Wheeeew, grab a map when you walk in!! We tried to go without and it didn't end well. Not only did…read moremy boyfriend and I lose each other very early on, but we also lost track of what sections we had been in. Eventually we reconvened in the main area and consulted the visitor guide to ensure we maximized our time here, but it was still impossible to see everything. We happened to arrive right before noon, so we were able to peep in Fullerton Hall, which was cool. We also combed through the impressionism area and I enjoyed all the Monets. I then went on a MISSION to find American Gothic, which ended up being in an entirely different wing -- eventually I found it though. Paradise Lost was another highlight of course, as well as the Chicago Stock Exchange room recreation. We wrapped things up in the modern wing, and I was hyped to see several pieces from Andy Warhol, plus a Dali. If we didn't have a flight that night, we easily could've spent 2-3 more hours here.

Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago had long been on my bucket list ever since taking an art…read morehistory class in high school, so it was a dream come true to finally see it in person. I booked my tickets in advance on the morning of my visit and walked over from River North in the afternoon. Upon entering the galleries, I went up the central staircase and immediately found myself in a room with my favorite Impressionist masterpieces, including works by Monet, Seurat, Caillebotte, Van Gogh, and Matisse...just to name a few. I wandered through the other galleries and continued to spot my favorite paintings from other art periods. I even found a mummy! The museum layout was a little confusing, but the galleries were well-labeled, and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable in helping me find my way. Thinking that I would only spend about an hour in the museum, I ended up staying almost until closing. Before leaving, I stopped in at the gift shop to pick up some postcards to commemorate my visit. I highly recommend the Art Institute of Chicago to anyone visiting the city, and I would definitely consider coming back when I have more time on my next visit.

Love the museum! They have a good number of free days for residents…read more We came by to check out the Pokemon Fossil exhibit and they really did an amazing job. [A note, the Pokemon exhibit does require a separate timed ticket from general admission to the museum]. I love how they were careful to separate fact from fiction through color coordination and how the fossils mirrored some of the exhibits within the museum! We walked around some of the other areas and it was nice to see some of the classic exhibits as well as some of their newer ones. Its a great museum to explore and get lost in. Parking is pricey, but it's worth getting something close considering all the walking you'll do at the actual museum.

We recently visited Yellowstone National Park, and we remembered that the Field Museum in Chicago…read morehas a life-size bison on exhibit! If i recall, it was on the east side of the second floor. We saw a large herd in Yellowstone, and several scattered pairs and individuals. We were about ten feet from one while we were driving to Old Faithful. This felt like that experience. Yikes! Yeah, they are this big.

We had an amazing time visiting the Adler Planetarium during our trip to Chicago. There were so…read moremany fun exhibits with interesting history on space. We also went while there was a university student answering questions so we got to learn more about the black holes she's currently studying which was interesting. Our son had a great time exploring and playing in the interactive kids section.

Man what a real treat. It was my daughter's idea to visit the planetarium on a weeknight. Luckily…read morefor us the observatory was open to take in the amazing view of the moon! There was also a gentlemen next to the observatory with a smaller telescope who offered to take a few photos of the moon with my phone! The theatre show inside of the planetarium was insightful and entertaining. Lots to learn! Our host had a great old school FM voice. Icing on the cake was seeing the fireworks show from Navy Pier. And the staff was friendly and professional. I highly recommend Adler Planetarium for everyone.

You must see the gallery for yourself! The beauty of the space is highlighted by the artwork of 12…read moreartists whom Ted (the owner) has known and represented for many years. It's a contemporary gallery, but the pieces range greatly in medium and style. I'd check this place out. It's one-of-a-kind.

What a place?? Honestly, I've driven past this place time and time again but never stopped in…read more Actually, you have driven by as well but never noticed it. This art gallery is nothing short of amazing!!! The artwork features Chicago's finest artists as well as national artists. Ted, the owner, arranged a private tour of the space as I am considering it for a private event and I didn't want to leave. If you are in need of draw-dropping artwork, know of someone that is or want to host an event, then this is definitely the place to go! He has poured his heart & soul into this place and it shows!

Almost everyone you meet in Chicago who loves their city will ask when you tell them you are…read morevisiting from out of town, "Have you done the architectural boat tour?" People in Amsterdam will also ask if you have done a canal boat tour - and you have to do these when you visit these cities. Our docent volunteer guide, Steve, was excellent. He was very personable and extremely knowledgeable about the city's riverside buildings and its history. The boat staff was also hardworking and ready to help with any issues, from getting a drink at the boat's downstairs bar to handing out covers when the rain hit us. For what we paid, the 1.5 hour tour was more than worth it. I recommend sitting at the top towards the back, as you don't have to crane your neck as much when he points out places of interest. This was a truly wonderful experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

What a great local spot to pair with an architecture tour! Here is a polished, well-structured…read moreversion of your review: A fantastic information center--honestly, this is one step better than HGTV! The history of how Chicago was built is laid out in such a clear, logical way. Heading up to the second floor, the depth of knowledge and history on skyscrapers absolutely blew me away. It's the perfect place to visit right after taking the river cruise. Pro Tip for Visitors: You can add admission to your Ticketmaster river cruise booking for just $5 extra! A solid review that highlights the skyscraper exhibition on the upper level and gives a very practical tip on ticket add-ons!

This was the most wonderful experience! I highly recommend it if you're in Chicago. It's located in…read morethe Willis Tower, so if you're going to the Skydeck it's a quick little jaunt over before or after. I wasn't sure what to expect, and it ended up being so much better than I imagined! All the people working were friendly, knew what they were doing, and helped us have the best experience we could have. I loved every part of it, and it was awesome tying in all the senses to color! The tasting one was so fun, I ended up guessing mine right! I think my husband and I had the most fun with the partner drawing activity, that's a keepsake for sure, haha! Other faves were the poem and balloon exhibit and of course, the ball pit. We came with our 6 year old nephew but I think the adults had more fun than he even did! It was fun to let loose and be a kid again. I was thankful for all the fun photo ops, it made it easier to get great pics without having our phones out the whole time. The only bummer was the ice cream. We paid $1 per person for it and it was just one tiny little ball with a wooden spoon, and I could taste the spoon more than the ice cream.

Color Factory was definitely a hit with Lani and the girls! From the moment we walked in, there was…read moresomething for everybody. The candy was a HUGE hit -- the girls were excited about that one! The Taste the Color room was really cool and gave the experience a fun twist. The ball pit was another favorite -- the girls had a blast! The Save Her Hut was a fun stop along the way and made for some great memories. And of course, we had to hit the gift shop, where we even got $5 off, which is always a win!

Figured the kid would like this, and she did. And so did we…read more Kind of expensive, I think $40 for adults and $30 for kids, but worth it. Very nice space packed with illusions, many classics but some unusual ones. And staff were great, from the front desk to the manager to the lady who helped us fully experience the exhibits with hints on how to see them best, and ideas (plus some had photos nearby with suggestions.) Kind of small, we spent about an hour, but had a lot of fun. We went right when they opened on a Sunday and it wasn't crowded then, but things picked up by the time we left. So come early to have a bit more freedom to roam.

Miana, was amazing. She took pictures. She gave us some good feedback and a lot of education. She…read moremade the experience one notch above other experiences!! Thank you Miana!!!! Carla Work

An atypical remnant of the Gilded Age, the Glessner House is a jewel in Chicago's crown. Allegra,…read moreour tour guide, did a wonderful job of weaving history, art, architecture and humor into her presentation. It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!…read more Glessner House offers a peek into a Chicago familiar's history. It also surprised us with the genius planning by their architect. He seemed like a man I would have loved to know. The South Loop is so interesting and this beautiful mansion is a real jewel. The design and furnishings were a nod to the beauty in history. The docent was so nice. She offered information in a way that I could tell she really cared. She was sweet and pleasant and led a very enjoyable tour. I highly recommend visiting at least once - maybe more!!

This place I found while walking downtown and it's so nice inside this museum/mansion. They have a…read moreplace downstairs to place food or drinks if you bring it in, but they did offered military discount . It was stunning inside and it had like three floors with the top floor having a gift shop. I really enjoyed all the art and painting around the mansion.

This is the Nickerson Mansion huilt in 1883 which was bought and restored over several years by…read moreRichard Driehaus. It has several items original to the home, plus some of Driehaus' collection. There was an art exibit of satirical prints from London and Dublin on display when we went through. Beautiful Tiffany lamps and chandeliers, marble, tile, woodworking throughout the whole home. Learned more about the history of Chicago and what it was like at the time the mansion was first built.

Be prepared to WNDR…read more After eight years of basic sciences, Step 1 (being scheduled and rescheduled and scheduled and rescheduled and scheduled due to the pandemic), clinical rounds, Match Day and a PhD defense, my daughter definitely earned the right to celebrate curiosity. Such a fun place to be surrounded by family and friends. Ordered catering. Had a candy bar set up with bottles with a prescription for happiness. Brought chocolate brains from Texas. Fun to go through the WNDR Museum. Love the rooms filled with so many interesting artistic expressions. Cakes with inspiring messages. Neon signs. An eye-catching display room (good for the future ophthalmologists in the crowd.) Set up a bar with cocktails and mocktails themed for the occasion. Have a: Med School Mule. Dip(a)loma. Action Potential. Fun to explore the rooms after hours. 3-D glasses required. Smile. Walk through the lights. See your reflection. Imagine. Everyone has an artist within. Life is full of choices. The secret is there are no wrong ones.

WNDR Museum will be permanently closing and I think their last day open to the public was this past…read moreMonday, September 7th. Sad because it has been around since 2018! I've always thought about going, but never got around to it because I'm not a really big fan of these interactive/photo op type art museums. When I saw they were closing, I had to finally check it out. I think it's a little more than $30 for adults, which is pretty pricey considering the Art Institute is about the same price and way bigger. This museum is pretty small and it only took less than an hour to walk through. The interactive aspects were all super fun though!! I even bought some of our photos at the end, and I was glad they were 50% off (everything in store was). They will be having a party at the end of this month if you want to go one last time!