you. For an extra-good time, pair seeing a show at Constellation with a trip to Metropolitan Brewing, whose popular taproom—with perhaps the city’s best riverside patio space—is located just a half-mile away.

Empty Bottle

The Empty Bottle just celebrated its 30th year of live music in Chicago, and the venerable indie-rock club shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Located in the heart of the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, the Empty Bottle is that rare performance space that’s built up an incredible resume over the years—so many fantastic bands have played here—yet never hesitates to give an up-and-coming performer the opportunity to shine. As a result, from night to night you never know just who you might see: established stars, next big things, or good local groups having great nights. Did I mention many Monday night shows are totally free?

Hideout

Another longtime staple of the Chicago live music scene, the Hideout has been going strong for over a quarter-century now in a historic balloon-frame house that itself is almost 100 years old. This quirky space is perfect for fostering an environment that’s suitable for an assortment of eclectic indie-rock bands, comedy acts, and legends of Chicago music reuniting older bands for small gigs (think David Yow and Scratch Acid, as well as Steve Albini and Big Black).

Vic Theatre

Locals lovingly refer to this established concert venue as The Vic, and a night out on the town anchored by taking in a performance at this Lakeview neighborhood classic is a rite of passage for music-loving Chicagoans. All types of different national and international acts play The Vic throughout the year, and the spacious club holds about 1,500 when the show is a general admission gig, or just over a 1,000 when seating is provided for guests. Line for a beer too long? The Vic has several bars scattered throughout its multiple stories.

Elastic Arts

Logan Square’s Elastic Arts Foundation has developed quite the following over the years, establishing itself as one of Chicago’s most welcoming spaces for everything from free jazz to electronica to body-awareness workshops and more. Longtime home of the Elastic Improvised Music Series—the fabulous creative-music concert series curated by legendary saxophonist and Aerophonic Records founder Dave Rempis—Elastic Arts’ calendar of events is full of groundbreaking local artists on a regular basis. Cool bonus fact: Elastic Arts streams most of their live performances through their website, so if you want to check out a performance or two before you head their way in person, go for it, you won’t be disappointed.

Aragon Ballroom

One of Chicago’s larger old-school theatres turned modern rock club, the Aragon Ballroom can accommodate 5,000 people. Coming up on its 100th birthday, the Aragon has hosted some of the world’s most popular rock bands for decades now—you’d be hard-pressed to name a star who hasn’t played this space while in Chicago. It’s such a renowned venue, in fact, that numerous bands like Mastodon, Green Day, Metallica, and the White Stripes (just to name a few) have released live performances recorded during shows at the Aragon.

Hungry Brain

When it comes to the blues, contemporary jazz, and modern improvised music, it’s really difficult to top Chicago: the city is full of supportive arts organizations, tremendous live venues, and most importantly, a wealth of local artists all devoted to their craft and community. The Hungry Brain is one of these tremendous live venues, a small, intimate room (with a great patio!) that’s been graced with the presence of such musical talent as William Parker, Ken Vandermark, Jeff Parker, Wadada Leo Smith, and so many, many more.

Chicago Theatre

It’s difficult to put together a list of notable Chicago performance spaces and not include the Loop’s Chicago Theatre—so you know what, we won’t make that mistake either. The Chicago Theatre’s iconic marquee has become an unofficial symbol of the city, and this historic venue regularly hosts a who’s who of big-name bands, traveling Broadway shows, and stand-up comedians. Spending the evening being entertained within the elegant space’s ornate auditorium is a bucket-list item for anyone who wants to be able to say they’ve experience live performance firsthand in the Windy City.

Ten Fabulous Things to Do at Navy Pier

By Leave a Comment

Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions, a distinction it holds in no small part because of the abundance of awesome activities available there. There’s so much to see and do there, in fact, that you might need some help figuring out where to start. Here are 10 fabulous things to do at Navy Pier on your next visit to Chicago.

