“…Chicago, Chicago I will show you around – I love it; Bet your bottom dollar you lose the blues in Chicago, Chicago…“

Summer is around the corner and you want to spend time in Chicago. You want to make the most of it and get your dollars’ worth? Well, I did a bit of research and came up with some must-see museums.

Whatever your interests there is something for you, but I would suggest starting with the Chicago Museum Campus. Some geographic changes in 1998 transformed this area into a pedestrian-friendly natural science neighborhood.

The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum was the first planetarium in the Western hemisphere and is the oldest still in existence. Three theatres allow visitors to follow in the footsteps of the astronauts and keep up with recent NASA activity. Anything you’ve ever wanted to know about space exploration and astronomy is here for you.

The Shedd Aquarium, on the shores of Lake Michigan, will expose visitors to the undersea world in a unique way through floor to ceiling exhibit windows. More than 1500 different species are to be seen in these specially created habitats. Attractions include Granddad, an Australian lungfish – the oldest in any aquarium in the world, and Naya, a female beluga whale calf born in the aquarium. Each of the fishy inhabitants has a fascinating story to share with its visitors.

Tyrannosaurus rex fossil -Chicago Field Museum

The Field Museum of Natural History’s claim to fame is Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex in the world (at a price of over $ 8.4 million!) It also boasts ‘Underground Adventures’ which appear to ‘shrink’ visitors (the exhibit is 100 times larger than normal). There is an Ancient Egypt exhibit, complete with 23 mummies, as well as a DNA Discovery Center and hundreds more.

You could happily spend a week just walking around and exploring this Museum Campus, but Chicago has so much more. For those of you whose tastes are more cultural, I have just the thing.

Chicago Skyline view from the Field Museum

You simply have to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, in the Grant Park. The nation’s second largest museum is home to artistic expression spanning more than 5000 years. Its most famous works are of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist periods, especially Monet, Renoir, Matisse and Cezanne, but it also has a great collection of African and Indian American art.

If you like something different there is the Museum of Contemporary Art which features media such as sculpture, dance, photography, performance and music. A special event here is a 24-hour long summer solstice celebration which includes specific art-related events.

I wish I had the space to tell you more. The city has such a wealth of history that any tourist would be hard-pressed to say they had ‘done Chicago’. Just get here; put on those walking shoes and be prepared to “lose the blues in Chicago…”

About the Author:
Aaron Garcia spent nearly every summer of his childhood in and around Chicago. He knows the best Chicago museums for field trips, and advocates the use of Chicago charter bus transportation when taking large groups on trips.