CityPASS Chicago articles

As the weather starts to heat up in Chicago, so does the city’s list of activities and things to do. From outdoor food and music festivals to seasonal sports to days filled with sunshine, there is no time like the summertime to visit the Windy City.

The Adler Planetarium of Chicago was the first planetarium in the western hemisphere, opening its doors to the public on May 12th, 1930. But, nearly 90 years later, the Adler Planetarium remains on the cutting edge of innovation, incorporating interactive displays into ints exhibits while playing mind-blowing films that take you above and beyond the stars via stellar 30 minute space adventures.

The most dominant building in the Chicago skyline, Willis Tower is home to The Skydeck, a thrilling tourist attraction that offers 360-degree views of The Windy City. The skyscraper (formerly known as the Sears Tower) has been a highlight for visitors to Chicago for many years. The Skydeck played a role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off , where the main characters famously leaned their foreheads against the windows to peer down on the city below.

Like Goldilocks in the classic nursery tale, I've looked high and low and found Chicago to be my "just right" American city: where the pizzas are deep-dish, the vibe is down-to-earth, and the music a heady jazz-blues mix.

As the world adjusts to social distancing guidelines and some of our favorite places to visit remain temporarily closed, we've rounded up some of the best ways to stay connected to the Chicago attractions that define the city.

Think the Windy City is just for grownups? Think again. The wide selection of kid-friendly museums, restaurants, shops, shows and gardens makes Chicago an exciting city to visit with little ones. The best things to do are centrally located and require little or no transportation—a huge plus for families. And the icing on the cake? These kid-friendly attractions are enjoyable for adults, too.