Centennial Wheel

If you know one thing about Navy Pier in advance of your visit, it’s likely to be that it’s home to the Centennial Wheel, an iconic Ferris Wheel that is in many ways the unofficial symbol of Navy Pier. If you’re headed to Navy Pier, you simply must do the Centennial Wheel at least once: it rises nearly 200 feet in the air and features remarkable views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. Even better, it’s situated in the midst of a number of other fantastic rides and fair-style games perfect for the kids. You can find all these and more in Pier Park.

Chicago Children’s Museum

There are many folks who think the Chicago Children’s Museum is the absolute best attraction to be found at Navy Pier. Regardless of where you come down on that issue, there’s no denying it’s an amazing experience for the kids. You can’t go wrong no matter what exhibits you focus your energies on, but particular favorites here would have to include Kids Town, a child-sized replica of Chicago; Cloud Buster, a 37-foot-tall interactive work of art by Kevin Winters; and Suchomimus, a life-size dinosaur skeleton on display just inside the museum.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Through and through, Chicago is a theater town. From nationally acclaimed companies like Goodman Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre to storefront treasures like Steep Theatre Company and The Den Theatre, Chicago’s theater scene is second to none. Fortunately for you, one of the city’s larger profile (and more unique) theater experiences can be had right here at Navy Pier: the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. This state-of-the-art company puts on hundreds of productions each year across its three stages and throughout the city’s parks during the summer months. The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater is the real standout, though: it’s a 500-seat venue modeled after Shakespeare’s legendary Globe Theatre.

Bike Tours

One of the more enjoyable ways to explore Chicago is by bike, and there’s no better place in the city to rent a bike or join a guided bike tour than right here at Navy Pier. If this sort of thing sounds like your cup of tea, a quality option to consider would be Bike and Roll Chicago. This local tour company operates guided bike tours, rents bikes by the hour or day, and runs organized Segway tours. What’s more, their hourly bike rentals are available as part of an all-inclusive travel pass offered by Go City Chicago, which would help you see the city and save money at the same time!

Crystal Gardens

Crystal Gardens is another Navy Pier gem just waiting for you to explore it. In essence, Crystal Gardens is an indoor botanical garden. Enclosed within a six-story glass atrium, this one-acre oasis is home to 80 palm trees, multiple fountains, a scenic pathway, and numerous other plants. It’s the perfect place to commune with nature while catching your breath during your time at Navy Pier—or to seek a few minutes’ shelter if, heaven forbid, a bit of rain should start to fall during your visit.

Boat Tours

Chicago is a city with a deep, fundamental connection to its waters, and thus, in many ways, you haven’t truly experienced it if you haven’t experienced it from the water. Therefore, let me recommend you taking some sort of boat tour or river cruise while you’re in town. There will be many choices at your disposal throughout the city, but several depart right from Navy Pier. These include the Tall Ship Windy, a 150-foot topsail schooner, and Shoreline Sightseeing’s Skyline Lake Tour—both of which are available on an attraction pass from Go City Chicago.

Polk Bros Park

Polk Bros Park is more or less the front entrance to Navy Pier, and as a result, many visitors, in their (understandable) excitement at finally arriving at this landmark destination, rush straight past it, never stopping to take stock of the many charms found right here at the pier’s entry point. Polk Bros Park consists of 13 acres of shady trees, green lawns, bubbling fountains, and plenty of places to sit, chill, and relax. Get comfy and let the kids splash in the fountains, or make a plan to check out one of the many free live music performances that regularly take place here. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

Ohio Street Beach

While technically located a few hundred feet north of Navy Pier, wedged between Milton Lee Olive Park and Jane Addams Memorial Park (both of which are worth checking out in their own right), Ohio Street Beach is deserving of a stop during your visit to Navy Pier, too. Ohio Street Beach typically tends to be a little less busy than other popular local beaches like Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach, while still also providing spectacular skyline views and access to stunning Lake Michigan. So grab your sunscreen, a towel, and go!

Live Fireworks

One of the great modern traditions of Navy Pier is its summer fireworks series. Every Wednesday and Saturday nights, between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend, the skies over Navy Pier are lit up in bursts of glorious color. These firework shows can be seen from anywhere on Navy Pier—and from the roofs of many downtown buildings, too, it should be noted—and are free for all. Times are subject to change depending on circumstances and the occasion, but more often than not, the Wednesday evening show begins at roughly 9:30pm, while the Saturday night spectacle goes down around 10:15pm.

