Travel Specialist Weblog

The Bean in Millennium Park

I am from Philadelphia, PA but have lived in the Chicago area since 1979 after living in LA for several years.  When I told people I was moving from Los Angeles to Chicago the common reaction was shock and horror.  Today there is still a perception that there is no reason to visit our wonderful city.  It is cold and windy, right?  They forget we have a summer and a LAKE!  Most foreign visitors hit both coasts and miss the middle which is regrettable for them and the city.  Following is an article from the official visitors site for Chicago.  It offers a lot of information that still just touches on what we have to offer here in Chicago for those venture into the center of the country.  I am available to book your vacations or business trips in Chicago as an individual or a group.  Do contact me, I like nothing better than showcasing Chicago.  Enjoy.

Chicago offers a staggering number of exciting things visitors can enjoy free of charge throughout the year. Here are a few of our favorites: At historic Navy Pier, the Midwest’s #1 tourist and leisure destination, the full lineup of free entertainment includes shows, special seasonal events, and music and dance performances from around the globe. Fifty acres of parks, gardens and promenades make this lakefront playground – open daily except Christmas and Thanksgiving – a lovely place to stroll and enjoy an unparalleled view of the cityscape. And on summer Wednesday and Saturday nights, dazzling fireworks displays off the Pier light up the nighttime sky. Inside the Pier, Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows exhibits 150 stained glass windows – both religious and secular windows in Victorian, Prairie, Modern and Contemporary styles – in the first such museum in the U.S.

Frank Geary's Bandshell in Millennium Park

In the heart of the city is Millennium Park, an award-winning gem of art, music, architecture and landscape design. Performers utilizing this spectacular space for theater and music include Grant Park Music Festival, which serves up the nation’s only remaining free outdoor classical music series in the magnificent Jay Pritzker Pavilion on summer evenings. Ever-changing displays of art and sculpture throughout the year include ice sculptures in winter. And master gardeners point out native plantings and Chicago symbolism during free guided tours of Lurie Garden.

Unsurpassed displays of plants and flowers and seasonal shows are presented at Chicago’s two “gardens under glass” – Garfield Park Conservatory on the city’s west side and Lincoln Park Conservatory just north of downtown. A few steps from Lincoln Park Conservatory is a world of wildlife in Lincoln Park Zoo. This natural oasis in the shadow of skyscrapers is home to reclusive reptiles, massive mammals, beautiful birds, and countless creatures in between.

In the heart of the Loop, the Chicago Cultural Center could easily rest on its laurels as an architectural landmark…but it also works hard as one of the most comprehensive free arts showcases in the country. Hundreds of programs in dance, music, theater, and film, plus art exhibitions, literary programs, lectures and discussions provide nonstop opportunities to spark visitors’ imaginations.

Check out the dozens of other Chicago attractions which also offer free admission every day or free admission on select days.