Must-See Attractions in Chicago

The Midwest's largest city can overwhelm with its array of activities and sights. So to get you started, we've compiled a list of must-see attractions--some quirky, some iconic--based on Midwest Living's travel editors' experiences. The list is arranged by interest; whether you are a sports fan, art aficionado or history buff, you'll find plenty to love about Chicago.Choose Chicago

Being in the country's third largest city (population: 2,718,782) means you have a lot of territory to wrap your brain around. Start by taking time to get an overview. Choose a tour that caters to your interest.Ride the "L" A ride on the "L" is a classic way to experience Chicago. The transit authority also has a downloadable map that lists points of interest downtown. transitchicago.comChicago Greeters Volunteers lead free two- to four-hour neighborhood walking tours. Choose from more than 25 neighborhoods and 40 interests, including fashion, film, ethnic and public art. chicagogreeter.comBobby's Bike Hike Offers guided bike tours of neighborhoods, a great way to learn more about the city's history. bobbysbikehike.comChicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise Aboard Chicago's First Lady cruises, these colorful 90-minute history lessons-covering more than 50 buildings-depart daily, April through November. (312) 922-3432; architecture.org

Sure, these spaces provide a little breathing room in a major metropolitan city, but they also offer a bounty of activities.Millennium Park (pictured) Concerts, gardens, sculpture and free events draw people to this 24.5-acre corner of Grant Park. A free downloadable tour tells how and why Millennium Park was built, the secrets beneath the park, and the reasons Millennium Park is one of the world's most spectacular public spaces. millenniumpark.orgGrant Park Chicago's front yard, Grant Park is among the city's loveliest and most prominent parks. Three world-class museums-the Art Institute, the Field Museum of Natural History and Shedd Aquarium-call it home. Check out the Buckingham Fountain, one of the world's largest fountains, with 20-minute water shows on the hour 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Also in the park: trails for walking, jogging, and biking; a skate park; a dog-friendly area; baseball fields; tennis courts; and more. chicagoparkdistrict.comOak Street Beach This stretch of Lake Michigan shore offers a carpet of white sand against a backdrop of skyscrapers. cpdbeaches.com

World-class collections abound, but the up-and-coming are here, too.Art Institute of Chicago The Modern Wing opened in 2009 to showcase 20th- and 21st-century. Older galleries have been renovated, making it easier to see the collections, which span 5,000 years and include some of the world's major works of art, including American Gothic. Free admission for Illinois residents every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Pictured. artinstituteofchicago.orgMuseum of Contemporary Art An edgy, fun venue offering free admission Tuesdays for Illinois residents and jazz concerts during the summer. mcachicago.orgNational Museum of Mexican Art A collection of more than 6,000 objects, including textiles, folk art, photography, paintings and sculptures, tells the Hispanic story. Free admission. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.orgIndie art galleries Featuring a wide range of art styles and media in different neighborhoods. You'll find a lot along North Michigan Avenue in River North. chicagogallerynews.com

Chicago has an incredible concentration of world-renowned cultural institutions. Even better, several are concentrated on the museum campus: the Field Museum (pictured), John G. Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium.The Field Museum Basically it contains 4.6 billion years of history, including the 67-million-year-old T. rex Sue, under one roof. fieldmuseum.orgAdler Planetarium Caters to space buffs, but the movies shine. adlerplanetarium.orgJohn G. Shedd Aquarium See Nunavik, the beluga whale, and other Pacific Northwest coast creatures at the Abbott Oceanarium exhibit and aquatic shows. sheddaquarium.orgMuseum of Science and Industry You'll love the exhibits on technology and transportation, but Science Storms is way cool, too. msichicago.orgDuSable Museum Gain insight into the African American experience through paintings, sculpture, print works, and historical memorabilia. dusablemuseum.org

The fact that there is a whole class of architecture called the Chicago School indicates just how important this city is in the world of architecture. You can see prime examples of Art Deco, neoclassical, Prairie, Gothic, Queen Anne and others.Chicago Architecture Foundation Explore modern skyscrapers, historic downtown, Art Deco landmarks and more by foot, boat or bus. The most popular outing is the 90-minute river tour (pictured), which will help you discover the city's many architectural masterpieces. architecture.orgWillis Tower Visit the tallest building in North America, and then step outside on The Ledge on the 103rd floor. theskydeck.com360 Chicago North America's fastest elevator whisks you to the 94th floor where you look out labeled window walls and use multimedia devices providing stories about the views. A cafe serves appetizers, drinks and coffee at 1,000 feet up. jhochicago.com

