Black Friday Giveaway

Win Dinner for two at Sepia Chicago this Black Friday

Our Black Friday Giveaway has now ended.

WIN a Gift Voucher for Dinner for two people at Sepia Chicago

At Sepia Chicago you’ll dine in decadence with a four-course dinner for two, including drinks and a bottle of wine.

A Michelin Star Restaurant and winner of the Wine Spectator’s Best Award of Excellence 2022, Sepia Chicago is based in an 1890s print shop and takes you back to bygone eras of the Windy City. From the Art Nouveau floor to the expertly handcrafted millwork, the easy elegance of the restaurant will transport you to a life of luxury.

default alt tag

Attention to detail runs from the décor to the plate and is the perfect backdrop for you to enjoy their creative American cuisine. Sepia’s product-based menu showcases the quality of the ingredients and uses local artisan and sustainable options wherever possible. Chef Andrew Zimmerman’s passion for both the product and the dishes shines through in every bite.

At Sepia you’ll enjoy couture cuisine celebrating traditional food with a unique modern twist.

default alt tag

How to enter

For a chance to win this incredible prize, all you have to do is purchase any of our Chicago passes between 9AM Tuesday 22 November 2022 and 11:59PM Tuesday 29 November 2022. Once you’ve purchased, you’ll be automatically entered into the giveaway. Easy!

If you’re the lucky winner, we’ll contact you by email by December 15, 2022, so look out for us in your inbox.

Click here to view giveaway terms and conditions

Alice Padfield
Alice Padfield
Content Executive

Alice is a copywriter in the Content team at Go City®, where she combines her love for travel, literature, food and theatre to craft inspiring content for cultural explorers. From blog articles to TikToks, she creates engaging stories that help travellers uncover hidden gems and must-see spots in every city. Passionate about exploring new destinations, Alice shares her discoveries to help others curate unforgettable itineraries.

Continue reading

Male lion at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago
Blog

Lincoln Park Zoo vs. Brookfield Zoo Comparison of Chicago Zoos

Love animals? Well, of course you do! After all, you’re not some sort of monster, right? Right? Why else would you have landed up on a blog comparing two of Chicago’s best animal attractions? Unless, of course, you’re planning some sort of Madagascar-style breakout. In which case, there’s nothing to see here. Move along, you’ve come to the wrong place. For the rest of you – lovers of adorable aardvarks, cute crocs and bewitching bears – we have exactly what you’re looking for. Take a walk on the wild side with us as we take a look at what to expect from Chicago’s Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoos… Lincoln Park Zoo Name. This one’s fairly self-explanatory: it’s named after the President-referencing Chicago park in which it’s located, a huge tract of parkland on the shores of Lake Michigan that’s also home to a nature museum, a history museum and a conservatory. Age. Lincoln Park Zoo was established in 1868, making it one of the oldest zoos in North America. What to expect at Lincoln Park Zoo. At the risk of stating the obvious, Lincoln Park Zoo is perhaps best known for its animals. Many animals. Big animals. Little animals. Hairy animals. Scaly animals. Animals of all stripes, in other words. We’re talking over 1,000 critters across 200 species, including critically endangered eastern black rhinoceroses, dangerously cute American black bears, lovable two-tailed sloths, ultra-rare Jamaican iguanas, and a chimp named Optimus Prime, to name just a few. Lincoln Park zoo is also an accredited arboretum, boasting 850 plant species, including the only perennial herbaceous hibiscus collection in the United States. There are multiple exhibits to explore and regular activities like penguin-feeding, polar bear care and giraffe training. Best of all, it's free. That’s right: entry to Lincoln Park Zoo costs nothing. It’s free, it’s gratis, and it won’t cost you a dime! Getting in. Opening hours are generally 10AM-5PM with late opening until 7PM on weekends. The zoo is open 365 days a year and… entry is always freeee! More info here. Vital Statistics Size. A relatively diminutive 35 acres. Number of animals. Around 1,100 animals representing 200 species. Number of exhibits. There are around 15 exhibits, including an Arctic tundra for the polar bears, a macaque forest, a seal pool, a reptile enclosure and a petting zoo. Places to eat and drink. Four. Annual visitors. Around 3.4 million. Why Choose Lincoln Park Zoo? It's centrally located, just 20 minutes north of downtown. Its relatively small size means you can combine a trip here with other nearby attractions – among them the beautiful Lincoln Park Conservatory and North Avenue Beach. Penguin feeding! Giraffe training! Cute miniature train! Endangered species carousel! It’s one of few places on the planet you can encounter critically endangered eastern black rhinoceroses and the stately Jamaican iguana, believed to be extinct in the wild. Did we mention it’s FREE? Brookfield Zoo Name. Brookfield Zoo Chicago (to give it its full Sunday name) is also known as the Chicago Zoological Park. Or just plain Brookfield Zoo to its friends. Age. Brookfield Zoo is officially a nonagenarian: it first opened its gates on July 1, 1934. What to expect at Brookfield Zoo. One thing’s for sure: you’ll do a lot more walking at Brookfield, so wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water and snacks. Located out in the ‘burbs west of the city, this huge expanse of parkland is home to thousands of animals, from cute and cuddly koalas to showboating frilled lizards, Andean cock-of-the-rocks, and colorful butterflies. Say g’day to wombats, kangas, kookaburras and other Antipodean animals in the Australia zone, get up close to endangered black rhinos at the pachyderm exhibit and ogle Day-Glo pythons and poison frogs in the reptile enclosure. The zoo also has several fairground-style rides including a Ferris wheel, a hand-carved menagerie carousel, and virtual reality wildlife experiences. You can also rest weary legs aboard the motor safari and enjoy various up close encounters with animals (playtime with the macaws, shark-feeding and so on). Extra charges apply for all rides and animal encounters. Getting in. The zoo is open 9.3AM to 6PM daily. You can buy tickets for general admission, plus parking, special events and rides, here. Vital Statistics Size. At a whopping 235 acres, it’s somewhat larger than Lincoln Park Zoo.  Number of animals. Unsurprisingly, a space this size also houses more critters. About three times the number, in fact, at 3,500 animals and more than 500 species.  Number of exhibits. Eighteen zones, including wolves in the woods, a seasonal butterfly enclosure, a rainforest where clouded leopards are stars of the show, and a penguin pool. Places to eat and drink. Twelve: everything from burgers and tacos to gourmet popcorn and snow cones. Annual visitors. Around 2.2 million. Why Choose Brookfield Zoo? Despite its suburban location, Brookfield Zoo is a fairly easy 20-30-minute drive from downtown Chicago. With more than 3,500 critters to meet, plus rides, add-on experiences and more, there’s plenty to keep kids and grown-ups entertained here for a whole day – or longer! Cute koalas! Beautiful butterflies! Immersive virtual reality wildlife experiences! A Ferris wheel! Multiple restaurants and snack bars mean even the most bear-like appetites can be satisfied with ease. Save on Chicago Tours, Activities and Attractions Did you know you can save up to 50% on dozens of bucket-list Chicago tours, activities and attractions with a pass from Go City? Well, now you do! Choose from an Explorer or All-Inclusive pass depending on your sightseeing style and unlock access to the 360 Chicago observation deck, Navy Pier Ferris wheel and rides, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and many more. Find out more about the Explorer and All-Inclusive options and bag your Go Chicago pass here!
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Museum of Science and Industry
Blog

