5 Places You Need To Visit When In Downtown Chicago,IL

There is not a lot of time to see everything when you visit a new city. Here are some free things to check out in Chicago.

1.) The Union/Train Station

Taking the metro is a great way to feel like a local. Most of the other people taking the train with me were wearing business attire. The metro is much simpler to navigate than I anticipated. I arrived at the train station to catch the 8:18am, and purchased a ticket to the Chicago Union Station. The tickets are $7.25 one way. It cost me about $15.00 for a round trip. However, if you are going for the weekend it is $10.00 for unlimited rides. Even though the metro is usually packed on Saturdays the weekend is a great time to visit the city. The ride took about an hour. Once they announced we had arrived in Chicago, most everyone else on the train got off too. As someone who has been on the subway in Washington, D.C. and in New York City this metro is much easier to figure out.

2.) The Willis Tower

What used to be called the Sears Tower is now called the Willis Tower. It was first on my agenda for the day. The lines at Willis Tower can be painfully long. As I walked down the hallway after hallway I realized that luckily I was missing most of the crowd by going at 9:30 in the morning on a Tuesday. I could see about fifty feet on all sides. The Willis Tower is a little pricey, at $24.00 per adult. But if only I was three years old it would be free entry.

Purchase tickets here.

3.) The Bean

Pictures of the Bean have surfaced on my Pinterest for years. Even though I have been to some of the museums downtown I had never stopped by this iconic sculpture. The Bean is a super busy place during the middle of the day. Going early in the morning is the best time without all the crowds.

4.) Cultural Center

The Cultural Center is a hidden gem in Chicago. There is no admission fee, and often times there are new artists displaying painting and photography on the upper levels. We got to see several art displays. Tiffany glass and ornate designs blanket the ceilings.

5.)Have a picnic in Millennium Park

My trip to Chicago was a quick day outing. I didn’t want to break the bank, so I packed peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Millennium Park is a great place to have a picnic. I saw some businessmen and women catching on to the idea as well.

Hope you enjoy your visit to Chicago!

-Morgan

Less or Morgan