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Chicago Sightseeing During the Day

By Chris Boyle

Republic Rotunda Credit City of Chicago

Chicago is synonymous with grand architectural design, and a stay here would not be complete without experiencing the city’s innovative grandeur in some way.

Whether it’s relaxing in Millennium Park admiring Cloud Gate, or taking in the city’s skyline from thousands of feet in the air, you won’t be short of options. With your architectural appetite satisfied, indulge your culinary desires with a Food Flight around some of the Windy City’s best-loved restaurants. Chicago is the perfect destination for any elite traveler.

MUSEUM CAMPUS

Consisting of the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium, Museum Campus combines three world-class museums in one location.

Surrounded by 57 acres of lakefront land, the Campus is one of the City’s most impressive cultural attractions. Forming part of Chicago’s famous Grant Park, the museums and grounds have undergone extensive changes to make it one of the most celebrated sites of natural history in America. While the Field Museum houses ‘Sue’, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus skeleton in the world; the Adler Planetarium plays home to some of the most exciting and immersive space and science theater programs, from the Big Bang to the Night Sky Live. Museum Campus’ icing on the cake is the Shedd Aquarium, whose Extraordinary Experiences program offers visitors the chance to ‘Meet the Belugas’, be a trainer for the day, and discover what goes on behind the scenes at a top aquarium.

Adler Planetarium

Shedd Aquarium

+1 312 939 2438

1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 60605

www.sheddaquarium.org

Field Museum

+1 312 922 9410

1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago 60605

www.fieldmuseum.org

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT CENTER

For the first 20 years of his career, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio served as Lloyd Wright’s private residence and workplace.

Built in 1889 by the then 22 year old Wright, he and his first wife Catherine Tobin raised their six children in the house. Now perceived as one of the greatest architects of the 20th century, Wright’s residence has become a magnet for architectural enthusiasts. In the studio, Frank Lloyd Wright and his associates developed a new American architecture – the Prairie Style – and designed some 125 structures, including Robie House, a building renowned as a forerunner of architectural modernism. Following a careful restoration, the building appears as it did in 1909, the last year that Wright lived and worked in the home and studio. Access to the restored home and studio is by guided tour only; private tours can be arranged outside of published hours of operation on request. Robie House also offers a private Twilight Tour and Reception package.

+1 312 994 4000

951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, Chicago 60302

www.gowright.org

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER

Inspired by the neo-classical style of the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, the Chicago Cultural Center was completed in 1897 at a cost of nearly $2 million.

The Center’s most notable features are its stained glass domes, the most magnificent of which is also the world’s largest. Made by Tiffany this design masterpiece is currently valued at around $35 million. The Center regularly hosts free music, dance and theater events, in addition to movies, art exhibitions and lectures.

+1 312 744 6630

 78 East Washington Street, Chicago 60602

www.explorechicago.org

ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

Built in 1879 upon the rubble of the devastating fire of 1871, The Art Institute of Chicago operates as both a museum and a school.

A private tour, led by a university lecturer, is the best way to see America’s greatest collection of Impressionist paintings; including extraordinary masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Van Gogh. The museum is also the new home to one of the world’s greatest collections of modern art featuring work from the likes of Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, and Pollock.

Oksana Paluch

+1 312 443 3155

+1 312 443 3600

111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60603

Website: www.artic.edu

CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION TOURS

The Chicago Architecture Foundation was created in 1966 after a group of community members came together to save H. H. Richardson’s architectural masterpiece, the Glessner House, from demolition.

The non-profit organization now runs nearly 90 different tours by boat, bus or on foot. Private tours can be organized on request, covering everything from modern skyscrapers, to historic downtown, to neighborhood tours. The foundation also organizes Appetite for Design programs, whereby visitors can experience the culinary and architectural delights of some of Chicago’s top restaurants.

+1 312 922 3432

224 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60604

www.caf.architecture.org/

CHICAGO’S FIRST LADY

With a varied fleet, Chicago’s First Lady offers an array of tours for intimate groups of between two to six and for groups up to 225 people.

The elite traveler will certainly enjoy Lady Grebe – designed in the style and luxury of the Golden Era of yachting. Built in Chicago in 1961, Lady Grebe is a 48-foot, vintage mahogany wood yacht perfectly preserved to enjoy an afternoon cruise on Lake Michigan. With the added option of catering, beverage services, and architectural guides, Lady Grebe is the perfect way to see Chicago from the water, and is also available for private hire.

FLIGHT CHICAGO FOOD TOUR

Flight Chicago offers three-hour guided food tours behind the scenes at some of Chicago’s tastiest establishments.

Guests will have a unique opportunity to see the passions and personalities behind the food, enjoy custom tastings and pairings, and speak to some of Chicago’s hottest and most talked-about chefs. With an extensive variety of cuisines to experience and a vast array of restaurants to choose from, including The Bristol, Carnivale and Feast, customized tours for couples and families are available on request.

COG HILL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Opened in 1927 and privately owned by the Jemsek family, Cog Hill is located just 30 miles southwest of Chicago.

Offering players of every level an opportunity to enjoy the game, the public golf facility comprises four championship courses including Dubsdread, which is currently ranked among the Top 100 golf courses by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. It is also the site of the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship, which will be held between September 12-18, 2011. For advanced tickets contact the Western Golf Association at +1 847 724 4600 or visit www.bmwchampionshipusa.com

 +1 866 264 4455

12294 Archer Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439

www.coghillgolf.com

MILLENNIUM PARK

Situated between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Avenue, the 25-acre Millennium Park is a popular destination for both locals and tourists.

The collection of architecture, landscape design and art sets the scene for hundreds of free concerts, exhibitions and tours put on each year. Anish Kapoor’s famous ‘Cloud Gate’ is a nod to the modern innovations keeping Chicago firmly at the forefront of architectural design.

 +1 312 742 1168

201 East Randolph Street, Chicago 60601

www.explorechicago.org

CHICAGO AERIAL TOURS

The Chicago skyline encompasses some of the most impressive architecture in America, with sights including the John Hancock Tower, Soldier Field, Wallis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and Millennium Park, there is no better way to appreciate the breathtaking Chicago cityscape than from the air.

With the choice of daytime and nighttime airplane or helicopter tours, traveling at a height of 2000 feet, elite travelers are guaranteed magnificent unparalleled views of the Windy City.

+1 773 312 8687

www.chicagoaerialtours.com

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