The Magnificent Mile

#1 Art Institute of Chicago Home to one of the country's most impressive collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art (plus works from numerous other genres), the expansive Art Institute of Chicago features more than ... Read more » Tom Ipri / Flickr

#2 Chicago Architecture River Cruise A visit to 360 CHICAGO or Skydeck Chicago will give you a good overview of the city's layout. But if you want to learn more about Chicago's sky-high ... Read more » Shobeir Ansari / Getty Images

#3 Millennium Park A first-time visit to Chicago isn't complete without a stop at Millennium Park. Situated in the Loop just north of the Art Institute of Chicago, this 24.5-acre space ... Read more » A Ryan / Flickr

#4 Shedd Aquarium Shedd Aquarium is one of the world's largest indoor aquariums, housing around 32,000 creatures. While you're here, you can feel stingrays float beneath your fingers, listen to ... Read more » Bruce Leighty / Getty Images

#5 Wrigley Field Any fan of "Saturday Night Live" knows that Chicagoans take their love of sports very seriously. So for a real taste of Chicago culture, head north of the Loop to ... Read more » Mr Hicks46 / Flickr

#6 Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain Often referred to as "Chicago's front yard," Grant Park is a 319-acre swath of green space that starts at the eastern edge of the Loop and stretches down to ... Read more » MattFrankel / Getty Images

#7 The Field Museum This extensive natural history museum occupies half an acre of Grant Park's Museum Campus and houses extensive exhibits that showcase artifacts from multiple eras and destinations, making it a ... Read more » Robert Glusic / Getty Images

#8 The Magnificent Mile If you can feel your credit card burning a hole through your wallet, make your way to The Magnificent Mile. This portion of Michigan Avenue – which stretches between Lake Shore ... Read more » Christopher.F Photography / Getty Images

#9 Navy Pier Extending out onto Lake Michigan, Navy Pier offers plenty in the way of family-friendly entertainment. The first thing you'll spot once you set foot on the pier is the ... Read more » Westend61 / Getty Images

#10 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck One of Chicago's most notable attractions is its skyline, and one of the best places to experience it is at the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck. Formerly known as the ... Read more » ziggymaj / Getty Images

#11 Museum of Science and Industry Chicago's extensive Museum of Science and Industry pays tribute to the city's innovative roots, showcasing more than 35,000 artifacts and a variety of hands-on exhibits meant to ... Read more » benkrut / Getty Images

#12 Skydeck Chicago Nearly 2 million people make their way to Willis Tower's Skydeck Chicago each year, and it's easy to see why. Occupying the 103rd floor – that's nine floors ... Read more » Courtesy of Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower

#13 Lincoln Park Zoo Located 2 miles north of the Loop in the North Side neighborhood of Lincoln Park, the Lincoln Park Zoo is home to dozens of species, such as zebras, sloths and ... Read more » JamesTung / Getty Images

#14 The Chicago Theatre Aside from Cloud Gate and Buckingham Fountain, The Chicago Theatre's red and yellow marquee is perhaps one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Illuminating North State Street at ... Read more » VisionsofAmerica/Joe Sohm / Getty Images

# Chicago Crime Tours Until relatively recently, notorious mobsters like Al Capone and John Dillinger were the characters who may have come to mind when someone mentioned the Windy City. Chicago Crime Tours takes ... Read more » sfgamchick / Flickr

# Maggie Daley Park Read more » Bruce Leighty / Getty Images

# The 606 Dividing Chicago's Logan Square and Humboldt Park neighborhoods, The 606 is a former industrial rail line that's been transformed into a nature trail and a public space. In ... Read more » Courtesy The 606