Great Dining Options

When in doubt, eat! You already know you’re going to work up quite the appetite exploring all there is on offer throughout the Windy City, so why not take advantage of being at Navy Pier to grab a great meal? Navy Pier is home to dozens and dozens of dining options. You’ll find throughout the attraction cuisines for every tastebud and styles of meals for every palate. From Chicago staples like deep dish pizza and hot dogs, to fast, casual Asian, Italian, barbecue, and more, it’s all here.

Best Chicago Art

By Leave a Comment

Chicago is a city of many wonders, yet even among those many wonders there are standout elements especially worth celebrating. One of these would have to be its tremendous art scene. Everywhere you turn in Chicago you’re liable to spy an art museum, come across an art gallery, or encounter a work of public art. For the art lovers out there planning a visit to the Windy City, here’s a brief guide to some of the most notable artsy attractions in Chicago.

Art Institute of Chicago

When it comes to the subject of Chicago art, where else can you start but with the Art Institute of Chicago? One of the world’s foremost art institutions, the Art Institute of Chicago is a treasure. This acclaimed museum hosts millions of visitors each year, houses over 300,000 distinct works of art spread across 15 curatorial departments, and contains such varied masterpieces as Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Georgia O’Keeffe’s Sky above Clouds IV, and Grant Wood’s American Gothic, to name but a few. What’s more, the Art Institute of Chicago is a staple of Chicago-centric attraction passes, meaning it’ll always be available as part of something like the Go City Chicago pass. Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago with one of these passes in hand will save you both time and money.

Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art has long been a personal favorite of mine. It’s located just one block east of the Magnificent Mile, Michigan Avenue, and you never know exactly what type of innovative show you’re going to see here. One week it might be a mid-career retrospective on Virgil Abloh, another a look back at the work of Andy Warhol, the next a centenary year John Cage exhibition. The one constant, though, is the MCA’s commitment to supporting contemporary art and its powers of possibility. Illinois residents can visit free of charge on Tuesdays, but if that’s not an option for you, don’t worry: the MCA is covered by the ever-useful Go Chicago pass!

American Writers Museum

Casting a slightly wider net here and including the literary arts as part of our “artsy Chicago” survey allows us to feature the American Writers Museum, one of the city’s newer museums. Prominently situated on Michigan Avenue just one block north of Millennium Park, the American Writers Museum combines a burgeoning permanent collection with an exciting assortment of traveling temporary exhibits. Highlights include the Children’s Literature Gallery, an interactive space perfect for the young readers in your life; A Nation of Writers, which catalogs some of America’s most famous authors; and the Chicago Gallery, a room dedicated to those literary artists with strong ties to the city. Consider using your Go Chicago pass to visit the American Writers Museum, too!

National Museum of Mexican Art

The institution that would become the National Museum of Mexican Art got its start in Chicago in 1982, and first opened its doors at its current location, near Harrison Park in the bustling Pilsen neighborhood, in 1987. It officially took its current name in 2006, and houses nearly 20,000 artworks dating from ancient Mexico to the contemporary day. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon (or two!) losing yourself in the power and beauty of art.

Richard H. Driehaus Museum

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum is one of the more stylish museums you’re ever going to come across, that much is for sure. This is because it occupies a lavish structure, the 1883 Nickerson Mansion, at the heart of Chicago’s lovely River North neighborhood, just two blocks west of Michigan Avenue. The Driehaus Museum specializes in the decorative arts, and puts on a number of temporary exhibits throughout the year. The home itself has been fully restored and contains an extensive selection of late 19th Century art objects. No matter what art show is on when you happen to be visiting, it’s a fascinating place to explore.

Smart Museum of Art

This eclectic facility is located on the campus of the prestigious University of Chicago, and admission is free and open to the public. The Smart Museum of Art originally opened its doors in 1974, and ever since then it’s been sponsoring scholarly rigorous and artistically adventurous shows of all sorts. Smart Museum’s permanent collection is no slouch either: at some 16,000 pieces, it covers everything from ancient artifacts to contemporary paintings.

