Location: Chicago
Top Things to do in Chicago
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The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Chicago, Illinois (IL)
The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy, and die-hard sports fans. Snap a photo of your reflection in the silver Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park before heading to Grant Park to get hit with the refreshing spray of Buckingham Fountain. There are dozens of museums and theater companies in Chicago, so a cultural experience is never hard to find. You’re sure to laugh your head off at the Second City Theater, the professional launch pad of many famous comedians.
Restaurants in Chicago
1. Chase Auditorium
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By ChristieV18 - Normal, United States
Tickets for this weekly show are best bought online to attend this fabulous evening of fun. The auditorium and its environs are very attractive and comfortable.
2. Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By dvkremk - Venice, United States
This was a great place to see birds and great views of the city. There are nice paths to see various plants and birds. You can't believe you are still in Chicago.
3. American Writers Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 377 reviews
Visit the American Writers Museum today! Through innovative and dynamic state-of-the-art exhibitions, as well as compelling programming, the American Writers Museum educates, enriches, provokes, and inspires visitors of all ages. Special exhibits FREE with paid admission; My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today (through Spring 2021), and Tools of the Trade (through June 30, 2020).
Reviewed By FelicitySpike - Scarsdale, United States
The American Writers Museum features well organized and engaging exhibits for lovers of reading and writing. A special exhibit of Bob Dylan demonstrates some of the reasons Dylan received the Nobel Prize for Literature. There was also an exhibit of old typewriters used by well-known American writers.
4. Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 808 reviews
To ensure the health and safety of our guests, tours at Robie House return on June 11 and are limited to nine guests per time slot. (Updated 6/2/20) The Frederick C. Robie House on the University of Chicago campus is considered one of the most important buildings in the history of American architecture. This Prairie style masterpiece is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright List. Discover the residence Wright described as “a cornerstone of modern architecture” on guided tours that take in both the exterior and interior of the building. Inspired by the expansive landscape of the Midwest prairie, Wright’s Robie House is the most famous of the architect’s groundbreaking Prairie houses. Public tours are available Thursday - Monday. The museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit flwright.org to learn more.
Reviewed By reneeu435
We enjoyed the tour and wished we had been able to take the in-depth tour. I have toured a couple FLW houses and this one is beautifully restored.
5. Chicago Cultural Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,992 reviews
The Chicago Cultural Center is the nation's first free municipal cultural center and one of the most visited attractions in Chicago. The stunning landmark building, opened in 1897 as the city's first public library, is home to two magnificent stained-glass domes, and annually presents hundreds of free cultural exhibits and performances. Admission is free.
Reviewed By pookala - Philadelphia, United States
Aside from being a beautiful building filled with finely executed mosaic work, a lovely marble staircase and an always interesting array of changing exhibits; the Cultural Center also has a free weekly recital under the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world. The 45 minute Wednesday concerts take place in the Preston Bradley Hall at 12:15 pm. Be sure to get there early (20-30 minutes) if you want to sit up front. The space fills up quickly. If you have nothing planned afterwards go to the Randolph St entrance after the concert and go on a tour of the building. Space is limited for this tour and they start at 1:15 pm daily. Check out their calendar of events before planning your Chicago itinerary to take advantage of this excellent cultural institution.
6. National Museum of Mexican Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 237 reviews
Enjoy one of the country's largest collections of Mexican art and culture, including a vibrant textile collection including indigenous outfits and weavings, folk art including masks and Día de los Muertos artifacts and ephemera documenting the Chicano Movement. Open daily 10am-5pm, closed Mondays.
Reviewed By bettyc552
This museum is small but there is a lot to see. It is a great way to learn the Mexican heritage, culture and history. There are lots of artwork ranging from painting, sculptures, pictures and photos. We went in early November and they had amazing artworks for Dia de Los Muertos on display. The museum is free and there are donation boxes in the hallway. The gift shop is worth a visit. There are beautiful home decorations, toys and jewelry. They do not have a parking lot but there are plenty of street parking
7. Oriental Institute Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 552 reviews
The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago is a leading research center for the ancient Middle East. The museum houses some 350,000 artifacts—around 5,000 of which are on display—excavated mainly by OI archaeologists. Founded in 1919, at a time when the Middle East was called the Orient, the OI has pioneered innovative excavations and comprehensive dictionary projects that chronicle ancient civilizations. The Oriental Institute Museum aims to understand, reveal, and protect ancient Middle Eastern civilizations.
Reviewed By 515rauld - Chicago, United States
An Oasis you can explore Hyde Park and Univ. Of Chicago close to downtown by Bus and yet a different world.
8. Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Rockefeller Chapel is the spiritual and ceremonial center of the University of Chicago, and a major performing arts producer, offering music, theatre, and visual arts events to citywide audiences. A leading venue for the choral arts, it is a prized event location for major speakers and international artists. It is the home of two world class instruments, the carillon and organ. Resembling a medieval cathedral in appearance and size, it hosts festivals and ceremonies of many world religious traditions, as well as Sunday services where the soaring architecture is matched with the poetry and theatre of grand liturgy of diverse origins, and with the beautiful voices of its choristers.
9. Lincoln Park Conservatory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 761 reviews
A Chicago institution for more than a century, the Conservatory's Main Garden blooms with more than 40,000 annuals.
Reviewed By design007 - Granger, United States
Wow. Amazing little gem and with a history. Free admission which was a nice surprise. Lincoln Park Zoo around the corner when you are done. Blooming flowers, plants and bushes like I was at the Masters. Hard to believe these hardy plants, trees , and orchids can thrive in the winter. In the summer this conservatory is open air. The smell and peacefulness is what amazes you too. A young man was on a bench reading. Relaxing, while the cold of Chicago was a few steps away. Good for all ages.
10. Chicago Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
The Chicago Temple includes a ground floor sanctuary, leased office space and a small Sky Chapel that is located 400 feet above ground level.
