A woman enjoys the green spaces of Chicago

The most relaxing things to do in Chicago

By Ian Packham

Relaxing may not be the first word that comes to mind when thinking about the windy city. But if you’re asking ‘how can I relax in Chicago’ don’t dismay. Follow our lead and you’ll soon realize there’s a real wealth of relaxing things to do in Chicago.

Know where to look and the rush hour traffic and crowds of the Magnificent Mile will become a distant memory. So what are you waiting for? Let’s check out the best ways to go zen in the home of Al Capone and the World’s Fair.

Picnic in the parks

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The obvious place to head for a bit of tranquility in any city is its parks. Since the 1830s the official motto of Chicago has been the Latin phrase urbs in horto, or ‘the city within a garden’. Tot them up and the city’s public parks come close to topping 600 in number, equivalent to almost 9% of its area.

North of downtown, Chicago Botanic Garden was only opened in 1972, although you’d never guess from its landscape of lakes, prairie and woodland. Covering 385 acres, it is made up of 25 display gardens within these habitats, bringing the world of horticulture to this part of the city. Aside from providing an attractive place to relax, it also plays an important role in helping preserve rare and disappearing species.

Constructed 50 years earlier by the architect it’s named after, the intention of Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool was always to provide Chicagoans with a space to think. Sharing the same naturalistic appearance as the Botanic Garden, the almost Japanese scene of woodland and trickling water is situated in Lincoln Park, alongside the Conservatory glass house – a perfect alternative should a rain shower sweep over.

Explore your artistic side

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Especially calm during office hours, the Museum of Contemporary Art provides exactly the right ambience for taking your time over its permanent collection of 2500 artworks, substantially supplemented by loans from other galleries.

Puzzle over Jeff Koons’ stainless steel Rabbit, Andy Warhol’s screen prints of Jackie Kennedy, and Magritte’s The Wonders of Nature before heading out into the sculpture garden or tucking into something tasty in the restaurant designed by award-winning artist Chris Ofili.

If you’ve ever lost a few hours in the comfort of a good book, you’ll understand the serenity the written word can impart. Where better to head then when looking for relaxing things to do in Chicago than the American Writers Museum? From Nobel prize winner Ernest Hemingway to poets and playwrights, it celebrates storytelling in all its forms.

With creativity sparking off every nerve ending, you may well want to roll up your sleeves with an art workshop. Lillstreet Art Center has been at the heart of the community since 1975 and is just one of a number of galleries hosting regular sessions incorporating metalwork and jewelry making, screen printing and ceramics.

Take to the water

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Edged by Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes, and cleaved in part by the various branches of the Chicago River, taking to the water is another way in which to enjoy the city without setting your heart pulsing with anything but fascination.

Step aboard a Shoreline Architecture River Cruise for a jaunt along all three channels of the river. The south branch soon reveals one of the city’s most famous structures – the Willis Tower – tallest building in the world for a generation. The main branch is lined by further architectural points of note, whilst the north branch helps reveal how the city has changed over its 200 year history. Should you wish, it’s also possible to explore the river not by boat but by kayak.

However, to really absorb the Chicago skyline you’re going to need a little more distance, such as that offered by Skyline Lake Tours. Aside from the city views, these 40 minute tours give ticket holders a potted account of the growth of the city as you take in Navy Pier, Harbor Lighthouse and Museum Campus from onboard.

Enjoy a gentle stroll

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Taking in a portion of the river’s south branch is Chinatown, where there are plenty more lazy things to do in Chicago. Centered on Cermak Road and Wentworth Avenue, it has an expansive range of independent stores, teahouses and dim sum restaurants very different to the offerings on the Magnificent Mile.

Check out the Chinese American Museum of Chicago for a little more on the background of how it developed, or satisfy yourself with the replica of Beijing’s 15thCentury Nine Dragon Wall.

Other spots in the city to take a leisurely walk include the 606 (or Bloomingdale) rail trail, following the westward path of an old railroad track. Replaced with the largest greenway project of its kind in the US, it runs for 2.7 miles, meaning even if you follow it to its western trailhead you still won’t be too far from the center of the city.

Turn in the opposite direction and you’ll soon reach Lakeshore Trail, following the water’s edge of Lake Michigan for more than 18 miles, giving ample opportunity whether you’re after a walk to the nearest coffee shop or a daylong hike along the whole path. For shorter ambles, Navy Pier makes for a great target. Packed with old style rides and Centennial Wheel and extending for over 3000 feet, it’s one of Chicago’s most popular attractions.

