Travel | Chicago City

A Visit to the Field Museum of Natural History

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The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago is a unique way to learn and enjoy the natural world. It is located in the Chicago Museum Campus and was first constructed in 1893. Its exhibits are not just limited to the natural world, but encompass a variety of areas including science, history, art and archaeology. Its primary purpose at its inception was to serve as a home for the collection of artifacts that were on display at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. From that early time, Museum now houses over 20 million items and is home to a research library with over 200,000 books in it.

As you enter the museum, you can walk through exhibits and learn about biology, animals live under the ocean, fossils, various Native American cultures and the culture of the African people. There is also the biggest preserved Tyrannosaurus rex in the world, named Sue, you will want to check out. Another popular exhibit at the museum are the man eaters of Tsavo that terrorized natives that were helping to build a bridge in Africa. Killed by John Patterson, they have been donated to the museum and are an eerie sight to see.

During your visit, if you have any questions there are many individuals stationed at strategic points that can answer any questions you might have. You can also take in a variety of plants from around the earth and can even get a look inside the history of ancient Egypt.

The museum is not as busy if you come in the afternoon, which gives you more freedom to move around and take your time when looking at the exhibits. There is an admission fee to get into the Field Museum, but there may be a special price offered on certain days. Taking an afternoon to visit the Field Museum of Natural History is well worth the effort and will become one of your favorite stops on your trip.

Filed Under: Travel · Tagged With: Africa, Chicago, Chicago Museum Campus, Field Museum of Natural History

Brush Up on Art at the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art

No trip to Chicago is complete without a stop at the The David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art. The museum offers a wide variety of displays from various parts of the world, some of which are permanent in nature and others that are temporary, special exhibits. When you tour the museum, you can either be led by a trained docent or you can go on a self-guided walk. If you are coming with a group, the museum asks that you make a reservation for a docent led tour at least two weeks before you come. You can also check the Museum calendar for any walk in tours that the museum offers that particular day.

If you get hungry while you are walking around, the museum has a cafÃ© inside that you can take advantage of. Currently, they are featuring a wonderful exhibit titled “Echoes of the Past: The Buddhist Cave Temples of Xiangtangshan.” In it, there is a selection of Buddhist sculptures that date back to the sixth century that offer an inside look at at these beautiful cave temples. The main collection includes Asian, modern art, European and contemporary art. There is also a wonderful collection of sculptural pieces. Works from master artists and those in not so well known areas of the art world are displayed to give you a wider experience.

The museum requires no fee to enter, and there is also a free service where you can check in your bags and coats. This is preferred before you enter to browse through the galleries. The operating hours vary during the week, and during the holiday season. The next time you come to Chicago and want to get a taste of the art world, make sure to put the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art at the top of your list.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Chicago, Contemporary art, Museum

Get a Taste of Broadway at Chicago’s Theatres

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The Goodman Theatre in Chicago has a long history with the city, having been set up in 1925. Theatre goers can see works put on by players from around the world, within the United States or from local groups. You can purchase tickets to a single show, or you can buy a subscriber’s package to see several throughout the season. Plays range throughout the year, from big stage productions to holiday favorites.

Another hot spot to check out is the Harris Theater, which is a non-profit establishment that supports the performances of a variety of artist groups. These can include performances of dance, music and theatre. You can take in a jazz performance, classical music, choir singing and Christmas plays for your enjoyment. They currently have on tap several youth centered performances, ballet, A John Walters’ Christmas and various dance performances. Tickets can be purchased at the theatre box office or through their website.

You can also go the famous Chicago Theatre, located on State Street. This theatre got its start in 1921, has made itself into a major landmark in Chicago history. It offers a large variety of venues for visitors to watch, including comedy, various types of alternative theatre performances and compelling dramas for you to enjoy. You can also take a behind-the-scenes look at the theatre, seeing the stage, backstage area and related parts of the building used for productions.

With all of the options available to you to catch a show, you can find the perfect one for your tastes. This can be whether you prefer a classical performance of Bach, a ballet or a taste of new age theatre. Each theatre also has its own fascinating story to tell. Whatever your preference, Chicago has a broad variety of theatre venues for you to choose from.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Goodman Theatre, Theatre, United States

An Adventure at the The Art Institute of Chicago

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The Art Institute of Chicago is not only one of the nation’s top art schools, but also features a spectacular museum for visitors to enjoy. The museum is open throughout the week, with a daily entrance fee. You can enjoy the museum for free on Thursdays from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. It offers a wide selection of excellent works from artists throughout history.

For the holidays, and any other time of the year, you can get a look into an extraordinary tiny world. Mrs. James Ward Thorne is the artist who created the 68 different miniature rooms that are on display, made to exacting detail at a scale of one inch to one foot. Filled with Victorian charm, they are dressed up on a small scale each year for the holidays.

You can also check out the Gray Collection, which spans over seven centuries of great artworks. The works come from periods including the Renaissance, Baroque and nineteenth centuries with such artists included as Ruebens, Guecino, and Tiepolo. You can also see paintings and other works by Matisse, Picasso, and Miro. Robert Gray was an art dealer who amassed this astounding collection, with the museum having over 120 of the best works in the collection.

You can bring your family in for a variety of fun activities. These include crafts, exhibits, games and various others. There are also special family oriented programs offered, so check the museum schedule for the latest updates. If you get hungry, the cafe inside the museum offers foods, deserts and drinks for you to quench your hunger. You can also bring in pencils and a sketchbook if you love to draw and copy from master artists.

The Chicago Art Institute Museum is the perfect way to spend an afternoon when you are in the city. You can enjoy beautiful art, a relaxing meal and enjoy some quality family time.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Art Institute of Chicago, Museum, Robert Gray

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.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Chicago, Lake Michigan, Navy Pier

Segway: The Best Way to See Chicago

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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.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Buckingham Fountain, Segway PT, Soldier Field

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.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Bicycle, Chicago, Mountain bike, Navy Pier

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.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Audio tour, Chicago, Tour guide

Bet on a Winner at Arlington Park

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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.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Arlington Park, Chicago, Horse racing

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.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Travel · Tagged With: Chicago, Museum, Museum of Science and Industry