Home > Destinations > North America > USA > Illinois > Chicago > Introduction > The Best Museums
Bookstore Community Tips and Tools Book a Trip Deals and News Trip Ideas, Activities, Lifestyles Hotels Destinations Frommers.com Home
Frommer's - The best trips start here. Frommer's - The best trips start here.
Sign up for our FREE Newsletters! Win a FREE Trip
  Email This Article Email Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS

The Best Museums

  • Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave.; tel. 312/443-3600): A must-see for art lovers, the Art Institute manages to combine blockbuster exhibits with smaller, uncrowded spaces for private meditation. Internationally known for its French Impressionist collection, the Art Institute can also transport you to Renaissance Italy, ancient China, or any number of other worlds.

  • Field Museum of Natural History (Roosevelt Rd. and Lake Shore Dr.; tel. 312/922-9410): Its grand neoclassical entrance hall will make you feel you've entered somewhere important (the towering figure of Sue, the largest T-rex skeleton ever uncovered, enhances the sense of drama). The Field can easily entertain for an entire day. Exhibits include ancient Egyptian mummies, a full-size Maori meetinghouse, and stuffed figures of the notorious man-eating lions of Tsavo.

  • John G. Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.; tel. 312/939-2438): Sure, you'll find plenty of tanks filled with exotic fish, but the Shedd is also home to some wonderful large-scale re-creations of natural habitats. Stroll through Wild Reef, and you'll see sharks swim overhead. The lovely Oceanarium, where you can watch a dolphin show, features floor-to-ceiling windows; you'll feel as if you're sitting outdoors, even on the chilliest Chicago day.

  • Museum of Science and Industry (57th St. and Lake Shore Dr.; tel. 800/468-6674): I've been coming here for years, and I still haven't seen it all. Although the exhibits promote scientific knowledge, most have an interactive element that makes them especially fun for families. But it's not all computers and technology. Some of the classic exhibits -- the underground re-creation of the coal mine and the World War II German U-boat -- have been attracting crowds for generations.

  • Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park; tel. 708/848-1976): The Midwest's greatest architect started out in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, and his house -- now a museum with guided tours -- gives a firsthand look at his genius and his influence. The surrounding neighborhood, where Wright's Prairie-style homes sit side by side with rambling Victorian villas, is an eye-opening lesson in architectural history.


    Back to Top


    Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


      Email This Article Email Print This Article Print Get Frommer's RSS Feed RSS
    Frommer's Chicago 2009 Frommer's Chicago 2009

    Author: Elizabeth Canning Blackwell
    Pub Date: December 03, 2008
    Price: $17.99

    Buy Now!
    Related Titles:
    Chicago For Dummies, 4th Edition
    Frommer's Chicago 2008
    Frommer's Chicago Day by Day, 1st Edition
    Sponsored Links: What's This?
    Winter Escapes at The Peninsula - special rates and exceptional benefits
  • Add Frommers.com RSS Feed  Add Frommers.com RSS Feed (What's This?)
    Add Frommers.com Deals & News to Your Web Site
    Add to My Yahoo!     Add to My MSN     More RSS Readers
    Add Frommers.com Podcast Add Frommers.com Podcast (What's This?)
    Home > Destinations > North America > USA > Illinois > Chicago > Introduction > The Best Museums