Relaxed in body, mind and wallet

With a little effort it’s possible to find a wide array of relaxing things to do in Chicago, from spending time in the city’s multitude of gardens to hitting the heights of Centennial Wheel. Another way to stay relaxed when on vacation is by traveling with Go City. Set yourself up with one of our pre-pay passes and you’ll know you've got huge discounts on entry to many of Chicago’s most popular attractions and things to do!

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What are the best museums in Chicago and why?

A major cultural hub, Chicago won’t let you down when it comes to its museums. Lovers of nature documentaries need look no further than the Field Museum or Shedd Aquarium, with Chicago Botanic Garden and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum completing this section of the best museums in Chicago. Art lovers have their pick of the masterpieces with the Art Institute of Chicago joining the Museum of Contemporary Art and Streeterville’s independent art spaces to total more galleries than anywhere outside of New York. Architecture buffs are spoilt for choice too, with Chicago the birthplace of the skyscraper and home to master designer Frank Lloyd Wright, adding further to the list. Then there’s the awesome range of children’s and family museums. If all these options have your head in a spin, take a look at our pick of the best museums in Chicago. The best natural history museums in Chicago One of the world’s best natural history collections, the Field Museum could have you enthralled for days, though even a couple of hours is enough to take in the highlights, from the impossible-to-miss titanosaur skeleton – the largest dinosaur remains ever discovered at 122 feet long and 28 ft high – to some of the tiniest creatures to ever walk the Earth. Shedd Aquarium just next door fulfils a similar role for the world’s marine habitats. Blending its 1930s origins with state-of-the-art displays, its tanks and vivariums are awash with the color of the oceans. The warm tropical waters of the Caribbean’s reefs are celebrated just as much as the cool waters of the Pacific northwest and the Great Lakes. Between May and September visitors can feel the rough skin of rays in the touch tank, whilst all year round sea turtles, sharks, beluga whales and jellyfish are sure to entertain. The award-winning Chicago Botanic Garden actually comprises 25 different display gardens within four habitats. A ‘living museum’ and conservation center, more than a million visitors pass through its turnstiles in an average year, taking in its six miles of lake shoreline and nine islands. These range from the naturalistic form of the English Garden to the perfectly-manicured planting of the Japanese Garden. Part of Lincoln Park, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum focusses on the flora and fauna of the Chicago region, however its butterfly house contains a mix of 200 different types of native and exotic butterflies. The best art museums in Chicago Guarded by its famous bronze lions, few museums can match the sheer size of the permanent collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. Tucked into the green spaces of downtown, its 300,000 objects include a collection of impressionist artworks rivaling the Musée d’Orsay in Paris with six of Claude Monet’s waterlily paintings and Vincent van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles. More modern works include those by Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper and Andy Warhol. Hot on its tails is the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, which focuses on works from the later twentieth century and early twenty-first. Although only founded in 1967, the MCA has a reputation of spotting the hottest new talent through its series of curated exhibitions. Meaning there’s always something new to see, keep an eye out for Jeff Koons’ Rabbit and Magritte’s The Wonders of Nature dotted about the incredible modern architecture. Chicago also has an impressive number of smaller galleries, represented perfectly by Hyde Park Art Center and the Woman Made Gallery. However, it’s no exaggeration to say Chicago has dozens of independent galleries, with the Streeterville neighborhood the best place to head for art lovers. The best architecture museums in Chicago One of the most architecturally innovative cities in America, Chicago saw the construction of the first steel-framed skyscraper, was home to leading light Frank Lloyd Wright and the once-tallest building in the world. That first skyscraper – the ten-story Home Insurance Building – is now long gone. It was demolished in 1931. However, there remain several examples of Frank Lloyd Wright’s unique ‘organic architecture’ which aimed to unite man and the environment, doing away with internal walls to allow light to flood into his structures. His home and studio of ten years stands as it did in 1909, with guided tours providing an insight into his way of working and raising his six children. Not far away you’ll also find Robie House, one of just a handful of homes designed by Wright which are open to the public. Chicago Architecture Center’s Chicago Gallery helps reveal how the city became such an architectural wonderland, with its 3D city model featuring over 4000 individual structures. But one of the best places to take in the skyline is from one of its tallest structures. The Willis Tower may have lost its crown as the tallest building in the world, but remains an impressive place to take in the views all the same. The best children’s museums in Chicago If you’re traveling as a family, Chicago won’t let you down. It has a fine pick of child-friendly museums, which are frankly still unmissable even without a youngster in tow. The obvious place to start is the Chicago Children’s Museum on Navy Pier. Suitable for little ones of all ages, this hands-on exploration space has plenty to keep the kids entertained, from an art studio to zones specially created for safe play. The Museum of Science and Industry may not sound the most exciting of places, but this is a situation when names can be deceiving. Where else could you find a functioning model of your heart, explore a captured World War Two submarine or discover the future of energy? With three levels of exhibition space, you won’t be disappointed. But to head beyond Earth, would-be astronauts will need to lock on to the Adler Planetarium. Another must-see museum in Chicago, there’s three full-sized auditoriums to choose between hosting various shows, as well as important artefacts including the Gemini 12 space capsule and antique scientific instruments that demonstrate how our understanding of space has changed over the ages. Save when visiting Chicago’s best museums With such an array of stunning museums, costs can soon mount up. However, travel with Go City and this never becomes a problem. Our passes include incredible savings on many of the best museums in Chicago in addition to a wide-range of other attractions you won’t want to miss.
Ian Packham
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10+ Things to do in Chicago for couples – Chicago attractions for adults

Chicago is one of our favorite cities for couples. It's got everything from romantic adventures to exciting excursions, fine dining to fun snacks, and even great shopping. Whether you prefer museums or love the great outdoors (and frankly, anything and everything in between), there's something for both of you to love in Chicago. If you’re looking for things to do in Chicago for couples, check out our list of the top attractions and activities, including... 360 CHICAGO Architecture River Cruise Shedd Aquarium Tall Ship WINDY Art Institute of Chicago Field Museum Big Bus Chicago Tour and more... See Chicago from an observation deck Get a bird's eye view of the city at one of two fantastic observation decks: SkyDeck Chicago at Willis Tower or 360 CHICAGO at the John Hancock building. Take in a romantic sunset together or watch the skyscrapers sparkle at night. Both offer amazing views of the city below, but each has unique strengths. You can see parts of four different states at 360 CHICAGO! Or, if you prefer better views of Navy Pier and Lake Michigan, SkyDeck Chicago and their exciting new TILT attraction is a hair-raising choice! 🎟️Getting in: Admission to both SkyDeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO is available on all Go City® Chicago passes. History & Natural History museums History fans, especially those with a taste for local history, will also get a lot out of a trip to Chicago. Visit the Chicago History Museum for a specific focus on the heritage and history of this marvelous city. Why not stop in at one of their fantastic temporary exhibitions and soak up some culture together? With its convenient location in the south part of Lincoln Park, the Chicago History Museum is also right near Old Town, a trendy neighborhood with plenty of great food and drink options. We love Broken English (for tacos and margarita specials) or Old Town Pour House (for good craft beer, plus sports TV). Or, head to the Field Museum for a fascinating perspective on the natural history around the globe. Here you'll find everything from SUE, the iconic T. Rex skeleton, to gorgeous gemstones of all varieties to Ancient Egyptian artifacts. 🎟️ Getting in: Chicago History Museum and Field Museum admission is available on all Go City® Chicago passes. Shedd Aquarium Do you both simply adore the sea? Then a visit to Shedd Aquarium is a must-do activity for almost any age. This world-class aquarium features hundreds of sea critters, great and small. Encounter animals from fresh and saltwater, creatures who live near the water but are primarily terrestrial, and even seabirds. From amusing penguins to intimidating sharks, you'll find it all here. 🎟️ Getting in: Shedd Aquarium admission is only available on the Go City® Explorer Pass. Amazing architecture excursions Chicago is famous for its eclectic and innovative architectural makeup -- with iconic buildings designed by everyone from Frank Lloyd Wright to Mies van der Rohe. If you're a couple who loves art and architecture or unique sightseeing in general, then an exploration of Chicago's architectural scene is perfect for you. One popular option is a tour of the Chicago River and the many beautiful buildings visible from the water. This relaxing and informative cruise provides many opportunities for excellent photographs! If you want to see more of the city's architecture than can be seen from the shores of the Chicago River, embark on a themed architecture walking tour run by the city's more significant architectural organization. 🎟️ Getting in: Chicago Architecture Boat Tour admission is only available on the Go City® Explorer Pass. Hop-on Hop-off Big Bus Chicago tour It can feel a little too touristy sometimes, but the trick to a good city tour is to find one that balances fun, information, and convenience, all in one great package. A hop-on-hop-off Chicago bus tour is a great option here, as it provides the flexibility of boarding and disembarking wherever you please for maximum customizability. See all the best sights of the city, from major landmarks like the Willis Tower and the Wrigley Building to top local attractions like the institutions at the Museum Campus and beyond. You can be your own guide, pick and choose which top sights are right for you, and get on and off as you please. Choose which sights you tick off, from the Magnificent Mile and Shedd Aquarium to the Field Museum, Millennium Park, and many more. 🎟️ Getting in: Hop On Hop Off Chicago Bus Tour admission is included on all Go City® Chicago passes. Lake Michigan cruises If you are looking to get out on the water of Lake Michigan, we recommend taking a peaceful cruise offered by Shoreline Sightseeing — one of the best ways to see the city of Chicago. This classic lake tour showcases the major sights along the shore - like Navy Pier and the beaches — and also the wild marine life found on the lake. Another excellent, more adrenaline-fueled option is Lakefront Speedboat Tour. Zoom along Lake Michigan and admire the Chicago skyline in a 2,000-horsepower boat. Your experienced guide will provide a detailed and entertaining narration of the city's history and architecture. 