 Chicago has a large number of tourist attractions, but there are undoubtedly a select handful that are by far the most popular with visitors. Here are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the Windy City. Hancock ObservatoryThe Hancock Observatory in the John Hancock Center may not be as high as the Sears Tower Skydeck,
but at 1,000 feet up the view of Chicago is still breathtaking. It also
has the added bonus of being able to enjoy a cocktail at the Signature
Room on the 95th floor. Lincoln Park ZooAn
oasis in the city, the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the most beautiful in
the country, featuring historical architecture and world-class wildlife
exhibits. The zoo caters to the crowds 365 days a year, and has an
admission price that can't be beat: zero! Zoo admission is free for
everyone. Millennium ParkStill
the source of controversy with some locals over its cost overruns and
somewhat hodgepodge design, but the large crowds strolling about
Millennium Park don't seem to care. The Bean (officially known as Cloud Gate) is quickly on its way to becoming Chicago's most recognizable icon. Navy PierLocated
just east of downtown on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier offers scores of
entertainment and dining options, boat cruises, and an excellent view
of Lake Michigan, making it one of Chicago's top tourist attractions. Sears Tower SkydeckSoaring
at 110 stories tall, the Sears Tower is the tallest building in North
America and remains a huge tourist attraction, namely due to its
Skydeck observatory offering a view of Chicago at 1,353 feet (412
meters). Shedd AquariumWith
almost 2 million visitors a year, the Shedd Aquarium easily qualifies
as one of Chicago's most popular attractions. And rightly so -- it's
one of the premier aquariums in the country. A word to the wise: get
there early, or you may be greeted with a long line snaking out the
door and all the way down the aquarium's steps. Shedd Aquarium is part
of Chicago's Museum Campus. Wrigley FieldThe Chicago-style pizza (a.k.a. deep dish pizza) is one of the Windy City's signature foods. Which is kind of misleading, because deep dish pizza is actually not what Chicagoans order on a regular basis. Most pizzerias in Chicago serve a thin-crust pizza, and while different in style compared to other pizza icons like New York, it's not known as a "Chicago-style pizza". A Chicago-style pizza has a thick, buttery cornmeal crust, and is piled high and layered "upside down" -- the cheese goes on first, then the mounds of toppings, and the sauce goes on top. Here are some favorite places to get Chicago-style pizza. Gino's EastGino's East hand makes their deep-dish pizza, and the amount of toppings make it a challenge to eat more than one piece. Gino's East is also known for allowing guests to graffiti the walls to mark their visit (see if you can spot "Prescott Was Here '88").
Lou Malnati'sWhile Lou Malnati's was late to the Chicago deep-dish party when it opened in 1971, original owner Lou had previously worked in the deep-dish pizza business for almost 30 years before opening his flagship restaurant in nearby suburban Lincolnwood, and his dedication to quality still holds up today.
Lou Malnati's also offers delivery, ending one hour before closing time. Pizzeria UnoPizzeria Uno lays claim to inventing the Chicago deep-dish pizza, and by the quality of their pizza pie, I believe them. Uno also has a number of other tasty items on their menu besides pizza, but it seems kind of beside the point.
Pizzeria DuePizzeria Uno is so popular, they had to open another location around the corner, Pizzeria Due. While most might want to eat at the original, the long waits might not give you a choice if you want to eat by next Tuesday. But don't worry, the same quality standards apply at Pizzeria Due as well.
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