DK Travel : Chicago

Big-city sophistication combined with small-town hospitality create the perfect blend in this, the Mid west’s largest city. Chicago’s influential architecture, cuisine for every budget and taste, great shopping, diverse ethnic neighborhoods, and outstanding museums are reason enough for a visit. And the icing on the cake? The city boasts a lakefront and park system that are as beautiful as they are recreational.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Free admission encourages repeat visits to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Many exhibits, including the working Farm in the Zoo and the Children’s Zoo, allow kids to pet the animals. In summer a motorized “train” makes a scenic loop around the park, while on the pond, swan-shaped paddleboats float among the ducks.
Lincoln Park Zoo

It might not be the biggest, but it’s one of the oldest zoos in the country and, after more than 100 years, still free. Kids love the hands-on Children’s Zoo and Endangered Species Carousel.
Lincoln Park Zoo

Who’s watching who at this beloved city zoo, which attracts more than three million visitors annually.
Lincoln Square

Beer, bratwursts, and grainy rye breads are order of the day in this bustling German enclave, where a 96-ft (29-m) outdoor mural depicts a rural German village. The hub of activity is a relatively small strip of Lincoln Avenue, between Lawrence and Western Avenues. The area maintains Old World charm with its German shops, delicatessens, bakeries, and an old-fashioned apothecary.
Little Black Pearl Workshop

Tucked away in a limestone rowhouse, the gift shop at this children’s arts program sells the students’ amazing creations, such as one-of-kind painted furniture and vibrant mosaics.
Little Italy, Taylor Street

The rich smells of garlic, basil, and baking bread waft from restaurants that line one of Chicago’s oldest southern Italian neighborhoods. Though the streets have fewer Italians than when immigrants arrived in the late 19th century, you’ll still see Italians chatting on street corners and toting groceries from Italian markets.
lllinois Institute of Technology (IIT)

In 1940, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe planned the campus of this new university. He also designed around 20 of the buildings, which demonstrate his design philosophies. Stop by the on-campus visitor center for information and self-guided tours.
Lookingglass Theatre

In 1988, eight Northwestern University students founded Lookingglass, a bold company incorporating dance, circus arts, and live music in its original theatrical productions. Celebrity membership (including Friends actor David Schwimmer) and Broadway bound, award-winning shows have furthered this company’s stardom.
Loop Theater District

A sidewalk plaque at Randolph and State Streets denotes Chicago’s Theater District, a cluster of old and new theaters.
Lori’s Designer Shoes

Devoted shoe hounds flock to this Lincoln Park store for its hot styles at discounted prices. The floors and walls are stacked high with boxes for handy self-serve try-on access.