🎟️Getting in: The Lakefront Speedboat Tour is available on the Go City® All-Inclusive pass, while Classic Lake Tour admission is available on the Go City® Explorer pass. Top art museums Artistic couples and friends will find much to love about Chicago's museum scene. The world-famous Art Institute of Chicago is the ideal artsy attraction and boasts unique and beautiful architecture of its own. From the Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing to the classic original structure, you'll find a wide selection of pieces from Chagall's American Windows to Georgia O'Keeffe's Black Cross New Mexico. The smaller Museum of Contemporary Art is no less fascinating with its focus on living artists and the most recent developments. They have funky rotating exhibits that feature everything from installation art to graphic art and sculpture. 🎟️Getting in: Museum of Contemporary Art admission is included on all Go City® Chicago passes. Bike rides around Chicago Chicago is an extraordinarily bike-friendly city. From the many trails and pathways around the lakefront to the giant parks located throughout the city, there are plenty of low-stress places to pedal a bike. What's more, the city is completely flat! There is barely a hill to pedal up, so you won't get out of puff in a hurry. If you're a local or a real bike expert, you can even use a bike as transportation to get around the heart of the city itself. So, rent a couple of bikes and head off on your outdoorsy couples' adventure in lovely downtown Chicago. 🎟️ Getting in: Bike and Roll Chicago bike rentals are available on all Go City® passes. Chicago Theatre Tour For artsy couples or friends, the iconic Chicago Theatre is a must-visit attraction. Take a tour of this historic theater and go behind the scenes of one of the art world's most storied venues. The beautiful French Baroque architecture is another testament to how important Chicago is to the history of design and architecture in America. Plus, you'll get to see the backstage walls autographed by the many, many celebrities who have performed on this stage, as well as a historic photo display. You'll even get a chance to walk across the stage! 🎟️ Getting in: Chicago Theatre Tour Experience admission is available on all Go City® Chicago passes. Beautiful urban parks One of the most stunning things about downtown Chicago is its selection of gorgeous parks. From the culture-filled Millennium Park to the festival-friendly Grant Park to the tiny but darling Lurie Garden, there is a park for couples to wander and photograph for hours. Don't forget to stop by the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, aka, the Bean. Or, venture further out of the city center into Lincoln Park, which boasts a zoo and several beaches. It's a great place to explore, ride bikes, run, play frisbee, etc. If you venture a little west of the city you'll come across Garfield Park and its beautiful conservatory. Garfield Park is a sanctuary for 120,000 tropical plants over 1.6 acres of glass-topped indoor space. To the south of the city, Jackson Park occupies a stretch of the water's edge with beaches, lush green playing fields, marinas, and landscaped lagoons. It plays host to the impressive Museum of Science and Industry, a neo-classical building home to innovative hands-on exhibits about all things industrial. Shopping, shopping, shopping   Whether you both love a good bargain or one of you is patiently accompanying the other, there's oodles of shopping to be found in Chicago. The Magnificent Mile is a particularly popular destination, featuring everything from elite couture shops to fast fashion favorites. Or, head to Water Tower Place Mall for an excellent selection on everything from LEGOs to loose tea. A stroll along either locale is also just great sightseeing. You'll also be able to find souvenirs and more at many of the top attractions, too - the Art Institute of Chicago in particular has a stellar gift shop. Unique Chicago neighborhoods There's more to Chicago than just the Mag Mile. In fact, some of the city's best dining options are found in outlying neighborhoods. Try the trendy neighborhood of Old Town for delicious cuisine and fun bars, or Wicker Park/Bucktown for boutique shopping. If you're craving Italian, try Little Italy & University Village, or if you want to embrace Chicago's Polish heritage, scope out Portage Park. Another fun neighborhood with great food and drink is Ukrainian Village, featuring a fun brewery, a top sushi restaurant, and some wonderful indie shops. Save on admission to top Chicago attractions with Go City® Discover our full line-up of Chicago attractions for couples including the Chicago River Architecture walking tour, Chicago Theatre Experience, Skydeck Chicago, and more. 🤩 If you want to see and do as much as you can, our All-Inclusive Pass is for you. 😎 If you want to pick just a few attractions and visit at your own pace, our Explorer Pass is the perfect option.
Katie Sagal

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