Chicago Sightseeing on a Conference Schedule

Updated last: August 29, 2019.

Originally published June 25, 2014.

This post came from finding ways to squeeze in a little Chicago sightseeing when I was headed to a conference that would be split between the massive McCormick Place convention center and hotels a few miles away, along the Chicago River.

Now that I’m getting ready for another quick trip to Chicago, I’ve updated information and added to it.

Let me know what you like to do in the Windy City!

–Steph

I had been to Chicago O’Hare. But the airport doesn’t count. I had driven by Chicago on the interstate. That doesn’t really count either. The first time I was really in the city of Chicago, it was for a conference. Which just barely counts.

McCormick Place in Chicago — Part of the massive McCormick Place convention center in Chicago.

A conference can be like its own self-contained universe. You can eat, sleep, socialize, work, learn, and be entertained for days without ever leaving its confines. Or ever talking to someone who isn’t wearing a lanyard. Whether you’re there for knowledge or networking, you want to get as much as you can out of the conference itself. But it’s also nice to see some of the area outside the convention center.

As I prepared for the 2013 BlogHer Annual Conference, I also looked into what was near the downtown convention centers and hotels where I would be starting from and how I could see a small slice of Chicago if I found a spare hour or two.

Floor clock — Floor Clock II by Vito Acconci in Ogden Park Plaza.

Make the Most of Museum Visits

Quick trips to museums can be particularly tricky!

They’re often only open 9-to-5-type hours, so it can be hard to fit into a full itinerary.
Admission is typically for a full day – worth it, but it can feel a bit pricey if you’re pressed for time and can’t stay long.

While I couldn’t exactly find any special I’m-here-for-a-conference-and-only-have-an-hour discounts, here are some things to keep in mind to make the most of your museum visits…

Reciprocal memberships: Do you have a membership to a science center or museum where you live? Find out whether it’s part of the ASTC Travel Passport Program (like The Field Museum) or offers other reciprocal privileges (like the Art Institute) that grant you free general admission. Remember to bring along your membership card and photo ID!
Check for special events during the dates you’re in town. You may be able to take advantage of extended hours and/or discounts. However, the monthly or weekly Free Admission Days you’ll often see listed are specifically for Illinois residents.
Find out what you can see for free. A full Soldier Field tour may not fit your schedule, but you can explore the Colonnade level of the stadium at your own pace. If the stars haven’t aligned for a visit to Adler Planetarium, you can scope out the Doane Observatory anytime the doors are open.

Starting from McCormick Place

McCormick Place is the largest conference center in the U.S. It feels isolated from the rest of downtown, but you’re a short cab ride away from all the sights.

Map (PDF)
Hotels on-site: Marriott Marquis Chicago + Hyatt Regency McCormick Place (which is where I stayed – it was really nice!)

Burnham Park

Burnham Park runs along Lake Michigan. Locals hang out, picnic, and enjoy lake views.

It’s just outside of McCormick Place, but it still took me 15 minutes to wind my way through the convention center’s labyrinth of expo halls and walkways out to daylight. It’s that massive of a complex!
Lakefront Trail – Take a walk or run — if you haven’t already gotten enough exercise hoofing it over there. These bike and pedestrian trails go the length of Burnham Park — and beyond it!
Divvy Bike Share – You can purchase a Single Ride pass at Divvy Kiosks. $3 for 30 minutes.

McCormick Bird Sanctuary

To get your wildlife fix, visit this 6-acre grassland preserve created as a habitat for migrating birds.

Many locals don’t seem to know this place exists, including the McCormick information desk staff – even though the bird sanctuary is just south of the conference center and literally built on top of one of their parking garages.
For best results, get directions out to the Lakefront, and then follow the signage and/or Google Maps to get the rest of the way there.
It’s part of the larger Burnham Wildlife Corridor.
PDF map + info

view of downtown Chicago from McCormick Place — View of Museum Campus and Downtown Chicago from McCormick Place.

Museum Campus Sights

If you have a little more time, there’s a lot to see at the nearby Museum Campus!

Adler Planetarium

Planetarium that seeks to connect people through the wonder of space science. Museum entry $19.

Doane Observatory: Large telescope outside of the planetarium with an open-door policy. Open daily 10am – 1pm or whenever conditions permit.
Doane at Dusk: Monthly telescope viewings and discussions with Adler Astronomers after museum hours. Free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis, weather permitting. Upcoming dates: 9/27 at 7:30pm, 11/22 at 7pm, 12/20 at 7pm
Adler After Dark: Evening event for adults (21+) every third Thursday of the month from 6-10pm. Includes full access to museum exhibits, unlimited sky shows, special guests, hands-on programs, access to Doane Observatory, live entertainment, and new themes every month. $20 advance / $25 at the door
ASTC Travel Passport Program participant.

The Field Museum

Natural and cultural history museum, including the fossil skeleton of T-Rex Sue. Basic admission $26.

ASTC Travel Passport Program participant.

Shedd Aquarium

Aquarium with a wide variety of aquatic creatures that also does Great Lakes conservation projects. Regular daytime admission is $40.

After Hours: Normally closing by 5 or 6pm, Shedd sometimes has extended-hours events for adults (21+). Upcoming 2019 dates: September 12 + 27 from 6-10pm. $25 admission.

Chicago hot dog — Chicago dog with the works.

Soldier Field

Stadium built in 1924 with capacity to seat over 100,000 people. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, was the site of the first International Special Olympics Games in 1968, and is the current home of the Chicago Bears.

Public tours are available on weekdays, subject to event schedules. You can book an advance ticket online or walk up (if space is available). Tickets $15.
Groups of 10 or more can book a private tour at least 2 weeks in advance.
Free: The Colonnade level of the stadium, with the original columns from 1924, is open to the public 6am-11pm on non-event days Spring through Fall. They are lit up each night with multi-colored LED lights.
Surrounding Soldier Field is a 17-acre park with features such as the Children’s Garden and Memorial Water Wall.

Navy Pier in Chicago — Lake Michigan from Navy Pier.

Chicago River Area (Near North Side)

For conference-goers staying on the Near North Side of downtown, there are a lot more options in walking distance.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Perusing art museums can be good for the soul.

What to see in an hour: List of museum highlights, which are also marked on the PDF Visitors Guide Map (except, weirdly, for American Gothic, which is in gallery 263 with #8 Nightlife).
Terzo Piano restaurant is open to the public with views of the downtown cityscape.
Has reciprocal membership agreements with select art museums around the U.S.

Chicago Cultural Center

Known for its architectural features and event spaces, the building was originally opened in 1897 as Chicago’s first public library. Free.

Hours: Monday-Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am–5pm
1st Floor: public restrooms, pedway access elevator, information desks and Welcome Center (for Millennium Park, Harris Theater, Lurie Garden, Maggie Daley Park, and The Art Institute of Chicago).
3rd Floor (Washington Street Side): Tiffany Dome, the largest dome made out of Tiffany glass in the world.
Public wifi network “Chi-Fi.”

Chicago River

Walk along it, take a river cruise, or just sit and watch boats go by.

A commenter suggested taking an architectural boat tour. A couple I found…

Chicago’s First Lady Cruises is partnered with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC).
Chicago’s Best 90-Min Architecture Boat Tour currently has a Living Social deal or a $15 discount with code SUMMER.

Magnificent Mile

High-end retail district on and around Michigan Avenue.

Millennium Park

Iconic Chicago park just outside the Art Institute. Free.

Hours: 6am–11pm.
Take a photo under Cloud Gate, the large silver sculpture also known as “The Bean.”
Walk through Lurie Garden. Free 5-25 minute tours are offered on a first, come/first serve basis May to September on Thursdays and Fridays (11am – 1:15pm) + Sundays (11am – 2:15pm).
Catch a free concert.
The park has free wifi (!) Log in at “Park WiFi.”

Navy Pier

Rides, food, shows, ~~and this random (but lovely) little stained glass museum when you’re ready for a quiet moment.~~
[Update: the stained glass museum has closed. Some of the works are on display in a corridor of Chicago’s underground Pedway.]

