Illinois Archives

Chicago Children’s Museum visitor guide with prices & hours

Visit the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier. My guide provides ticket prices, opening hours, and practical tips for families. When I first walked into the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier, what caught me off guard was just how vertical it is. Three full…

Cloud Gate (The Bean), Chicago: 2026 visitor guide

Planning to see Cloud Gate, The Bean, in Chicago? This visitor guide offers practical tips and essential information for your 2026 visit to the much-photographed landmark. When I first walked into Millennium Park on a crisp Chicago morning, Cloud Gate caught me completely off guard.…

Best Chicago neighbourhoods to visit: A visitor’s guide to the Windy City’s top districts

Discover Chicago's most vibrant neighbourhoods in this guide to the city's diverse districts. From historic Old Town Chicago to trendy West Loop restaurants, explore the unique character and attractions that make each area special for visitors and locals alike. Old Town: Victorian charm meets comedy…

The Tiffany glass dome inside the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall.

Preston Bradley Hall: The Tiffany Dome at Chicago’s most underrated attraction

Visit Preston Bradley Hall inside the Chicago Cultural Center to see the world's largest Tiffany Glass Dome and the surrounding, intricate glass and mother-of-pearl mosaics. Chicago brims with top quality attractions. The public art in Millennium Park (including Cloud Gate) has become legendary, the Art…

Plan your visit to Miller Park Zoo: Opening hours, ticket prices and parking

The Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, Illinois offers a wide range of animal habitats, indoor and outdoor, and is well suited for a relaxed but engaging family outing. Below are all the practical details first-time visitors need to know: how to book, verified opening hours,…

Lion statue outside the Art Institute of Chicago.

Do I need to buy Art Institute of Chicago tickets in advance?

Do you need to buy Art Institute of Chicago tickets in advance? Booking ahead is recommended to avoid long lines, but the museum rarely sells out. Art Institute of Chicago visitor numbers The Art Institute of Chicago is justifiably one of Chicago’s top attractions and…

A selection of Chicago's architecture from the Chicago River.

Ten reasons why Chicago is the best city in the US

Discover why Chicago is America's best city: world-class architecture, deep-dish pizza, lakefront beaches, blues music, and Midwestern friendliness. Over my twenty-plus year career as a travel journalist, I’ve visited dozens of US cities. Many of them more than once. I thoroughly enjoy most of them,…

Why you should do a Chicago architecture cruise AND walking tour

Do an architecture walking tour in Chicago to see inside the buildings and get more depth. Do an architecture cruise for the magnificent views. To skip the explanation and choose from a range of Chicago architecture tours, head this way. Getting to know Chicago’s architecture…

Plan your visit to Shedd Aquarium, Chicago: tickets, hours, and what to see

Shedd Aquarium, on Museum Campus beside Lake Michigan, is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the United States, with thousands of creatures from beluga whales to stingrays. This guide gives you the nuts-and-bolts: how to get there, tickets, parking, accessibility, best times to visit,…

Sue the T-Rex inside the Field Museum, Chicago.

Ultimate guide to parking at the Field Museum (Chicago)

Guide to parking at the Field Museum in Chicago. Includes details on garage locations, current rates, and essential arrival tips for visitors. Where is the Field Museum? The Field Museum is at 1400 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive, in the heart of Chicago’s Museum Campus. Parking…