10 Best Places To Visit In Chicago In Summer

Chicago, also known as the windy city, is located on Lake Michigan in Illinois, and it is also one of the largest cities in the USA.  

Chicago is a center for many things like finance, culture, trade, industry, education, technology, telecommunications, and transportation. 

According to a report, in 2018, 58 million people visited Chicago. Being a center of attraction for many tourists, it has bustling sidewalk cafes, parks and a calendar full of events. 

Summer in Chicago is very sunny, hot and humid. There are numerous places to visit in Chicago in summer, and July is the hottest month in Chicago. Also, in summer, you’ll experience the vibrant neighborhood of Chicago and many summer festivals. 

Chicago has numerous cultural attractions, interesting architecture and excellent choices for shopping. 

Here are the 10 best places to visit in Chicago in summer.

Chicago Architecture Tour 

This 90-minute tour provides a complete overview of the city’s architectural history. It includes a chronological view of buildings, starting with early skyscrapers and ending with new high rises. 

This tour provides knowledge about the beginning of Chicago on Michigan Lake and its development into a commercial and cultural hub after the great Chicago fire of 1871. The buildings are introduced in the order they were built. 

The Cloud Gate 

A contemporary sculpture made up of nearly 200 stainless steel plates is situated in Millenium park. It’s a perfect place to click selfies with family or friends. 

Also known as “the bean”, it is also a favorite spot for pictures of Chicago Skyline. 

Navy Pier 

Navy Pier is Chicago’s top attraction. Many events like fireworks and live music happen here. It is one of the best places to visit in Chicago in the summer. It’s located on the Michigan river. 

Built-in 1916, Navy Pier is undoubtedly one of Chicago’s top tourist attractions. It extends into Lake Michigan. This year-round location truly is alive in summer with fireworks shows and live entertainment, and cruises that set sail each day.

Through winter and the fall season, Navy Pier is still bustling with special activities, events and activities for all age groups and interests. Here’s a brief idea of the fun to be enjoyed on Navy Pier.

Here are some major things to enjoy at Navy Pier : 

Games and Rides 

(i) Centennial Wheel 

The Centennial Wheel soars to nearly 200 feet. It has all-year-round, climate-controlled gondolas that provide the most breathtaking Ferris wheel ride you’ve ever had.

It’s a landmark in the Chicago skyline and a precious part of Chicago time, which harkens back to the 1893 World’s Fair. You can also reserve an exclusive Centennial Wheel experience in a luxurious gondola that has a glass-bottomed seat.

(ii) Pier Park 

The Centennial Wheel is found inside this amazing park. The Pepsi wave swinger and a 1920’s inspired musical carousel are also present here, along with many other fairground rides. 

(iii) Other games 

Occupied with tunnels, maze and games, Navy Pier is all fun and games. Also, there is an amazing time freak game in Chicago. 

Millenium Park

Millenium Park is one of the most visited destinations in Chicago. Famous for its agricultural artwork, performance and various mesmerizing visuals, Millenium park attracts many visitors. 

This is a popular Chicago attraction that hosts concerts and festivals. While wandering through the park, you’ll see interesting sculptures as well as contemporary installations.

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan, when measured in the water surface, is the third-largest Great Lake and the second-largest by volume. It’s also the only Great Lake that is entirely located in the United States. Its name derives from Ojibwa Indian mishigami, which means large lake.

Lake Michigan is thriving during the summer. There are many fun activities that you could do by Lake Michigan. You could rent jet skis, rent a boat, ride bikes, drink at castaways, or go on a dinner cruise. If you are a water-loving person, then visiting Lake Michigan is your jam.

Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Chicago. It’s located close to Lake Michigan. It is an indoor aquarium that is a perfect place for a relaxing afternoon with the family, especially kids.

It is considered a home to over 1500 animals and fishes, including Beluga whales and white-sided dolphins. This makes it one of the most interesting places in Chicago. It is a fun place to be for the kids also.

The polar play zone is a game that is played among kids where they slip into their favorite animal’s costume and do other fun things as well. 

BP Bridge

It’s a beautiful stainless steel pedestrian called BP Bridge, and it leads to Maggie Daley Park and offers a beautiful cityscape view. 

Lurie Garden 

It is a botanical garden that captures each season with its natural beauty. It was opened in the summer of 2004. 

Crown Water Fountain

Crown water fountain is located inside the millennium park and is one of the best places to visit Chicago in summer.

It’s the perfect place to splash into the water and cool down, especially when the weather is hot and humid. 

Art Institute of Chicago 

Art Institute of Chicago, the museum located in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. It is home to European, American, and Asian sculptures as well as prints, paintings and drawings, artistic arts and photography, textiles and armor and arms in addition to African and pre-Columbian American and pre-Columbian American art.

The Art Institute of Chicago has many masterpieces, including more than 300,000 works of art. It is renowned for its large collection of 19th-century French paintings (Impressionist paintings specifically) and 20th-century paintings as well as sculptures.

There are many masterpieces present inside the art museum of Chicago. 

It’s a great place of exploration for people who love art. Even people who are not art lovers would fall in love with the place. 

The museum is covered with a large area to explore. Even a day is not enough to cover and explore every detail of the museum. The collection is diverse and includes thousands of years old and comprises items that span a range of media like prints, painting, sculpture, photography and decorative arts, including textiles, architectural drawings, textiles and much more.

John Hancock Observatory (360 Chicago) 

Offering a panoramic view, 360 Chicago is perfect for exploring Chicago from a top view. The observatory is on the 94th floor of the John Hancock building. 

Enjoy a unique experience that you won’t forget. This is a mesmerizing spot for everyone because you can see all five states and the famous Lake Michigan from it.

It’s a great spot to see the sunset as well. 

Tilt is also a unique thing to experience in 360 Chicago. It’s a thrilling experience to have. It’s a movable platform made up of enclosed steel and glass that tilts outwards, giving an adventurous view. 

Final Words 

These are some of the places in Chicago worth visiting. Chicago is undoubtedly a beautiful place to visit for a vacation with family or friends. Chicago is a huge tourist attraction.

You’ll find top-notch cultural institutions, friendly people, and some of the finest restaurants in Chicago.

Also read: 10 Best Indian Restaurants In Chicago