Chicago – it is your kinds of town! There are so many great places to visit and see and do to inspire your creativity.
Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, located downtown, near Water Tower Place on the Magnificent Mile. It claims to be one of the world’s largest contemporary art venues.
While you are in the area, take a walk up and down The Magnificent Mile for great shopping and dining. And, do some people watching.
A short walk from Contemporary Art museum you’ll find the Poetry Foundation, committed to celebrate and share poetry. The library boasts more than 30,000 volumes of poetry and hosts free poetry events. Check their website for the schedule.
The mission of the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago is to open the world through art and ideas. And it is always free! The museum was named after the brothers David and Alfred Smart, who launched the men’s fashion magazine Esquire during the heart of the Great Depression.
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History Buff? Visit The Newberry, a research library that brings European and American history to life. With over 1.6 million books, 5 million manuscript pages and 600,000 maps, you can explore the stories of centuries past in their galleries, reading rooms and special programs.
The Chicago History Museum celebrates the history of Chicago with historical artifacts, photographs and a world-renown costume collection. The costume collection includes works by Christian Dior, Gianni Versace, Halston, Christian Lacroix and more. It represents the rise of Chicago as a hub for dressmakers, milliners and retailers.
Take a stroll along the lake and visit The Art Institute of Chicago, with nearly 300,000 works of art, dating back to 5,000 BC. They have an amazing collection of Impressionist masterpieces, as well as ancient collections from around the world.
Enjoy architecture? Make sure to save time to visit The Chicago Architecture Center that shares how Chicago became the ‘city of architecture with diverse neighborhoods.
The Shedd Aquarium is on the waterfront downtown. With a vision to spark compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world, the aquarium is more than just exhibits. They also arrange beach clean-ups and host virtual dives to deepen connections with wildlife.
Looking for special souvenirs to remember your trip? Here are some great fabric shops to visit in and around Chicago.
Or, check out these great yarn shops in and around Chicago.
And, visit these bead shops in and around Chicago.
Check out all of our destination guides for creative holidays.