Visiting The Rookery was one of those quiet Chicago moments that really sticks with you. From the…read moreoutside it's understated, but once you step into the Light Court, the space opens up with natural light, ironwork, and detail everywhere you look. The Frank Lloyd Wright staircase is subtle but impressive--nothing flashy, just solid design that holds up over time.Tip for first-time visitors: go on a weekday and aim for mid-morning if you can--the light is best, it's calmer, and you'll actually have space to stop and look around. It's not a long visit, but it doesn't need to be. The Rookery is simple, beautiful, and worth slowing down for.

Make no mistake, this space is stunning and definitely something to see. As a recent wedding guest,…read moreI was expecting more. The setup of the building makes for a cramped wedding. We had to stay in the crowded lobby for a long time before the ceremony space was opened. The restrooms are far away from the action, about as far from the party as they could be. The second floor cocktail space was cramped. The two bartenders were soooo slow. Not sure if they were part of the catering staff the Rookery uses or separate. Dinner was exceptional. No one knew the bar moved from the second floor to a space under a first-floor staircase for drinks after dinner. There was no announcement of where desserts were located. A lot of the issues I had with the wedding could have been eliminated had an experienced planner been hired. Too often during the day guests were not sure where to go or what was happening, what was next. It's a beautiful space but my advice to couples would be to hire a planner who is experienced and who has worked several wedding at the Rookery. Also, I was told the space was rented the night before the wedding so the couple couldn't have a rehearsal. Unfortunately, that was obvious and added to the disjointed event. Also, some tourist walked into the back of the ceremony space during the wedding. I would have thought Rookery staff/security would keep tourists out of a private event, but this is one of those things that will become a funny wedding story in a couple of years.

I have only been on the Skydeck once. I absolutely urge first-time visitors to check it out. The…read moreChicago skyline from the deck is breathtakingly beautiful. You'll need to purchase tickets to enter. The lines can sometimes be long but they do try and control that. Of course they have a gift shop...a few actually. You can pay for a photo of yourself on the deck and you can also snap some of your own. Staff are accommodating. You are able to learn a lot of history as well as seeing other important historical displays about the city. Big touristy thing to do? Yep! Should you do it? Yep!

This is super touristy, but who cares, it's worth it! When in Chicago, this is a must do! We got…read morethe CityPass, which normally I would be bear-ish on something like that, but it was totally worth it. This is a pretty pricey single attraction for a family, but bundled with the 5 venue pass, this makes it much more reasonable. You also get the Expedited Entry included for free with your CityPass, which I would absolutely not pay the extra amount for (about $20 more per adult and $30 more per kid depending on the the day), but it made it super easy to get into the glass ledges. We went on a random Thursday, before most kids were out for the summer, and there was no wait to go up the elevator, and no wait for the expedited line for the ledges. They give you a set amount of time in the ledges, it seems like 90 seconds when it's busy and 2 mins 30 secs when it is slower, but you can get back in line and do it again. With the expedited pass we went 3 times into the ledges so that everyone could get all the photos they wanted. The rest of the view around the perimeter of the building was nice, and like I said when we went, not crowded, so we took our time and enjoyed the view. All told we probably spent an hour at the observation level. There is a gift shop up top, but everything they have up there, they also have in the lower level store (and more) when you exit the down elevator, so don't feel like you have to buy souvenirs up top. My boys chose a souvenir at the top and then had buyers remorse when they saw more for sale down below; thankfully they accepted returns and they were able to swap for the souvenirs they really wanted. All in all, this was worth the walk up Jackson from the Art Institute, and now I can say I have been in 3 buildings that when they were built were the tallest in the world!

Very chill and relaxing. With much to see and get some nice steps in…read more Certainly recommend if you're looking to cut back on just spending money everywhere you go.

One might expect me to be all doom and gloom about the sheer number of restaurants and bars along…read morethe river. Surprisingly, I won't be that guy, at least not this time. The main thing I really love about the Riverwalk is that it's a place in Chicago where someone can simply exist and vibe without the necessity of spending money. There is more than enough space to walk along the riverfront, take a seat, and enjoy the atmosphere. In terms of safety, there are more than enough "eyes on the street" as well as a visible police/private security presence. As with any high-traffic spot, use common sense, but other than a possible pickpocket, I don't foresee any issues. In terms of cleanliness, it is well-maintained, and I've not encountered any noticeable dirt, grime, or trash. I also really appreciate that the Riverwalk has both public bathrooms and is accessible! Accessibility needs no further explanation, and being able to wash up without buying an overpriced drink is worth its weight in gold. Another Yelper has compared it to the San Antonio River Walk and called out Chicago for having a shorter, less green "rip-off" of what one would find in Texas. However, I believe one should cast this comparison aside and judge the Chicago Riverwalk on its own merits. With that said... The final verdict: The Chicago Riverwalk is not your traditional, greenery-filled park. It is, however, a fantastic public space to take a stroll, have a bite, or just relax. Better still, while there is no shortage of tourists, it is an excellent destination for locals and visitors alike.

Drove by on a Thursday afternoon. I thought it was a private home but it appears that there are…read moretours every last Saturday of the month. This is fantastic! There is only street parking so it will probably be hard to park. Best to uber or lyft if coming. The outside area seems to be well maintained. Goigle their website to plan ahead and see more info.

No tour was available. Looks well maintained. Not worth the trip unless you are in the immediate…read morevicinity.