Ukrainian National Museum

Located in Chicago’s charming Ukrainian Village neighborhood, the Ukrainian National Museum houses archetypal examples of Ukrainian folk art objects. These striking artifacts include such items as “pysanky”—which are decorated easter eggs (they’re breathtaking to behold in person)—and lavishly embroidered pieces of traditional Ukrainian clothing. There is also a permanent exhibit on Chicago’s robust Ukrainian population, and the museum’s archives hold a wealth of rare books, musical instruments, historical documents, and more.

Contemporary Galleries

There are far too many possibilities to enumerate here, but while we’re at it, a friendly reminder: when you’re on the trail of great art in Chicago, don’t limit yourself to the institutions detailed above—fabulous as they may be. Rather, also make time to check out one of the city’s remarkable contemporary art galleries. You’ll find these sorts of galleries scattered all throughout Chicago, and you never know what hidden gems you might uncover when take a moment to check them out.

Public Art Galore

Likewise, Chicago is a city bursting with examples of public art. From sculptures in parks to paintings on the sides of buildings to interactive pieces just waiting for your attention to bring them alive, you’ll find public art everywhere you look in Chicago. So put on your comfortable walking shoes, bring along your camera, and keep your eyes peeled!

Popular Outdoor Chicago Tours

By Leave a Comment

Don’t let the spectacular skyline fool you. Don’t get hung up on all the steel and concrete. Forget about the traffic, and disregard the everyday sounds of the hustle and bustle. For all that it is one of the world’s major cities, Chicago is also very much a city of the great outdoors. Here you can luxuriate in lush green parks, bask in scenic trails, and enjoy the many delights of a lovely lakefront—all remaining in the midst of a gleaming metropolis.

But where to begin when it comes to planning your next Chicago outdoor adventure? A great place to start is with a tour of Chicago that gets you out and about into the heart of everything. Keep reading for a list of tour types to consider as you plan your Chicago trip.

Bike Tours

Chicago is a bike-friendly city, and thus a great way to set about exploring Chicago’s outdoor scene is by hopping on a bicycle and pedaling away until your heart’s content. Plus, it’s an affordable, eco-friendly option! If you think you might be interested in seeing the city this way, you’ll have some choices at your disposal. When in doubt, you can always rent a bike from a well-regarded company like Bike and Roll Chicago and venture forth on your own schedule. In fact, a four-hour bike rental from Bike and Roll Chicago is included on both the All-Inclusive and Explorer versions of the Go City Chicago Pass. You’ll save money and time going on a bike tour covered by this type of attraction pass.

If you’re in the market for something a bit more structured, you’re in business, because there are a number of guided bike tours of Chicago available, too. The most popular guided bike tour of Chicago is probably the Lincoln Park Bike Adventure, which departs from Navy Pier and takes you along Lake Michigan past such famous attractions like the North Avenue Beach and Lincoln Park Zoo.

Bus Tours

A classic means for experiencing Chicago, especially for the first time, is by taking a guided bus tour of the city. Now, don’t read the words “bus tour” and think: What in the world does riding on a bus have to do with the great outdoors? A bus tour of Chicago is a terrific method for moving from outdoor location to outdoor location conveniently, affordably, and while learning more about the ins and outs of the city from your knowledgeable tour guide’s narration.

Depending on what you’re most interested in, there are numerous bus tours to pick from in Chicago. One quality option, again covered by a handy attraction pass like the Go City Chicago Pass, is the Hop-On, Hop-Off Big Bus Chicago 1-Day Classic tour. This Big Bus Chicago tour makes roughly a dozen different stops, including outdoor favorites like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Chicago Riverwalk, and more. However, Chicago is also home to bus tours that cover subjects as diverse as the local food and drink scene, Chicago’s mob history, specific neighborhoods, and Chicago’s skyline at night, just to name a few.

