See Chicago in the Winter Months

North Side Chicago Tour - Chicago, IL

Chicago River & Skyline

Be guided through Chicago's business section, travel the famous Loop, tour historic State Street, visit the Richard J. Daley Plaza where you can see the gift Picasso gave to Chicago.

Though Chicago receives visitors throughout the year, the most popular time to visit is in the summer months. If you visit during the months of winter, there are still plenty of activities and attractions to enjoy and you will most definitely avoid some of the crowds.

For Everyone...

Sears Tower and Skydeck. Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America, standing 110 stories high at over 1,400 feet. The Skydeck is located on the 103rd floor standing at 1,353 feet. On a clear day you can see Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana from the Skydeck. The building features the Elevators to the Stars, containing 50-inch screen monitors that make it seem as though you're going straight through the top of the Tower and into outer-space. While in the Skydeck, take advantage of the high-powered telescopes that will give you an even greater, detailed view of the city. Shopping and dining are available right in the Tower.

Take a tour of the city. Wine, dine, and dance on the Spirit of Chicago tour of Lake Michigan. The North Side Tour will take you past famed Chicago sites like Wrigley Field, the Magnificent Mile, and the Daley Center. The South Shore Tour will show you sites like Soldier Field, Jackson Park, and the University of Chicago.

Museum of Science and Industry. This is an attraction the entire family will enjoy, and can learn from. Learn about how trains and planes work. Descend into a coal mine and learn all about the history of mining. Visit the Fairy Castle, one of the museums most popular exhibits. This amazing doll house took the work of over 700 individuals to finish, to a tune of $500,000. The jeweled dollhouse of every little girls dreams features over 2000 miniatures and is a must-see for every little girl. At this museum, you can also enter a genuine U-505 that was captured in battle in 1944. There are so many exhibits at this museum, that the entire family is sure to find their favorite.

The Art Institute of Chicago. This is home to both an art museum and a school of art. The museum features over 300,000 works of art including 33 paintings by Monet.

If you're traveling in late November or December, you'll want to see the fabulous holiday lights displays along Michigan Avenue, the great tree in Daley Plaza, and take a peek at the window displays along State Street.  (You can also rent ice skates and "Skate on State" during the winter months.)

For the Nature Lover...

Grant Park is home to the breath-taking Buckingham fountain. The fountain is surrounded by bronze sculptures of sea horses and is made up of three layers with the fountain rising over 20 feet into the air. Grant Park is built on what was once a landfill for the debris of the Great Fire of 1871. The park, located between Michigan Ave. and Lake Michigan displays beautiful lawns, bridges and monuments. Grant Park is also the site of the recently renovated Soldier Field, home to the Chicago Bears.

The Shedd Aquarium. This is the largest aquarium in the world. Here you can see the Wild Reef, which is home to the most diverse shark display in North America. The sharks swim side-by-side with other predators of the water in a 400,000 gallon display. The aquarium is also home to creatures such as anaconda, piranhas, dolphins, sea otters, whales and more.

Adler Planetarium. At this location you can see the famed Sky Theatre, a 68-foot dome where you will observe a recreation of the stars in the evening sky. You can learn to use a telescope and visit the new "Stranded in an Alien Lab" interactive exhibit where you can find clues about an alien scientist and her work.

For the History Buff...

The Field Museum of Natural History. This museum has such a vast amount of exhibits you won't know where to begin and can probably spend a full day here. See the skeletal remains of real-life dinosaurs, exhibits with Native American artifacts and exhibits of the Egyptians. This is a must-stop spot for any history buff.