3 Best Places To See in Chicago, IL

Expert-recommended Top 3 Places To Visit in Chicago, Illinois. All of our places to see actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

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LINCOLN PARK ZOO

2001 North, Cannon Drive,
Chicago, IL 60614 Directions

Since 1868

Specialty:

Daily and Outdoor Activities Aquariums Collections Conservation and Science Ice Sculptures Exhibits Café Retail Shops Nature and Parks Conservatory Facility Rentals Children's Programs Food Service Adult and Family Programs Private Events Christmas Lights Education and Teacher Resources Festivals Guided Tours Seasonal Events Summer Camps Interactive Exhibits

"Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to connecting people to nature through a free, family-oriented nature experience. The zoo was established to inspire communities to create environments where wildlife will thrive in the urbanizing world. The zoo is a 35-acre, beautifully landscaped facility and one of the few free-entry zoos in America. The zoo is home to a wide variety of animals, birds, and plants. The zoo has an excellent ape house that is one of the world's best collections of gorillas and chimpanzees. Tourists can explore all the animals at the zoo and learn about their specially designed habitats. The zoo exhibits include large cats, gorillas, polar bears, penguins, turtles, monkeys, and other species, totaling about 1,100 animals of around 200 species. Lincoln Park Zoo offers free entry. Two pairs of swans arrived at Lincoln Park, a gift from New York's Central Park. The birds mark the beginning of Chicago's free zoo.

2026 Highlights: Lincoln Park Zoo Members receive exclusive discounts on Zoo Experiences, including Malott Family Penguin Encounters."

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License #38836838

Price:

Membership Levels:
Basic Membership $75
Basic Plus Membership $125
Safari Membership $225
Safari Plus Membership $365

Discount:

20% Off on Tickets to Lincoln Park Zoo events for Members View Coupon

Contact:

(312) 742-2000

Mon-Fri: 8am - 5pm Sat & Sun: 8am - 7pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

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FIELD MUSEUM

1400 South Lake Shore Drive,
Chicago, IL 60605 Directions

Since 1921

Specialty:

Evolving Planet Exhibitions Field Trips Special Exhibits Virtual Visits Historic Buildings Venue Rentals Learning Center Museum Archives Conservation Research and Collections Laboratories Stuffed Animals Citizen Science Tools Educational Programs Fossils Interactive Displays

Field Museum is popular for the size and quality of its educational and scientific programs, as well as its diverse scientific specimens and artifact collections. Since the establishment of the museum, the collection has grown to nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens. The museum's collection has developed from items on display at the Columbian Exhibition of the World in 1893. With 65,000 exhibits packed with historical sites and cultural artifacts, many of which later found a permanent place in Chicago, over 150 scientists at the museum are working on discoveries. The museum's staff preserves collections of over 24 million specimens and objects that provide the basis for the museum's scientific research programs. The field trip opportunities at the Field Museum provide thrilling, hands-on displays of science and social studies in Chicago's historic environment. The Field Museum offers free admission for children under three.

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License EIN #36-2167011

Price:

Museum Admission
Tickets Starting From:
Guests $30
Chicago $21
Membership Plan
Family Plus
One Year $260
Two Years $506
Family
One Year $215
Two Years $406
Individual
One Year $140
Two Years $262
Senior (65+)
One Year $120
Two Years $225
E-Member
One Year $75
Discovery Circle
From $250
Upto $2,499

Discount:

10% Off at their Stores and Restaurants for Members View Coupon

Contact:

(312) 922-9410 (312) 665-7669

Mon-Sun: 9am - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

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SHEDD AQUARIUM

1200 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive,
Chicago, IL 60605 Directions

Since 1930

Specialty:

Aquarium Must-see Tours Evolution Endangered Animals Animal Facts Animal Health Animal Welfare Animal Training Educational Programs Conservation

Shedd Aquarium is dedicated to helping a world thriving with aquatic life, maintained by people who love, understand, and protect it. The aquarium holds about 32,000 animals and is the third largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, after the Georgia Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Shedd Aquarium was the first inland aquarium to maintain a permanent saltwater collection. The aquarium has now surpassed the Field Museum as the most visited cultural institution in Chicago. In 1971, Shedd Aquarium built a 90,000-gallon exhibit replicating a Caribbean coral reef, bringing the total number of fish and species to nearly 25,000. Shedd Aquarium has garnered multiple accolades, including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' award for "best exhibit" for Seahorse Symphony. With 5 million gallons of water, Shedd Aquarium was once the world's largest indoor aquarium. Shedd Aquarium has a custom-made railroad car called Nautilus, which was responsible for transporting fish and seawater until 1959.

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License #17398636

Price:

CHICAGO RESIDENTS:
Adults: $19.95
Membership
Supporter Membership $95
Partner Membership $170
Family Membership $295
Advocate Membership $395
Sponsor Membership $650
Ambassador Membership $1,000

Discount:

50% Off on Admission with Chicago CityPASS

Contact:

(312) 939-2438 (312) 692-3284

Mon,Tue,Thu & Sun: 9am - 6pm
Wed: 9am - 10pm
Fri & Sat: 9am - 9pm

TBR® Inspection Report: