Mid-July is an excellent time to visit the City of Chicago. Here are some resources that may help you make travel
arrangements for the weekend following Coast to Coast, should you decide to stay.
40th Annual Sheffield Garden Walk
The "Summer's Best Festival" features self-guided tours of more than 100 Gardens, a Garden Center, guided Architectural Tours, live entertainment by some of Chicago's and North America's finest bands, food and drink, and activities for children at the Kids Corner.
Chicago Art Institute
The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879 as both a museum and school, first stood on the southwest corner of State and Monroe Streets. It opened on its present site at Michigan Avenue and Adams Street in 1893. Built on rubble from the 1871 Chicago fire, the museum housed a collection of plaster casts and had a visionary purpose: to acquire and exhibit art of all kinds and to conduct programs of education. The collection now encompasses more than 5,000 years of human expression from cultures around the world, and the school's graduate program is continually ranked as one of the best in the country. Within the next decade, a new complex will continue this process of growth.
Chicago Boat Tours
Chicago Tours provides reservations for over 115 tours, cruises, and sightseeing activities in Chicago, Illinois and beyond. Various architectural tours operate daily.
Chicago History Museum
The Chicago History Museum is a privately endowed, independent institution devoted to collecting, interpreting, and presenting the rich multicultural history of Chicago and Illinois, as well as selected areas of American history, to the public through exhibitions, programs, research collections, and publications. They offer a series of unique educational tours of the City of Chicago.
John Hancock Observatory
The Hancock Observatory is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (last ticket sold at 10:45 p.m.) and is located at John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago. The newly renovated Hancock Observatory will meet your loftiest expectations! Experience spectacular views spanning up to 80 miles and 4 states.
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum is the nation's largest Latino arts institution and the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is bordered
by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street
to the North and Monroe Street to the South. With its unprecedented
combination of architecture, monumental sculpture and landscape design, the
24.5 acre Millennium Park has become a crowning achievement for the city of
Chicago.
Navy Pier
Navy Pier is the place where all of Chicagoland and tourists from around the world have come together since 1995 to enjoy the beauty and the thrills of a day on Lake Michigan. From rides to restaurants, exhibitions to entertainment, shopping to dining cruises and tour boats Navy Pier has it all - in a location unlike any other!
Pitchfork Music Festival
The Pitchfork Music Festival is an annual summer music festival organized by Pitchfork Media held in Union Park, Chicago. When it began in 2006, the festival fest drew more than 35,000 visitors. The two main stages featured a variety of popular indie bands, while the tent featured a diverse range of hip-hop, experimental, electronic, jazz, and dance acts. The 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival will be held in mid-July. All Tomorrow's Parties will again collaborate with Pitchfork on a Don't Look Back stage, which will include Public Enemy performing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium has been a Chicago icon and a leader in the zoo and aquarium profession for more than three-quarters of a century. We engage and inspire, entertain and inform. We are a vital teaching and learning resource, conservation leader, neighborhood partner and global collaborator. We are passionate about our animals, their habitats and the planet we share.
Summer on Southport
This two-day community festival is located near WRIGLEY FIELD - home of the Chicago Cubs. Southport is one of the city's mecca shopping/nightlife districts and includes beautifully maintained tree-lined streets, with rows of lovely houses in all manner of architectural styles. Local artisans will showcase their wares and local restaurants and eateries will offer your favorite summer food. Our Sunday Gospel Brunch and Bike Parade will provide an early morning opportunity to join us in this celebration of community. This festival always offers an exciting array of live music on our three main stages and lots of other interactive activities and entertainment opportunities.
