Essential Chicago: What Every Visitor Must See

The City of Chicago can be intimidating for first time visitors because of its size and the amount of sites that demand attention. There is a different version of Chicago for every visitor that passes through, but there are some things that every visitor must see. The essential Chicago includes famous landmarks, great architecture, shopping destinations, and tourist traps.

Here is a guide to the essential parts of Chicago that every visitor must see. Everything included in the guide can be seen in a single weekend and without a car, public transportation and walking are the best ways to see Chicago.

Millennium Park

Chicago's Millennium Park is the newest addition to downtown and has quickly become the place to be in both the summer and winter. Millennium Park is situated along Michigan Avenue where a free ice rink is filled with skater and tourists positioning themselves for postcard snapshots. In the summer the ice rink is an outdoor patio for the resident restaurant, Park Grill. Overlooking the rink is the most popular sculpture Chicago has, Cloud Gate, which resembles a kidney bean. Crown Fountain features two towers of LCD displays that feature individuals, water sprays down the sides making it a family and summertime favorite. Finish your visit with a stroll through the Lurie Gardens.

Navy Pier

Even though Navy Pier is considered a tourist trap by many it is a huge part of Chicago and has the best view of the lakeshore. The pier caters to families with its amusement park rides including the giant 150 ft Ferris wheel and carousel. The Chicago Shakespeare Theater and IMAX draw college students and theater buffs and the Beer Garden is packed during the summer evenings. A convention center and the pier itself play host to various events and festivals year round and don't forget about the variety of marine vessels that are docked for tours and private parties.

Water Tower

The Water Tower is one of the most famous buildings in Chicago history. Built in 1869, both the water tower and the pumping station across Michigan Avenue survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Stop inside the Water Tower to see photography by local artists featuring the City of Chicago. The square that the Water occupies is usually filled with tourists, shoppers and students. On the best nights in Winter the square is lit up and a street performer fills the air with Christmas tunes.

Sears Tower

It would not be right to visit the city where the skyscraper was born without visiting the Sears Tower. Even though Chicago lost its title for the world's tallest building the Sears Tower remains Chicago's tallest. The Sears Tower is located at 233 South Wacker and a visit consists of an elevator ride all the way up to the observation deck. You need to visit on a very cloudless day to be able to see across Lake Michigan, I never have, but the view of Chicago is one of the best.

The Million Dollar Mile

Michigan Avenue has so many names even I can't remember all of them. When you are shopping the mile though, it becomes the Million Dollar Mile and if you have a million dollars to spend even better! The best shopping on Michigan Avenue runs from Water Tower to the Chicago River and includes every retailer who is anyone.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Within minutes from downtown on the bus or a bike ride along the lake Lincoln Park Zoo is Chicago's free zoo in the heart of the city. The zoo features a new African Journey, farm in the zoo, and primate house. A perfect day at the zoo would include a picnic in Lincoln Park followed by a boat ride in the pond and an hour sunbathing on the beaches of Lake Michigan.

There is so much more to enjoy in the city, but the six locations listed will leave you with a good idea of what Chicago is all about. I am sure that after you have seen the essentials of Chicago you will be back for more.