Attractions

• Visit Millennium Park, a favorite gathering spot of Chicagoans and see its attractions like the Crown Fountain, Lurie Garden, Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Cloud Gate. The park is located at the northern edge of Grant Park, where free concerts are often held at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Watch a free concert then view popular public arts like Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate and Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain. Stop by the five-acre Lurie Garden to see native prairie landscape, shrubs and perennial blooms. The many attractions of this park and their proximity to one another make this an ideal option for a limited visit.
  
  

Architecture

• One of the fastest and easiest ways to view the architectural structures and sites of Chicago is to come aboard a river cruise. The Chicago Architecture Foundation Architecture River Cruise (caf.architecture.org) lasts 90 minutes and is fully narrated as it meanders by 50 soaring sites and structures. The cruise vessel features open-air and climate controlled seating and departs from the Chicago's First Lady Dock at the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive.
  
  Walking tours of architectural sites are also offered in the city. The Chicago Red Cap Walking Tours at the crossing of Dearborn and Adams Streets offers walking excursions that explore the city's history through its architecture. Sights include Beaux Artes and Chicago School.
  
  

Cuisine

• Get a taste of the local cuisine by taking a food tour and sampling a variety of eateries, restaurants and dessert shops in Chicago. Tastebud Tours (tastebudtours.com) offers three guided food tours to choose from: Millennium Loop, Savor Chicago and Gold Coast. Tours include a Tastebud Tour menu, tour map, merchant guide and five to seven food stops along the streets of Chicago. Aside from the food tastings, the knowledgeable guide will narrate the tour and discuss local cuisine, history, fun facts and culture in the area.
  
  Taste all three styles of pizza in the city including deep-dish Chicago style, stuffed and thin crust. A large variety of pizzerias throughout the city serve all three kinds including Pizzeria Uno (unos.com), Gino's East (ginoseast.com) and Giordano's (giordanos.com).
  
  

Events and Festivals

• Attend local events and festivals during your short stay to soak in some culture and meet local vendors and residents. Visit museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago (artic.edu/aic), Shedd Aquarium (sheddaquarium.org), Museum of Contemporary Art (moca.org) and Adler Planetarium (adlerplanetarium.org), which often feature special events and exhibits.
  
  If visiting during the summer, don't miss the annual Chicago Blues Festival held in early June. The festival is the largest music festival in the city and features three days of musical performances. Past performers include Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, Bonnie Raitt and B.B. King.