Attractions In Chicago Fit For The Whole Family

Attractions In Chicago Fit For The Whole Family

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When I was a junior in high school, I passed up an opportunity to visit Chicago, Illinois, for a future teachers' conference because: one, it was over my father's birthday, and two, it was in February, and since I am a Phoenix native, February in Chicago sounds more than slightly daunting.

While I don't regret my decision to stay home and celebrate with my dad (and stay warm), I have spent time since then wondering what Chicago is like. In fact, as my spouse and I begin to plan our next vacation destination, I have definitely begun to see the appeal of visiting Chicago.

My husband and I have extremely varied interests, but this booming metropolis offers something for everyone, quite literally. Chicago's Museum Campus features the famous Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, which I know will absolutely fascinate my husband.

The Adler Planetarium was the first of its kind in the entire Western Hemisphere. Wow! It is home to more than 35,000 square feet of exhibits and two full-size planetarium theatres which are capable of reproducing virtually all of the movements of the night sky.

For animal lovers like me, the metropolitan area of Chicago actually features more than one full-sized zoo. The Brookfield Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, and it actually developed the very first Giant Panda display in America! Both the petting zoo and the Play Zoo allow young and old alike to have closer interaction with all kinds of animals.

The Lincoln Park Zoo, open year-round, dates back to 1868, yet still uses many modern structures and technologies within the park to create a unique experience, combining modern and historical architecture. Both zoological institutions provide amazing experiences and close encounters for the whole family.

The famous Sears Tower is just one of the incredible feats of architecture to be both seen and explored in Chicago. From the tower's Sky Deck, perched on the one hundred and third floor, you can get a spectacular vision of the whole city. On a clear day, you can see up to fifty miles away, getting glimpses of Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The Sears Tower is also a great attraction for history buffs. The Sky Deck also offers a museum of sorts, with various exhibits which explain the history behind Chicago and some of Illinois' key figures, like Abraham Lincoln. There are even some exhibits geared specifically toward children.

These are just a few activities and attractions which await us in beautiful Chicago. But one thing is for sure--we won't be going in February!

About the Author:
Chicago Architecture Foundation (http://www.architecture.org/) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public interest and education in architecture and design. Art Gib is a freelance writer.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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