Boat Tours

Water is at the heart of much of what makes Chicago such a memorable city to visit and a wonderful place to live. To that end, as you plan your dream trip to Chicago, you’ll want to strongly consider taking some sort of tour of the city that gets you out on to Lake Michigan and takes you along the Chicago River. Which means, of course, a boat tour! And there’s no dearth of possibilities on this front either. One of the most popular options is the Tall Ship Windy. The folks behind Tall Ship Windy run several different types of tours, but regardless of which one you go with, you’ll be seeing the sights of Chicago’s shoreline from a 150-foot traditional topsail schooner. It’s a leisurely ride perfect for the whole family.

Another popular boat tour in Chicago is the Shoreline Skyline Lake Tour, which if you go on this tour with your Go City Chicago attraction pass in hand, won’t require you to pay anything out of pocket when boarding. It’s a breezy 40-minute jaunt that provides amazing views of Chicago’s unbeatable skyline from gorgeous Lake Michigan.

Architecture Tours

A hallmark of Chicago’s greatness is the splendor of its buildings: not only does Chicago possess a striking, remarkable skyline, but its skyline is particularly valued for its architectural importance. As a result, one of the top things to do while out and about in the city is to take an architecture tour of Chicago. Me, personally, if I could pick only one tour to recommend going on, out of all the superb tours profiled here, it would be an architecture tour. You’ll encounter a variety of architecture tours in Chicago, but when in doubt, seek out the Chicago Architecture Center for guidance. They offer scores and scores of well-regarded architecture-centric tours of all stripes.

There’s a sub-category of water-based tour that’s so good we had to save it for its own section, and that’s the architecture tour of Chicago conducted via boat. You’ve got a couple prominent options for architecture boat tours. One is the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Cruise (available on the Go City Chicago pass), which takes you down all three branches of the Chicago River, thus providing you access to rare photo opportunities. The other would be the aforementioned Chicago Architecture Center’s signature River Cruise. It lasts 90 minutes, and is difficult to beat for information, entertainment, and all-around enjoyability!

Walking Tours

Last but not least, what better way to have an outdoor adventure in Chicago than by going for a walk? No matter what you want to focus on, you’ll find plenty of guided walking tours here. There are guided walking tours that analyze Chicago’s many architectural wonders, there are guided walking tours that get you up close and personal with some of the city’s most historic sites, and there are guided walking tours that highlight specific neighborhoods or particular cuisines. You name it, it probably exists in one form or another.

And while we’re at it, let’s not forget about Segways! Guided Segway tours can be a fun, charming way to see some of the city’s most popular attractions, too.

Chicago Architecture Tours

By Leave a Comment

What comes to mind first when you think of the great city of Chicago? Wind? Pizza? Lake Michigan? The Art Institute? Michael Jordan? Wrigley Field? You get the point: all of the above—and yet still many, many more possibilities—would be quite acceptable answers, because Chicago has a lot going for it.

In the mix here, though, would also have to be: architecture. Chicago’s architecture is legendary the world over for its daring designs, visionary buildings, and soaring skyscrapers. But don’t take my word for it. Head out asap on one of the following architecture tours. Each one of these architecture tours offers access to a special side of Chicago’s multi-faceted architectural splendors. And best of all, each one of these architecture tours is part of a Go City Chicago attraction pass that might prove useful to you as you plan your next architecture-themed outing to the Windy City!

Shoreline Architecture River Cruise

Year in and year out, the Shoreline Architecture River Cruise is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Chicago from all over the world. You can board the Shoreline Architecture River Cruise at your choice of two convenient locations: at either Navy Pier or on Michigan Avenue near The Wrigley Building (speaking of great architecture!). The cruise typically lasts about 75 minutes, and along the way you’ll learn all about the history of Chicago’s storied skyline.

An especially neat detail about the Shoreline Architecture River Cruise is that it takes you down all three branches of the Chicago River (Main, North, and South). This ensures that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to snap that perfect photograph of your favorite building from just the right angle!

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

One of the 20th Century’s most famous architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, had deep ties to the Midwest, and in particular, the city of Chicago. Chicago is where, for many years, he lived and worked, developing his inimitable style, completing early commissions, and building a reputation as an innovative, visionary artist whose design influence still resonates today.

