5 days in Chicago: must-see experiences for every explorer

Travel through space and time, and learn everything there is to know about the solar system at the Adler Planetarium.Explore the best bits of our 91 billion light-year galaxy through the interactive exhibits. Join the search for a new ninth planet, take a speedy tour of your cosmic backyard, and peek inside the Gemini 12 spacecraft. Kids will love to climb and fly through Planet Explorers - a modern-day space adventure for the whole family.

Explore one of the largest science museums in the world. Housed in the only remaining building from the famous 1893 World's Columbian Exposition's 'White City,' it offers a variety of hands-on, dynamic activities and exhibits for guests of all ages.Venture down a life-like coal mine, control a 40-foot indoor tornado, and marvel at a massive dollhouse.

Located in the 875 N. Michigan building, 360 CHICAGO is one for those with a head for heights. Check out the exhibition celebrating Chicago’s history on the ground floor before hopping into the fastest elevator in the city and zipping up to the 94th floor in under a minute. Enjoy great views with 360 CHICAGO tickets!When you arrive at 360 CHICAGO, you’ll get to enjoy views of Chicago’s skyline through the all-glass panoramic windows in the 17,000-square-foot 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck. Look out to a sparkling Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, and the Magnificent Mile.On a clear day, you can even see Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Interactive kiosks are available around the floor that allow a 360-degree zoom-in view of the city and are available in five languages.Snap plenty of selfies with the amazing view and then check out the Sky Tour exhibit: multilingual interactive kiosks are available around the floor, offering a 360-degree zoom-in view of the city.For an even more breathtaking view, visit at twilight when the lights of the Windy City are just beginning to twinkle.Your admission ticket also gives you access to CloudBar at 360 Chicago. This stylish, 18-seat bar boasts a locally-inspired menu and gives you the chance to enjoy a drink or snack with views sweeping across the city. Take your pick from a selection of Chicago microbrewery beers, hot plates, popcorn, chocolates, and more.

You can be your own guide, picking and choosing which top sights are right for you and getting on and off as you please. See Chicago's famed skyscrapers, the Magnificent Mile, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Millennium Park, and many more with the Hop On Hop Off Chicago!Along your journey on the Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Chicago, you'll learn all about the city's famous architecture, landmarks, and history through the entertaining audio narration.Head up to the top deck for a bird's-eye view of the city and to capture some social media-worthy snaps. Just remember to wrap up warm, they don't call it the Windy City for nothing.Big Bus Chicago stops:Chicago Riverwalk: 98 E. Wacker Drive (across the bridge from Trump Tower)Skydeck Chicago & Willis Tower: 319 W. Jackson Blvd (opposite Willis Tower/Skydeck entrance)Millennium Park & The Art Institute of Chicago: 200 S. Michigan Ave (in front of Potbelly's)Hilton Chicago & Grant ParkAdler Planetarium 500 E. Solidarity Drive (bus loading zone near entrance)Museum Campus (by the Shedd and Field Museum)Sheraton Grand Chicago: 441 N. Columbus Drive (across the street from NBC Towers)Navy Pier: 600 E. Grand Ave (Big Bus tent @ north end of park)Water Tower & The Magnificent Mile: 163 E. Pearson St (near the corner of Michigan Ave)360 Chicago: 150 E. Chestnut St (near the corner with Chestnut St)614 N. Clark Street (in front of the Rock'n'Roll McDonald's)

With 4.6 billion years in one place, the Field Museum takes you around the world and back in time. Here, you can come face-to-face with SUE, the world’s largest- and most famous- T. rex, explore ancient Egyptian, discover over 10,000 years of Chinese history, and much more!Renowned for its state-of-the-art exhibits, leading scientific research, and impressive collection of artifacts and specimens, the Field Museum inspires curiosity and tells the story of life on Earth.The fun and interactive Field Museum exhibits will appeal to all the family. Get to grips with genetics at the DNA Discovery Center, and explore the culture and artifacts of civilizations all over the world.