When we were looking for a local cinema to see Ne Zha 2 for the second time, this time with English…read moredubbing, we were happy to find Landmark at the Glen! It replaced Arclight which was in a decline. The cinema had been renovated 2 years ago. It was a Thursday afternoon, and the cinema was pretty quiet. There were big kiosks for ticket purchases, and the process was quick and easy. We got a small bag (which was not too small) for $10 plus tax, a little pricy for popcorn, but it was good. The popcorn guy was friendly, and he also doubled as the guy to collect our ticket stubs, and informed us which cinema room to go to. We were there for the preview of the movie, and we got the entire cinema #5 to the 3 of us! While the lobby and hallways of the cinema was nice and cool, this room was a little too warm. We totally understood that they would not cool down an entire room when there was no audience inside. I went to talk to the popcorn guy about the air temperature issue, and he promised to have it adjusted. As I went back to the cinema room. We could feel that cool air started to come out, and it was comfortable for the rest of the showing. The chairs were big, clean, and comfortable. Sound and picture were great. The movie itself was enjoyable just like the first time, and the English dubbing was perfect. The entire cinema was very clean. I was especially pleased with their restrooms being spotless clean. There is a bar in the lobby, and across from it was the biggest poster I've ever seen in a cinema lobby, it was a colorful digital poster of Ne Zha 2, very appropriate for such a spectacular movie. When we left the cinema after seeing the movie, there was another guy at the hallway collecting ticket stubs, and there was obviously more audience coming in. We enjoyed this cinema experience very much, and would definitely return to see other movies in the future.

This movie theater's really cute. I think it's a hidden gem in the Glen. Located right next to Yard…read moreHouse in Glenview, IL. The guy was very helpful getting me a cup for water and had the whold theater to myself. Definitely coming back.

I will always call it the Sears Tower. I can't help it, that's what it was called the first time I…read moreever saw it and you know how it is...some of us humans just don't adapt to name changes of places we know and love. Anyway, I have been to Chicago many, many times (if you see me at a Yelp event, ask me why) and I like to see the tower whenever I am in the neighborhood. No longer the tallest building in the world, it is still a spectacular sight. The history and origin and the fact that it was the first skyscraper still holds intrigue and meaning for any architecture lover. As you can imagine, it can be extremely busy because after all, it is a building that holds businesses. However, that is not always the case. I have been at various times of day and it just really depends on the time, etc. If you are going for the first time, you absolutely want to get a view from the deck (Skydeck). The views are beyond incredible.

I went to Willis Tower at 5 PM on a weekday with absolutely no idea what kind of crowd situation I…read morewas walking into. I had mentally prepared myself for lines, chaos, and the slow march of humanity. Imagine my surprise when I basically walked right in. In fact, my longest wait of the entire experience was for an elevator, which feels like a very reasonable thing to wait for in a giant skyscraper. I also loooooooved all of the historical information provided throughout the experience. It kept things interesting and made the journey feel like more than just walking in and riding an elevator to a great view. The cute photo ops sprinkled throughout were a nice touch too. And can we take a moment to appreciate the bathrooms? There were plenty of them and they were so clean. THANK YOU. As someone who judges attractions at least partially on restroom availability, this earned major points from me. Supreme appreciation. Everything felt organized, easy to navigate, and flowed really well. I don't know if I should credit the time of day, the weekday timing, or if it's always this smooth, but whatever the reason, I was pleasantly surprised from start to finish. Would absolutely visit again.

Cloud Gate aka "The Bean" is one of the best spots in Chicago - . If you've just arrived in town,…read morethis is an easy and classic first stop in Millennium Park. The mirrored, bean shaped sculpture acts like a giant mirror, giving you a unique reflection of Chicago's skyline and the crowd around you. Obviously, it's a great place for photos and a must visit in Millennium Park.

Cloud Gate, otherwise known as the Bean, sits in the middle of Millennium Park in downtown Chicago…read moreand is one of those public art installations that consistently surprises people who encounter it for the first time despite being one of the most photographed objects in the city. I walked up to a seamless polished stainless steel form that reflects everything around it without a single visible seam or joint across its entire surface. That engineering achievement alone is worth appreciating before I even started engaging with what the reflections actually do. The reflections are the experience. I watched the Chicago skyline curve and distort across the surface in a way that shifted constantly depending on where I was standing, and walking slowly around the perimeter gave me a different composition every few steps. Walking underneath the concave arch in the center, which locals call the omphalos, produced a funhouse mirror effect that reflected me and everyone else from overhead in a way that was consistently disorienting and engaging regardless of how many times I have seen it. On a clear day with blue sky the effect was particularly strong, with the skyline wrapping around the sculpture against a bright background. On overcast days the palette shifts toward silver and grey and produces its own version of the thing. Admission is free and the park is open and accessible, which made Cloud Gate an easy addition to my Chicago itinerary without any planning required. It gets crowded, particularly on weekends and during summer, and the area immediately around the sculpture fills with people taking photos throughout the day. Early morning visits before the crowds build give you a more relaxed experience and better light for photography. It is one of the few landmarks in any city that genuinely lives up to what people say about it.

OMG. My family and I are huge Home Alone Fans. I have been wanting to come here for years. I…read morefinally stopped being lazy and took the ride out to Winnekta. This is a must see attraction and worth the drive. I turned the corner and there were lots of people standing in front of the house taking pics. I met a few people from other cities and even even other countries. This was just a dream come true to stand in front of the famous Home Alone House. You can also see the other houses that were filmed in the movie. Old Man Marley's house next door and The Murphy's house which is right across the street. The neighborhood is so beautiful. Just standing there felt so unreal. It Instantly gave me flashbacks from some of the movie scenes.

We had an adventure today me and my daughter Victoria we decided to stop by the home alone house…read more We weren't the only ones so if you want to get a photo opt in you just have to be patient. You can park on the street you can't get really close to the house because there's a fence. We had a lot of fun and then we went into town and got coffee from a local shop and just walked around for a bit.