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Take a Boat Tour Through Chicago

There are many ways that you can travel about Chicago, but one of the most unique is by boat. You can find many of these vessels docked alongside the Dock Street at the Navy Pier. You can either privately charter a boat tour or take one of the more popular sightseeing boat tours that are available. You can also choose from different types of tours, including dinner cruises, speedboat rides on Lake Michigan, take a water taxi and even do some dancing.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise runs approximately 90 minutes and takes you past some of the most important structures in the city. These include: the Sears Tower, Marina City, the Tribune Tower, River City, Trump Tower and Merchandise Mart. The trained tour guides will give you an inside look at the story of each building and and their significance to the city’s history.

If you want to get some entertainment while seeing the city from the water, an entertainment cruises is the perfect choice for you. These excursions provide you with excellent food, the chance to dance and to find excellent views of the city from Lake Michigan. The entire experience is included in one package. You will have to contact one of the many companies that offer these tours in order to book passage on one of their boats.

A unique experience can be found on the Tall Ship Red Witch, a large wooden schooner available for tours. It can be reserved for a private day out for your group, a dinner or wedding reception. There also events throughout the year that are open to the general public for the price of a ticket.

Whether you are taking one of the regular sightseeing tours or chartering a private vote for a day out on the water, this is definitely the way to Chicago. You can sit back and relax while seeing the sights.

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Segway: The Best Way to See Chicago

chicago from the sky
Image by stefanie says via Flickr

There are a number of ways that you can get around Chicago and see the sights, but one of the most unique is to take a Segway tour. This rolling, electric two-wheeled vehicle takes you through the city without having to walk for endless hours. They are easy to maneuver and you will be led with a group by a trained tour guide to various destinations around the city. Many of these tours will focus on a particular aspect of the city, such as the architecture or on a particular section. Whatever you choose, you will have a great time and will not be worn out at the end.

A general Segway tour of the city will take you to a number of various points of interest, giving you time to stop and explore. Some of the places you might go include: Shed Aquarium, Millennium Park, Soldier Field, The Field Museum, Buckingham Fountain and The Adler Planetarium. Another option is to take a tour that focuses on famous architectural structures in the city, getting the scoop on each building’s history and construction. Other tours will be a mix of both, giving you an overall look at the city’s sights and history.

Each of these tours can run approximately 2 or more hours, depending on the section of the city you are going through and the focus it has. You will get numerous opportunities to take pictures and to visit the museums, zoo and to experience the city. You and your family will have to take a short safety lesson and will be required to wear a helmet while riding the Segway. You will need to contact each company in order to get the time for each tour and any relevant information. It is important that you set aside at least an afternoon to take one of these and to pack lightly as you will not be able to carry too much while riding.

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Cycling Around Chicago

There are many ways to see Chicago, and one of the most fun can be to take a bicycle tour through the city. You will not only get around easier, but will get some beneficial exercise in the process. The bikes offered come in a variety of styles, depending upon your personal preference. These include: hybrids, mountain bikes, raod bikes, cruisers, tandems, bikes for children and others. This allows you to ride that is more comfortable for you.

You can rent bikes at locations such as the Navy Pier, Millenium Park, North Avenue Beach, Riverwalk and Foster Beach. The rides vary in their destinations and routes, giving you greater choice in the kind of tour you take. Some take you through various neighborhoods, parks around the city and along the lakefront. There are some stations where you can rent a bicycle just to take out on your own. There are also tours taken around the city by bike at night for a different experience.

These companies will often provide you with the necessary safety gear, such as helmets, to wear on the ride. In some cases, you may have to provide your own. These tours run in the warmer months of the year, beginning in the early spring. It is best to set aside a full morning or afternoon for one of these tours, giving yourself plenty of time to enjoy the rides and sights without being strapped for time.

Some tours may require a reservation, so it is best to call in advance to make arrangements. You should also check with the tour company to see what kinds of bikes they offer for you to choose from. Another great reason to see Chicago this way is the money you will save on gas, you won’t have to worry about parking or getting around through traffic. You can just get on, push off and ride without worry, taking your time for a trip through Chicago.

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Having a Portable Tour Guide on Your Journey Through Chicago

If you are visiting Chicago and don’t have the time or funds to take a guided tour, you don’t have to miss out on the experience. You can actually have a free, portable tour guide right in your pocket as you stroll around, taking in the sights. This is more possible than you can imagine, and is easy to do. There are a large number of free audio tours available through the internet that you can download onto an MP3 or other music player. Others you may have to pay a fee for in order to download. Then you can truly have a portable tour guide in your pocket.