Go on a wild underwater adventure at Shedd Aquarium. This attraction is ideal for all the family and perfect for fans of sharks, stingrays, and everything in between.You’ll see incredible creatures from freshwater, marine, terrestrial, and even aerial environments at the Shedd’s award-winning exhibits. Get nose-to-nose with sharks in the wild reef, dolphins and beluga whales in the oceanarium, and much more.The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago also does its bit for conservation and research, focusing primarily on animals and habitats in the Great Lakes and the Caribbean. Learn more about the important work they do at their range of talks and animal presentations. There’s also the chance to get your hands wet at the Stingray Touch exhibition which runs between May and September.

Enjoy the Navy Pier with your Centennial Wheel tickets and take in the commanding views of the city and Lake Michigan at 200 feet. You’ll get a 360-degree view, and as each gondola is enclosed, you can ride all year round, no matter the weather. Plus, you can pick from three other rides, including the Carousel, the Drop Tower, the Light Tower, the Pier Park Mini-Golf, the Tea Cups, and the Wave Singer. (These additional rides typically only operate between May and October, weather dependent.)The Navy Pier in Chicago is considered the number one tourist and leisure destination in the Midwest, and it's the longest public pier in the world. Attracting 8.6 million visitors each year, Navy Pier is a 50-acre, lakeside wonderland that lets visitors enjoy the splendors of Lake Michigan.Once you’ve taken a spin on the Navy Pier wheel, you can explore the other rides along the pier, check out the museums, or hit the shops and restaurants. Grab a famous Chicago hot dog or pick up a souvenir as a memento.

Witness the impossible at the Museum of Illusions. With over 80 immersive rooms and mind-bending exhibits, MOI is all about unbelievable fun! Perfect for children and adults alike, time will fly by as you explore the Museum of Illusion's various rooms and displays. Whether it's contorting natural shapes, or playing with light, these optical illusions will make the impossible, possible!

Tour Chicago Children's Museum's new permanent exhibit: Water City. In the new Water City experience, children of all ages and abilities can determine their own experiments, narratives, sensory experiences, and explorations of the physical properties of water.Water City connects water play and STEM experiences for the next generation of young explorers and their families. The exhibit is in the historic part of Navy Pier called the Head House, in the western 50 ft. tall tower and includes a central water feature with three legs echoing the three branches of the Chicago River, and uniquely Chicago elements such as a lock/dam system, Lake Michigan, and skyscrapers from Chicago’s iconic skyline.As one of the best things to do in Chicago with kids, the Chicago Children's Museum features 15 permanent, kid-friendly exhibits that are included with your pass.

Strap in for the ultimate flight ride, where motion seats, special effects, and a massive wraparound screen make you feel like you’re truly soaring. Take your pick between two breathtaking films: a thrilling journey over Chicago’s iconic skyline or an alpine adventure through the majestic Canadian Rockies.Whichever you choose, you’ll see the world from a whole new perspective.Believe Chicago – an unforgettable 30-minute adventure transporting you over , into and through the heart of the city. This signature, sky-high journey promises to capture your imagination and engage your senses as you connect with the people, stories, architecture and culture that makes Chicago the spectacular city that it is.Discover the sights, sounds and spirit of Chicago like never before at Flyover. The immersive, multi-sensory experience takes you soaring over the city on a scenic aerial tour of its most famous landmarks.Call of the Canadian Rockies – soar over the stunning peaks, glaciers, and lakes of the Canadian Rockies on this epic Flyover adventure. From Maligne Lake’s shimmering waters to the snowy heights of Mount Somervell, each scene flows seamlessly through changing seasons and dramatic landscapes.Along the way, three storylines guide your journey: the wisdom of a Blackfoot knowledge keeper, the wonder of a first-time visitor, and an invitation to find your own connection to the mountains.