DK Travel : Chicago : Places of interest

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Magnificent Mile

Whether you’re a shopper or not, this store-lined strip warrants a visit if only to get a feel for the commercial pulse that seems to keep Chicago humming.
Maxwell Street Market

Both 19th-century European immigrants and 20th-century African-American settlers fleeing the Deep South got their entrepreneurial start selling from push-carts around Maxwell Street. In 1994 the market was relocated to make way for the new University of Illinois at Chicago and, while a shadow of its former self, it still makes for a vibrant Sunday morning. Don’t expect valuable finds; do expect plenty of Mexican housewares and used tools. But the occasional treasure, such as a vintage fur coat, does show up. Perhaps the best reason to visit is to try the homemade tacos from the Mexican food stalls that line the street.
Merchandise Mart

This massive two-square-block edifice houses Chicago’s premier interior design trade showrooms. When completed in 1930, the four million-sq-ft (390,000-sq-m) building was the largest in the world. Today, it is second only to the Pentagon in size, and is still the world’s largest commercial building. A 90-minute guided tour includes a visit to several showrooms.
Museum of Contemporary Art

One of the country’s largest collections of international contemporary art, the MCA displays over 6,000 objects, from painting and sculpture to photography and video installations. Trendy Spago chef Wolfgang Puck runs the airy café, which draws both museum-goers and Mag Mile shoppers alike. In summer, the terraced sculpture garden enhances the MCA experience, while the front lawn often plays host to displays of performance art.
Museum of Contemporary Photography

Run by and located in Columbia College Chicago, this museum is one of a kind in the Midwest. It exhibits the portfolios of international modern masters, with shows (including student shows) tending toward the experimental rather than the traditional documentary. Changing exhibitions also present a healthy mixture of local talents and well-established ones, such as Gary Winogrand and William Eggleston. Frequent gallery talks give curators and artists the chance to discuss the shows with museum-goers.
Museum Of Science & Industry

Though this museum dazzles kids and adults alike with its submarine ship and replica coal mine, it’s The Idea Factory that’s designed just for Junior. With the pulling of gears and shifting of knobs, kids experiment through play with balance, construction, magnetism, and more. A current-fed waterway encourages boat building. Arrive early on weekends or expect to have to wait for access (see Museum of Science & Industry).
National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum

A moving tribute to the horrors of war, this museum, started in the late 1970s, now showcases over 1,000 works by more than 130 artists once involved in the conflict. Most of the artworks, which include paintings, sculptures, and drawings, as well as prose and poetry, come from former US soldiers, doctors and POWs, though powerful entries by former Viet Cong and native Cambodians attest to the universal effects of the conflict.
Navy Pier

Kids make a beeline for Navy Pier’s old-fashioned carnival rides including a 10-story Ferris Wheel and musical carousel. The ships that line the docks, from sleek, tall-masted schooners to powerful motor boats will also grab their attention. All the restaurants here are family friendly, and even the sculptures that line the Pier in summer are designed to withstand climbers.
North Avenue Beach

When summer finally graces Chicago with its presence, locals of all ages and nationalities converge on this short, but inviting stretch of beach. Running along its edge is the lakefront path, where cyclists, in-line skaters, runners, and walkers stream by. An outdoor gym gives confident folks a place to strut their stuff, sand volleyball courts allow the energetic to let off steam, and the rooftop bar of the steamship-shaped beach house is perfect for downing a cool drink while lazily watching the activity below.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Musem

This museum’s sloping, beige exterior was inspired by the sand dunes that once occupied its site. Inside are a whole host of engrossing interactive exhibits, the highlight being the walk-through Butterfly Haven, a light-filled space, constantly aflutter. The outdoor grounds, with their native wildflowers and prairie grasses, are perfect for a peaceful walk or rest.