The Chicago Office of Tourism has a variety of tours, including ones that take you through Millenium Park and one titled “The History of the Chicago Blues.” There are even tours designed for your children to listen to. If you want an interesting walk, there is one tour that focuses on the Chicago Loop. This one takes you through a wide selection of famous architectural sites, theatres and points of cultural significance. There is another one that takes you through Humboldt Park, which lasts about an hour.

Other tours that cost will also take you through focused areas including architecture and the artistic side of Chicago. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the city and learn at the same time. One of the greatest advantages of these tours is that you can go at your pace and on your own schedule. You can pause and restart your tour whenever you choose. This is unlike a guided tour, where you have to stop and go on the group’s schedule.

However you choose to explore Chicago, considering giving an audio tour a try. It is a very affordable way to learn about the city and you have complete control over the entire affair.

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Bet on a Winner at Arlington Park

On 2007's Memorial Day Weekend on Arlington Pa...
Image via Wikipedia

If you love to watch horse races, Arlington Park in Chicago is the place for you to be. Arington offers visitors an exciting time, with the racing season running from April through September each year. Special races are also run on certain holidays, including: Memorial Day, Independance Day and Labor Day. The park was first built in 1927, and was closed for a short period from 1985 to 1989 due to a fire. It has a long history of racing, having been successful throughout the Great Depression and even held the first race with a $1 million prize, called The Arlington Million. The park has grown to be one of the top spots for visitors to see thoroughbred racing. It has also held such events as the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

One of the best advantages of Arlington Park is its focus on providing quality entertainment for visitors within a family oriented atmosphere. When you and your family come to the park, you will get to see some of the traditional practices that were a common part of early horse racing. For example, before the race a bugler in the historical outfit plays before the race and you get to watch the jockeys parade in their mounts.

The park offers you and your family an excellent meal when all of you get hungry and you can take in an exciting race. You can also take advantage of one of the many eating establishments that are located nearby. The family-style atmosphere makes for a safe environment to bring your children, when they can get involved in the action as well. Arlington Park is dedicated to providing the best customer service that they can offer and is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon on your trip to Chicago. This is one experience you will definitely want to take advantage of.

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Have Fun Experimenting at the Museum of Science and Industry

Chicago is home to an amazing place that helps to make the world of science a fun place to explore, The Museum of Science and Industry. You and your family can come learn about the various machinery that makes industry go and the story behind some of science’s mysteries. When you come to the science museum, you will have to pay an entrance fee to obtain a ticket. Then you can start to enjoy the fun and fascination that you will find within its walls. The museum is home to a number of hands-on exhibits you can interact with, a number of artifacts from science and industry’s past and various other forms of entertainment. It is truly a place that makes learning fun.

One of the fascinating exhibits a you can tour is the U-505 submarine, the only one that was taken during World War II. Within a 30,000 square-feet complex, you can explore various artifacts and hands-on activities. Another is the reconstruction of a coal mine that you can go down to in an actual man hoist 50 feet below. “The Great Train Story” shows you how modern train operations are run through an exciting exhibit you will want to spend time in. The museum also feature an Omnimax Theater, which has a five story high movie screen. You can also learn about the workings of your body, robotics and the functionings of the inner earth.

The museum is open throughout the year, except for Christmas day. Its hours are 9:30 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday and 11 AM to 4 PM on Sundays. There may be a fee for the theater, some of the special exhibits inside and to take a guided tour of the U-505. The museum recommends that you buy your tickets online before coming to make your entrance into the museum quicker.

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Ride the Rides at Six Flags

Everyone loves to go to a theme park, getting on the most terrifying rides and spending time with friends and family. Six Flags Great America is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions for those wanting a thrill and others who just want to have a good time. The park also features a variety of food and entertainment options that can meet the needs of everyone in the family, no matter what their age and interests.

Six Flags has every kind of ride you can imagine, from those made for danger seekers to children’s rides. The thrill rides in the park are some of the fastest around and will make you scream. A popular one is “Batman the Ride,” which is the first roller coaster in the world that is inverted and features outside loops. For an even more interesting experience, you can take the Ragin’ Cajun, which spins completely around and features a number of sudden drops.

