One of the most culturally rich cities in the world, The Windy City is home to a myriad of museums and parks, a bustling business district, professional sports venues, unparalleled shopping and dining, and world-class entertainment. Whether business or pleasure brings you to Chicago, you'd be remiss not to venture out and explore this vibrant and friendly metropolis.

Ideally situated close to some of city's most popular districts, The Allerton Hotel Chicago is among the finest hotels near attractions and events at Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier. For those traveling to the city on business, The Allerton is just minutes from Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University, as well as the Chicago Loop and the University of Chicago.

For more information about The Allerton Hotel Chicago, please contact us at 1.877.701.8111. If you require dinner reservations or recommendations for things to do, please contact our concierge team online through our e-concierge service, or by calling us at 312.274.6484.

Must-Visit Museums

During your visit to Chicago, be sure to check out some of the major museums for which the area is renowned. The Art Institute of Chicago boasts a robust collection of art, including ancient and Byzantine art, African, Asian and European art, textiles, photography and modern art. For interactive exhibits that both enlighten and enrich, head to the Museum of Science and Industry. This museum is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, and features exhibits such as a working coal mine, a transportation gallery with flight simulators and a full-size train engine and aircraft, and a working chicken hatchery where you can see baby chicks hatch.

If modern art is your cup of tea, the Museum of Contemporary Art is for you. With a collection of works that focus on surrealism, minimalism and conceptual photography, this museum offers paintings, sculptures, videos and other media created by modern masters, both local and international.

Situated in the southeast corner of Grant park, Chicago's Museum Campus is a lakefront park that is home to three museums that focus on the natural sciences. Turn your gaze skyward at the Adler Planetarium—the oldest planetarium in the world, where you can sit back in its sky theaters for a space show. You can also enjoy interactive exhibits like Planet Explorers, where you can hop aboard a rocket simulator.

The second museum on the Museum Campus is the Shedd Aquarium, where visitors can view aquatic shows, explore the Wild Reef exhibit, check out the anacondas, piranhas, rays and spiders in the Amazon Rising exhibit, watch frolicking penguins in the Polar Play Zone, and be dazzled by the colorful jellyfish in the Jellies exhibit.

The third Museum Campus museum is The Field Museum, which features natural science exhibits that illustrate the inner workings of the natural world, as well as collections of anthropological, botanical, geological and zoological specimens.

Sports in Chicago

In addition to exceptional shopping, dining, cultural attractions and events, Chicago is home to pro baseball, basketball and football franchises. Baseball lovers can get their fill of America's pastime at the famous Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, or at U.S. Cellular Field, where the White Sox play. If football is your game, catch a Bears game at Soldier Field, and for great b-ball action, head to the United Center, where the Chicago Bulls hold court.