Museum of Science and Industry Vs The Field Museum Comparison

Chicago’s embarrassment of cultural riches includes such venerable institutions as the Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute, Adler Planetarium, and home and studio of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and Field Museum are two of the biggest, brightest and best such attractions in town. Between them this pair of cultural giants chart the entire history of this planet we call Earth, from weather systems and animal evolution to ancient Egyptian burial rites and the space race. But which should you visit when on vacation in the Windy City? We take a closer look at the Museum of Science and Industry vs the Field Museum, covering must-see highlights, best times to visit and how long you’ll need for each. Griffin Museum of Science+Industry: The Lowdown Vital Statistics: The Griffin Museum of Science+Industry (or MSI) is perched on a reflecting lagoon in Chicago’s Jackson Park, and housed inside the former Palace of Fine Arts, built for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and opened as a science museum in 1933. Inside, a collection of some 2,000 pieces celebrate the very best of human endeavor, ingenuity and achievement across 75 cavernous halls. The museum has plenty of pulling power, welcoming more than a million visitors every year, thanks to its hands-on exhibits, major touring exhibitions and epic five-story wraparound theater. The MSI in Brief: Anyone with even a passing interest in the technological progress of the human species through the ages will find much to enjoy at the MSI. Here’s where you can ogle the world’s first stainless steel diesel-powered train, get down and dirty in a full-size replica coal mine, step aboard a captured WWII German U-boat and poke around in a 13-foot interactive 3D heart. And that’s just for starters: there are also simulated storms, lunar capsules, a toy-making lab and a huge domed cinema showing immersive films that highlight the very best of the human race. And more! When to visit: Regular opening hours are 9.30AM–4PM daily, with extended hours during summer and school holidays. The museum is closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving. There’s at least a day’s worth of entertainment here, but four hours is enough to tick off the big-ticket exhibits. Avoid school holidays and summer if you don’t like crowds, as these are – perhaps unsurprisingly – the most popular times for families to visit. Visit the official MSI website for up-to-date information on opening hours and exhibitions. Field Museum: The Lowdown Vital Statistics: The Field Museum can be found on Chicago’s Museum Campus, a few miles north along the shore of Lake Michigan, neighboring the excellent Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. This epic natural history museum was largely conceived around exhibits acquired from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and first opened its rather impressive doors back in 1894. Since then, it’s gone from strength to strength, amassing a collection of around 40 million objects, specimens and artifacts, charting 4.5 billion years and drawing in over a million history-hungry visitors each year. The Field Museum in Brief: This one is a naturalist’s nirvana: nearly 500,000 square feet of preserved dinosaur skeletons, meteorite fragments, Ancient Egyptian mummies, animal dioramas, Incan and Aztec artifacts, intricate totem poles, and more magnificent historical artifacts than you can shake a giant T-Rex femur at. Fun fact: the phrase “the customer is always right” is attributed to Marshall Field, the 19th-century department store magnate who gave the museum its name and was its original benefactor. When to visit: The Field Museum is open daily from 9AM–5PM, with final admission at 4PM. It’s closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving. You could very easily spend a whole day or more exploring the collections here, but four hours should give you a decent overview of the highlights. Arrive for opening time to secure the most elbow room – the museum tends to be busiest from late morning until mid-afternoon. Get the latest exhibition information and further details on opening hours at the official Field Museum website. Field Museum or MSI: Which Should I Visit? These are two of the biggest, best and most family-friendly museums in Chicago, so we’d really recommend visiting both if you have time. Go Chicago attraction passes mean you don’t have to pick favorites either, as both the Field Museum and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry are included, alongside other Chicago must-sees like the Skydeck, Navy Pier Ferris wheel, Children’s Museum, and Shedd Aquarium. Find out more and choose your perfect Chicago attraction pass here. Museum of Science and Industry Highlights Must-see highlights of the permanent collection at the MSI include: The Pioneer Zephyr: the world’s first streamlined, stainless steel, diesel-powered train; a gleaming vision of the future of rail travel from way back in 1934. The Henry Crown Space Center: here’s where you’ll find all things intergalactic, including the Apollo 8 spacecraft, a lunar module, and Chicago’s largest immersive domed movie theater. Wartime wonders: fans of militaria can ogle the captured German submarine; there are also several US Navy warship models and fighter jet simulators. Science Storms: physics and chemistry collide in this fascinating multi-level exhibit, which features a Tesla coil, a tsunami tank, and Foucault’s pendulum. You’ll also get the chance to control a 40-foot-tall tornado. Coal Mine: ride the train through this full-scale mine replica, containing original 1930s equipment. Field Museum Highlights Don’t miss these wow permanent exhibits at the Field Museum: Animal Halls. The Field Museum is home to some of the most realistic animal dioramas on the planet. Case in point: Carl Akeley’s ‘Four Seasons’, depicting wild white-tailed deer across the seasons, is a veritable work of art. Also don’t miss: the fearsome man-eating lions of Tsavo and the polar bear protecting her cubs. Inside Ancient Egypt. Decipher 5,000-year-old hieroglyphs, worship at the shrine of the cat goddess Bastet and come face to face with ancient mummified people and animals inside an authentic Egyptian burial chamber. Roarsome Dinosaurs. Grab the selfie of a lifetime with Sue, one of the most complete T-Rex skeletons on the planet, and meet her plant-eating pal Máximo, an absolute monster at 122 feet long and 28 feet tall! A dino-mic duo indeed. Save on Attractions, Tours and Activities in Chicago Save money on Chicago attractions, tours and activities with a pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

Thick check Icon