The City of Chicago

The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum is America's first and oldest planetarium. Located alongside the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum of Natural History on the shores of Lake Michigan, it was founded and built in 1930 by Max Adler and Philip Fox. In 1987 the Adler Planetarium was declared a National Historic Landmark.

Adler Planetarium hosts plenty of shows and exhibits that are sure to lure children and grown ups alike into astronomy. One of its featured attractions is Shoot for the Moon, a permanent exhibition that highlights exciting stories of space exploration and America's bold plans to return to the Moon.

Visit their website http://www.adlerplanetarium.org for more info.

One well known Downtown Chicago landmark is the Chicago Picasso, or The Picasso. As the name implies, it is a metal sculpture by Pablo Picasso, a Spanish artist best known for co-founding the Cubist movement. The Picasso stands 50 feet, weighs more than 160 tons, and can be found in Daley Plaza in the Chicago Loop. It has become a popular meeting spot among Chicagoans because of its unmistakable features.

What or who exactly is depicted in the Chicago Picasso is still debated. Some say it is a bird or an Afghan hound, and some even say it is inspired by a woman named Lydia Corbett, one of Picasso's models. A copper maquette of the structure is entitled Tête de Baboon, or Baboon Head.

Although the 50-foot Berwyn Spindle was taken down Friday to make room for a new Walgreens, the top two cars - a Volkswagen Beetle and a BMW - was kept by the mall management in hopes of resurrecting the towering artwork.

Dustin Schuler, the creator and copyright owner of the sculpture, is optimistic about the deal, but has not been contacted yet about the details.

The Chicago Blues Festival is a Chicago tradition for over 20 years. It is an annual event that features performances by top blues musicians. It is held for four days at Grant Park.

The festival began in 1984, a year after the death of Muddy Waters, the father of Chicago blues. Some notable past performers were Bo Diddley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Lee Hooker, and Etta James just to name a few.

This years Chicago Blues Festival will be held from June 5 to 8 and will be closed by none other than the legendary B.B. King.

Visit their official website for more information.

The Taste of Chicago is the Midwest's and the world's largest food festival. It is held at Grant Park every year for two weeks, starting from the final week of June. Chicago's best restaurants get to feature their best dishes ranging from family favorites to the exotic. Entertainment is also provided by musical artists on different stages.

This year, Taste of Chicago 2008 will start on June 27 and end on July 6. Admission, as always, is free. Visit the Taste of Chicago's official website for more information.

The Shedd Aquarium, or more formally, The John G. Shedd Aquarium, is an indoor aquarium boasting 5 million gallons of water and roughly 2100 species of marine animals. Opened to the public in 1930, the Shedd Aquarium was once the largest indoor aquarium in the world.

Kids will surely enjoy the aquarium's various exhibits including Wild Reef, Oceanarium, Amazon Rising, Waters of the World, and Caribbean Reef. Some notable animals on display are Beluga Whales, Giant Pacific Octopus, Moon Jellies, and of course Penguins.

Admission tickets go from $8 to $27.50 and The Shedd Aquarium is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and up to 6pm on weekends.

The aquarium will hold a Reptile Fest this coming April 12 to 13. Lizards and reptiles will highlight the said event, plus a special presentation about Komodo dragons.

Visit http://www.shedaquarium.org for more info.

One of the most notable landmarks in Chicago, Illinois is the Chicago Water Tower. Designed in a castellated-Gothic Revival style, the Chicago Water Tower was built on 1869 and has achieved Chicago landmark status on October 6, 1971.

Located at the heart of the Magnificent Mile, this historic building was falsely believed by some to be the only survivor of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It is now the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau Visitor's Welcome Center.



Some Chicagoists see the towering building as a monument to Chicago's will to continue, survive, and prosper.

Boasting an amazing view spanning 80 miles and 4 states, The NEW Hancock Observatory quickly became one of the most visited attractions here in Chicago. It acts like a one-stop tour of Chicago.

The Hancock Observatory's Skywalk is an open-air viewing area sitting at the height of 1,000 feet. You will know as soon as you step inside why they call Chicago "The Windy City." Other attractions includes Soundscope, Sky Tours, History Wall, and my favorite, the photo opps! There's nothing like a good photo to share after a nice vacation.

For more info, visit their website here.

Also known as the "Wonder Theatre of the World," the Chicago Theatre is one of the most recognizable Chicago landmarks. Its brightly colored marquee is well-known because of its appearances on various movies and tv shows.

The Chicago Theatre opened its doors on October 26, 1921, mainly featuring films, stage shows, and live entertainment. It was also known for its live jazz shows. Some famous performers were Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Judy Garland. Some more recent performers were Coldpplay, Christina Aguilera, Neil Young, and Morrissey.

Check out their website for more info and schedule of performances.

Founded in 1982, the Chicago Children's Museum is one of the best places to visit in Chicago especially if you have kids. Locals and tourists alike, both young and old, will have tons of fun while learning through various exhibits the museum offers. My personal favorites are the Dinosaur Expedition, the Inventing Lab, and the Treehouse Trails. Aside from the usual exhibits, Chicago Children's museum also holds special exhibits from time to time.

Click here to go to the Chicago Children's Museum's official website to check upcoming schedules and events.

Our first stop is of course, The Sears Tower. With the height of 1,450 feet, it was the world's tallest building until the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia dethroned it.

On June 22, 1974, The Sears Tower opened it's Skydeck to the public. Sitting on the 103rd floor, it quickly became one of the top tourist attractions in Chicago. You can even feel the building sway on a windy day!

FUN FACT: The highest restrooms in the world can be found on the Skydeck, which is about 412 m above street level.