Frank Lloyd Wright is responsible for many fine buildings and homes throughout the Chicagoland area, and if you so desire, there are tours you can take while in the Windy City that will enable you to explore several of them. However, if you have time for only one Frank Lloyd Wright-focused outing, then make a point to visit his home and studio. Located in Oak Park, just west of downtown Chicago, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio is where he and his family resided for some 20 years as Wright toiled away on hundreds of architectural plans. For anyone with even a passing interest in architecture, it’s a tour not to be missed.

Robie House

But who wants to experience just one Frank Lloyd Wright-focused outing? The Robie House, located in Hyde Park on the campus of the University of Chicago, is considered by some experts to be one of the most significant structures in the history of American architecture. Completed in 1910, this single-family home stands today as a fine example of Wright’s so-called “Prairie Style.” It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1963, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

If that’s not enough, the Robie House is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can visit it without even needing to remove your wallet. As the Robie House is part of both the All-Inclusive Pass and the Explorer Pass produced by Go City Chicago, you can simply have your attraction pass scanned at the gate and join a tour of this extraordinary building just like that.

Chicago History Museum

The Chicago History Museum’s focus isn’t strictly exclusively on architecture—its terrific exhibits cover all manner of historical Chicago, of course—but architecture buffs will discover in short order that all the same it’s well worth a visit. The Chicago History Museum occupies a prominent location near the southwest entrance to Lincoln Park, at the lively intersection of Clark Street and North Avenue. If you have the time, energy, and inclination, consider approaching the museum on foot from the south, with a walk along North Astor Street. This quiet block is the heart of Chicago’s opulent Gold Coast neighborhood, and you’ll see some striking architecture and beautiful homes in the wild as you make your way to the museum.

When you arrive at the Chicago History Museum, whip out your attraction pass, enter hassle-free, and enjoy! Popular permanent galleries here include “City on Fire: Chicago 1871,” which demonstrates how the Great Chicago Fire forever altered Chicago’s architecture, and “Chicago: Crossroads of America,” which houses noteworthy artifacts gathered from all throughout Chicago.

Observation Decks

So, let’s be clear and acknowledge straight off the top that an observation deck is not, strictly speaking, an “architecture tour.” With that out of the way, let’s get real: you’re going to spend all this time, effort, and energy exploring the many architectural wonders of Chicago, and then decide not to see said architectural wonders from perhaps their most amazing vantagepoints? Come on, now.

Chicago has two observation decks worth knowing about, both of which provide breathtaking and unique views of the city and its distinct charms. Skydeck Chicago occupies the 103rd floor of the iconic Willis Tower (it’ll always be the Sears Tower to us locals!) and lets you peer out across the city from an all-glass enclosed box known as The Ledge—you’ll either love it or hate it. 360 Chicago is found on the 94th floor of the 875 Michigan Avenue building (you will encounter literally no one who calls it this—it’s known to real breathing human beings from Chicago as the John Hancock Center). You can’t go wrong seeing the city’s architecture from either landmark, and regardless of which one you go with, your admission will be free at the point of access when you use your Chicago CityPASS.

BONUS: Chicago Architecture Center

A disclaimer: Unlike the attractions detailed above, nothing associated with the fabulous Chicago Architecture Center is found on any sort of local attraction pass (like the Go City Chicago Explorer Pass). However, did you see how I just described the Chicago Architecture Center as “fabulous”? That’s because it is, and I would be remiss if I didn’t conclude this article on architecture tours in Chicago by at least mentioning this outstanding resource.

Located on Wacker Drive, one block east of Michigan Avenue and one block south of the Chicago Riverwalk, the Chicago Architecture Center is your home for all things, well, Chicago architecture! Here you’ll find exhibits on the city’s architectural history, as well as galleries dedicated to envisioning what a Chicago “of the future” might look like, but the standout feature would have to be a model Chicago that contains over 4,000 buildings. The Chicago Architecture Center also runs some several dozen different architectural tours, including its acclaimed River Cruise. This 90-minute excursion is a real gem, and I would highly recommend it.