If you want to get wet, Hurricane Harbor is the place to go. This portion of the park is open from the latter part of May into the first part of September. It has a number of fantastic water rides, one of which spins and turns you down six stories of tubes. Skull Island is the perfect place to take the kids for a romping time of 100,000 square feet of water play area.

The park also has a number of shows and places where you can get any type of food that you like. This can be anything from hamburgers to funnel cakes, or a beverage to wet your whistle. Before coming to the park, you should be aware of the height restrictions for many of the rides and the operating seasons for the different areas of the park. Six Flags Great America will give you and your family a great time when you visit Chicago.

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Take a Stroll Through Union Station

Union Station is a fascinating and entertaining stop in Chicago, and will give you a view of one of the few early 20th century train depots that is left in the city. The station saw its height of used during the 1940s, with over 300 trains going in and out and carrying approximately 100,000 commuters on a daily basis. Currently, approximately 50,000 people make use of the station and the trains that run through, but there’s much more to Union Station than that.

A beautiful section of the station to visit is the Great Hall, which goes all the way back to 1925. This portion of the depot was constructed with marble floors and walls, has bronze torches for decoration and Corinthian style columns throughout. Those who love historical architecture will immensely enjoy this portion of the station. If you get hungry, there are numerous places for you to stop and grab a bite to eat. You can find various baked products, pizza, a deli and a food court with even more selection.

For the shopper, you can get a souvenir to take home in one of the many stores inside the station or simply grab you something to read. Union Station is also the perfect place to find an easy way to travel about the city. The Metra system offers a fast and affordable way to get around Chicago. You have a number of options when buying tickets, including those for a group, children, family fares or just a one-way ticket. At each stop, you can also pick up a map and a schedule showing you how to get around and what time each train arrives. Traveling this way can make getting to some of the major sites much easier and less stressful than trying to drive and find a parking place in the city. Making a stop at Union Station is well worth your time.

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Get a Taste of the Music at Chicago’s Many Festivals

Chicago has a deep-rooted tradition in music, and blues are a major part of that history. Blues music lovers every year love to come to the Chicago Blues Festival, which has been part of the city’s culture for the past 20 years. It occurs in Grant Park around the middle of June and draws some of the most talented musicians from all over. You will hear music ranging from boogie-woogie, swing, blues and delta blues. When you come out for this amazing festival, you will be bumping elbows with nearly a million others who come each year.

You can find more than the blues, though, experiencing every kind of music including jazz, gospel, country and Irish Celtic music as well. Chicago is home to a wide variety of music festivals throughout the year that are featured in Millennium Park and some of the other beautiful outdoor spots in the city. For example, you can attend Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays in Millennium Park, which is located in the Jay Pritzker Pavillion.

These events give you a flavor of the varied and diverse ethnic populations that populated the city in the late 19th and early 20th century. They brought with them their cultural traditions, including music, that help give the city its unique flavor and history. These events occur during the warmer months of the year from early spring into early fall and are generally free to the public. You can not only catch great talent but also get a taste of some excellent food sold by vendors. Check the Chicago festival’s website for a schedule of upcoming events and make one or two of them a part of your trip. They are the perfect way to spend an evening out, relax with some good music and enjoy some quality time together.

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Take a Walk on the Wild Side at Brookfield Zoo

One of Chicago’s favorite attractions is the Brookfield Zoo, which has more than 2,000 animals housed on 216 acres. The zoo was first opened to the public in 1934 and was designed using a variety of natural obstacles to keep the animals separate from the visitors, such as moats. This makes for a more pleasant atmosphere over the traditional cage that is used in many zoos and allows for better viewing of the animals for visitors.

One exhibit you can visit is the “Great Bear Wilderness.” This new attraction is home to a wide variety of animals and birds, including bald eagles, polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves and bison. You not only get to see the animals in a natural like habitat, but also get to learn about their place in nature and how they survive on a daily basis. There are also shows featuring dolphins, classes for families and individuals along with various other activities that can make your day spectacular. When you get hungry, the zoo also features a number of dining establishments where you can get a meal. These can include a regular restaurant or you can just stop by a snack shop to get a light snack for the road.

The zoo is very large and features a wide variety of programming and sites, which cannot be fully explored in a single day. The zoo recommends that you start with the Exhibit and Animal Guide along with the zoo map to choose what things you and your family would like to see before you come. This way, you can hit the main aspects of the zoo if you are limited to a single day. If possible, you may want to plan more than one day in order to explore further. The Brookfield Zoo is an excellent way to spend a day while visiting Chicago.

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