The world’s best food. The world’s best museums. Architecture that awes. And enough shopping for days. Find it all in Chicago. With events every weekend, plus live music, theater and comedy every night — spring in Chicago buzzes with energy and excitement all season.
This is a city built on the shores of greatness.
Chicago Architecture Tour
Chicago is known around the world for its architecture. Visit iconic skyscrapers, elegant hotels or the legendary houses of Frank Lloyd Wright. With more than 85 tours to choose from, we won’t blame you if you can’t pick just one. For more details, see https://www.architecture.org/experience-caf/tours/
The Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere! Housed in the only remaining building from the 1893 World’s Fair, MSI is a Chicago must-see! You’ll experience 14 acres of mind blowing, hands-on exhibits and have the chance to navigate through a mirror maze; manipulate a 40-foot tornado; climb aboard a World War II German submarine; take a run in a human-sized hamster wheel; descend into an Illinois coal mine; board a 727 hanging from the ceiling; transmit your pulse to a 13-foot, 3-D, beating heart; and much more! It’s fun and interactive!
Navy Pier
Its allure: undeniable. Its fun factor: sky high. No doubt about it — Navy Pier is a destination dynamo. Chalk it up to the brand-new Ferris wheel that lifts riders nearly 200 feet in the air. Or simply consider the sheer amount of dining, shopping and entertainment options that have drawn crowds here for 100 years.
Chicago’s Navy Pier, which juts an entire six city blocks from the heart of downtown into Lake Michigan, is made up of an outdoor boardwalk adjacent to corridors of exhibits and attractions. More than 8 million people visit it every year.
Come hungry, curious and ready to play. There are enticements for all ages, in every season. Of particular note: From spring through fall, dining and sightseeing cruises embark with the promise of breathtaking skyline views. Winter days are made for cozying up in the IMAX Theatre or romping in the Chicago Children’s Museum.
Of course, strolling around Navy Pier is half the fun. Make your way from the sculpture-flecked entrance to the final lookout point at your speed — welcoming anything from the lilt of live bands to the aroma of Chicago-style pizza along the way. As the longtime home of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, there’s always a chance to get your culture fix.
You’ll make an exciting discovery wherever you go — up, down, or round and round.
Chicago takes a great deal of pride in terms of providing a large variety of ethnic foods and restaurants. Officially, there are 77 communities, each with their own mix of ethnic eateries and unique boutiques as well as local museums.
Given the location of Chicago Hilton, within 10 minutes drive are Greektown and Little Italy (~15 minutes via CTA Blue line) and Chinatown (~15 minutes via CTA Red line).
The most informative source of neighborhood-aggregated data is: www.choosechicago.com/neighborhoods.
One of the better sources for restaurants in Chicago is Opentable and a list of restaurants that are not too far from the SIGMOS/PODS venue can be found at:https://www.opentable.com/chicago/downtown-loop-restaurants.