These family-friendly attractions may be just as fun for adults as kids.Navy Pier (pictured) A 150-foot Ferris wheel, the Chicago Children's Museum, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, restaurants and boat cruises draw visitors to this lakefront spot. There are twice-weekly fireworks in summer. navypier.com; chicagochildrensmuseum.orgPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum Kids love playing with the boats and locks at water tables and checking out the critters. The highlight, though, is the Butterfly Haven. Free on Thursdays to Illinois residents. naturemuseum.orgLincoln Park Zoo This North Side zoo often prompts visitors to marvel that it is free. A new nature boardwalk opened recently; the children's zoo and carousel are reliably entertaining. lpzoo.orgAmerican Girl Place It's mecca for tween girls. Find historical-theme dolls, a salon for your little one's doll, and a cafe serving brunch, lunch, tea and dinner. americangirl.com

For a city renowned for its buildings, Chicago offers notable greenspace.Chicago Botanic Garden Monthly exhibits round out an already-hefty offering of walks, birding, bicycling and blooms. chicago-botanic.orgLurie Garden A living prairiescape framed by landmark Chicago architecture, this free garden not only illustrates Illinois' tallgrass prairie plants but also demonstrates beautiful possibilities for Midwest gardens. luriegarden.orgGarfield Park Conservatory This free garden emphasizes Midwest native plants and materials. garfield-conservatory.org

Blues, jazz, gospel, soul, country ... Chicago fosters them all.Andy's Jazz Club In a city known for its live music, this place has a reputation for sophisticated dinners and a 40-year track record of pulling in crowds. andysjazzclub.comThe Green Mill Music lovers throng to this speakeasy-style setting for blues and jazz and a poetry slam. greenmilljazz.comSymphony Center The center is home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which is recognized as one of the finest in the world. cso.orgRavinia Festival In Highland Park, the summer home of the CSO has $10 lawn seats and big-name shows. ravinia.org

Major players call Chicago home. Major fans love that.Cubs Try to catch a fly ball at Wrigley Field (pictured), the historic ballpark built in 1914. Tours of the field are available. cubs.comBears This NFL championship team plays on Soldier Field along the lakefront. chicagobears.comBulls They play ball at the United Center, where you can see the statue of Michael Jordan, unveiled when his No. 23 was retired. unitedcenter.com/bullsBlackhawks Cheer on the 2013 Stanley Cup champs at the United Center. blackhawks.nhl.com

Home to Native Americans, military posts, fur traders and others through the years, Chicago opens America's history book in a tangible way.Chicago Cultural Center This landmark building (pictured) is home to free events, including tours, dance, films and lectures. cityofchicago.orgOld Chicago Water Tower District The Old Water Tower and the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station are two of only seven buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Both were built in the castellated-Gothic Revival style. cityofchicago.orgChicago History Museum Start here in your study of Chicago history, both as an urban center and as part of the United States. chicagohistory.org

Location and selection combine to make retail king.Loop shopping In an area of downtown named for the circling elevated train tracks, bargains and browsing abound. Macy's (pictured) anchors it all on State Street. visittheloop.comOak Street Offers a trendy mix of designer shops and indie boutiques. oakstreetchicago.comMagnificent Mile More than 400 high-end stores, including boutiques, department stores and high-rise shopping malls, line North Michigan Avenue. themagnificentmile.com

The theater district hops with plays, musicals and live acts. Get tickets cheap at Hot Tix, which lets you purchase last-minute, half-price tickets online. hottix.orgSecond City A training ground for comics, it features smart shows that skewer current events. secondcity.comSteppenwolf Theater For more than three decades this artist-driven theater has offered groundbreaking, innovative works. steppenwolf.orgChicago Shakespeare Theater As indicated in the theater's name, the works of Shakespeare remain at its core. But classics and new pieces by gifted artists are also preformed. chicagoshakes.comBroadway in Chicago Save on airfare and see blockbusters here. broadwayinchicago.com