The Best Chicago Tourist Spots Locals Should Also Enjoy
By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 12, 2013 7:30PM
Chicago tourism is booming. Nearly 46.2 million people visited the city last year and Mayor Emanuel wants to see that number increase to 50 million by 2020. Yet those of us who live here tend to look at tourist destinations as traps anyone who has lived here for a specific amount of time should avoid.
But those tourist traps are among some of our most hallowed destinations and can even give lifelong Chicagoans a lesson in the city's history, if they approach them with open minds. Here are our picks for the best tourist spots in Chicago locals should also enjoy. Leave your picks in the comments.
Photo credit: Prescott Carlson/Chicagoist
Chicago Architecture Foundation Riverboat Cruise
Of course one doesn't have to be a tourist to appreciate Chicago's eclectic architecture, but after residing here long enough it can tend to fade into the background of everyday living. A great way to revitalize that passion for the city's unique skyline is by giving yourself a new perspective of it by taking a different vantage point on the Chicago River. The Chicago Architecture Foundation provides a great 90 minute tour by boat from early spring through late fall, and their knowledgeable docents are loaded with trivia about the more than 50 structures discussed on the trip guaranteeing even the lifelong Chicagoan at least one "I did not know that" moment. The highlights along the tour cover more than a century of architectural innovation from classic buildings like the Civic Opera House (Do you know why it's dubbed "Insull's Throne?" No? Go on this tour) to the mid-century experiment Marina City to modern buildings like Aqua and Trump Tower. —Prescott Carlson
Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise is at the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue bridge
Museum of Science and Industry Coal Mine
It's not often that you get to combine learning and feeling like a kid into the same experience. Luckily, the Museum of Science and Industry Coal Mine has got you covered. Yes, it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, but it's also something that you absolutely have to experience. The exhibit has been running since 1933, though it has been updated several times, and it involves a trip down to the bottom of the mine, a long ride on a mine train, a walk through a simulated mine filled with working equipment and tons of information. Even if you hate museums, this Chicago icon is worth a trip. —Anthony Todd
The Museum of Science and Industry is located at 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
Navy Pier
Chicago's top tourist attraction saw a record 9.2 million visitors last year and things are only looking up with Navy Pier set to receive a major upgrade thanks to Mayor Emanuel's tourism and trade show economic plan. But you don't have to wait until the proposed renovations are complete to enjoy Navy Pier. I particularly like taking a stroll around the Grand Ballroom at the end of the pier and gazing out at Lake Michigan stretching out on the horizon, or catching the evening fireworks once the sun has set in the west. —Chuck Sudo
Navy Pier is located at 600 E. Grand Avenue.
Get High
Any Chicagoan knows it's cheaper to get a martini or an appetizer at the Signature Lounge than it is to pay for the observation deck at the Sears or the Hancock. I have no idea if those martinis are any good, but the view definitely is. However, the Skydeck at the Sears Tower is still worth it without the cocktail. Step out onto the ledge and take a deep breath. Maybe repeat the scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off when they lean forward with their foreheads against the glass. Bring a book because you will probably spend quite a while in line, and cell service isn't so great. —Samantha Abernethy
The Willis Sears Tower is at 233 S. Wacker Drive. The John Hancock Center is at 875 N. Michigan Ave. The Signature Lounge is on the 96th Floor.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
Whether you're an architecture buff or just want to learn more about Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural impact, his Oak Park Home and Studio is worth a visit. Wright lived and worked in the house from 1889 to 1909, the first 20 years of his career, and you'll learn about how his architectural philosophy evolved over time and see how he lived. There are daily public tours of the interior space, plus walking tours of the surrounding historic district, which has numerous building that Wright designed. I haven't yet made it to Robie House on the University of Chicago campus, but that's high on my list of other tourist spots to visit. —Amy Cavanaugh
The Frank Lloyd Wright House and Studio is located at 951 Chicago Avenue in Oak Park.
Laugh
The funniest people in the U.S. made a name for themselves in Chicago first. Don't believe me? Bill Murray. When tourists come to Chicago, they often hope to get in a good laugh, and they usually head to Second City to do that. It's like a comedy museum. Locals should take advantage of our proximity, too, because the exhibits at this comedy museum change constantly. If you don't want to fork over the dough for a mainstage show, there are lots of other opportunities. Check out our list of Chicago's best comedy venues and start filling your calendar. —Samantha Abernethy
Second City is at 1616 N. Wells St.
Wrigley Field
Sure it's crumbling and Tom Ricketts is going gray by the minute trying to get the Cubs' renovation plan past a gauntlet of special interests no other team in Major League Baseball would bother with. But the Friendly Confines remain one of the largest tourist attractions in the state and the centerpiece of it all is the field, which remains one of the greatest attractions in baseball. As much as the White Sox have improved the look of their box stadium at 35th and Shields, it still doesn't compare to the outfield grass, the ivy-covered walls and the intimacy of a baseball game at Clark and Addison. Cut out of work early for a 1:20 start and you'll understand why scores of Iowans and others from out of state flock to Wrigley Field every year. —Chuck Sudo
Wrigley Field is located at 1060 W. Addison Street.
Eat Some Deep Dish Pizza
Last year Esquire magazine named Lou Malnati's pizza the most life-changing pizza in America. And while Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza, to me it's simply a casserole served in a bread bowl. There are plenty of other pizza styles out there that are superior to deep dish, like the Neapolitan pizzas at places like Spacca Napoli and Pizzeria da Nella, Piece's New Haven-style pies, Coalfire, and any handful of under-the-radar thin crust joints across town. But you do need to sample at least a slice of Lou Malnati's or Giordano's or Burt's Pizza or Pequod's to at least have a baseline of understanding about the Chicago deep dish mentality. Then you can go back and order a family-size thin crust. —Chuck Sudo
Take Photos of The Bean
Cloud Gate, aka The Bean, is one of the most photographed objects on Earth. It's not just because tourists love shiny objects. Anish Kapoor's sculpture is a fantastic piece of art, offering warped reflections of the skyline and/or the photographer. Go take a simple selfie in front of it or set up a tripod or just get creative with it. It's a fun, photogenic subject that looks different in every climate Chicago offers. —Samantha Abernethy
Cloud Gate is in Millennium Park at 201 E. Randolph St.