Top Five Ways to Experience Chicago Culture

While traveling to Chicago, Illinois, you must check out all the city has to offer-from a Cubs game at Wrigley Field to a deep-dish pizza at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. But while you are there, you can't forget the cultural aspects of the city. Chicago offers great museums, art, and wildlife. These activities allow you to explore the city and have a fun, family filled day.

Chicago Culture #1: Field Museum

Located at 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, the Field Museum offers a permanent Ancient Americas exhibit. The current temporary exhibits include Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age (now through September 6), and Gold (October 22 through March 6). An adult all access pass is $29.00, but an adult general admission is $15.00.

Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-9410

Chicago Culture #2: Art Institute of Chicago

Located on Michigan Avenue just South of Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago has several exhibits to stimulate your mind. The current exhibits include Sound and Vision,"Kindly Cable Me at the Earliest Moment": James Henry Breasted's Role in Building the Egyptian Collection, Stanley Greenberg: Architecture Under Construction, Looking after Louis Sullivan: Photographs, Drawings, and Fragments, Everyday Adventures Growing Up: Art from Picture Books, Pierre Huyghe: Les Grands Ensembles (The Housing Projects), Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century, Arthur Pope and a New Survey of Persian Art, Roger Hiorns, and Contemporary Collecting: Selections from the Donna and Howard Stone Collection. Adult admission is $18.00, with free admission on Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600

Chicago Culture #3: Lincoln Park Zoo

If you're looking for a free activity for the whole family, you should certainly check out the Lincoln Park Zoo. This zoo has exhibits displaying bears, lions, birds, penguins and seabirds, primates, sea lions, small mammals and reptiles, swans and flamingos, African apes, zebras and antelope, and some farm animals. However, before you go, make sure to check out the special events happening each month for an even more memorable experience.

Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-2000

Chicago Culture #4: Museum of Science and Industry

Located on 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, the Museum of Science and Industry houses several exhibits including Smart Home: Green and Wired, YOU! The Experience, and Science Storms. There are also theatres, interactive experiences, and special events including a behind the scenes tour of the museum. General adult admission is $15.00, with free days on September 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28.

Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-1414

Chicago Culture #5: Shedd Aquarium

Located on 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, the Shedd Aquarium is home to several unique exhibits including Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, and even an Oceanarium where you can experience the ocean life up close. For extra fees, you can even swim with Beluga whales, play with penguins, or be a trainer for a day. An adult ticket is currently priced at $26.95, so make sure to take advantage of their community discount days each month when general admission is free! September discount days: 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28. For more information, click here.

John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
312-939-2438

Sources:

http://www.sueescapes.com
http://www.artic.edu/aic
http://www.lpzoo.com
http://www.msichicago.org
http://www.sheddaquarium.org