Free events and public programs
Public art – including a Bob Newhart sculpture with a couch where you can tell him your problems.
International and cultural dining
Chicago Shakespeare Theater

downtown Chicago — Downtown Chicago buildings, as seen on the ride from the airport.

West Side

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) with its famous Sky Deck is about a mile inland. If you just have to go up but are short on time, they offer a Fast Pass with an elevator express lane for ~~double~~ triple the regular admission price. (Regular $25 / Fast Pass $75.)

For public radio fans, WBEZ’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me sells nonrefundable tickets ($30) to Chase Auditorium tapings 6 weeks in advance. Otherwise, you’ll have to take your chances the day of the show with the Wait Wait waiting list.

Canoe sculpture at Navy Pier — Monochrome II sculpture by Nancy Rubins. (This was at Navy Pier, but I’m not sure if it’s still there.)

Finally, you may not be able to do everything you’d like. But keep your eyes and ears open, and you might be able to catch a few glimpses of life in the city!

– More Chicago Info –

Flora + Fauna:

12 secret parks and gardens
Bird sanctuaries in Chicago
Shedd Gardens: outside of the aquarium are a dozen different gardens designed for the area’s climate and native habitats to be both beautiful and sustainable.

Stained Glass Windows in the Underground Pedway:

September 8, 2018May 23, 2023

5 Museum Day Picks in Arizona (+ a few elsewhere)

On September 22, many museums across the U.S. are offering free admission and/or planning special events as part of Smithsonian magazine Museum Day. You can search their list and then download a ticket for a free general admission (good for 2 people) to the participating museum of your choice.

I found 5 Arizona museums – 1 in Tucson and 4 in the Phoenix area – that I’ve visited and would recommend. They’re listed below in alphabetical order, followed by a few bonus suggestions from Indiana, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

1. Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix

While not a museum in the traditional sense, the Desert Botanical Garden participates in Museum Day and was actually where we went last year.

There are cactus and succulent galleries, a wildflower trail, a contemplation garden, exhibits on historical peoples of the Sonoran Desert, cafes with patio seating, and art sprinkled throughout. Located in Papago Park near the Phoenix Zoo, it beautifully showcases the plants of the Arizona desert and is one of the top places I recommend to Phoenix visitors.

2. Heard Museum
Phoenix

Another place at the top of my Phoenix must-see list is the Heard Museum!

It’s an extensive museum of American Indian art, culture, and history, focusing on the tribes of the Southwest. They display both traditional and contemporary art, including jewelry, ceramics, katsina dolls, and textiles. There is also an immersive exhibit on the Indian boarding school experience.

3. i.d.e.a. Museum
Mesa

Formerly known as the Arizona Museum for Youth, the i.d.e.a. Museum is an art and science museum with interactive activities and exhibits for kids.

It’s also where I’ve given my journal workshop during Southwest Maker Fest the last few years.

4. Museum of Contemporary Art
Tucson

Tucson’s MOCA hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions in an airy space converted from an old fire station. They also have a fabulous little gift shop with jewelry, prints, and gift items by local artists.

It’s located in Downtown Tucson, just across from the Tucson Convention Center (and Tucson Music Hall, where we saw Riders of the Purple Sage).

5. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Scottsdale

SMoCA is an art and event space with a permanent collection and exhibitions in the areas of contemporary art, architecture, and design.

Bonus non-Arizona recommendations:

Fishers, Indiana–

Conner Prairie

Conner Prairie in Central Indiana is a living history museum that I loved visiting as a kid! I remember candle-dipping demonstrations and sitting in on a lesson in an old-timey one-room schoolhouse. Even though I haven’t been there in years, it made me smile to see it on the Museum Day list.

Seattle, Washington–

Museum of Pop Culture

The Experience Music Project (EMP) was recently re-named the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). It makes sense, because, while they do have an atrium devoted to constantly-playing music videos (“Sky Church”), a towering guitar sculpture, and galleries for Seattle legends like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, there are also exhibitions on sci-fi, video games, fantasy genre archetypes, and other subjects besides music.

Housed within a striking building designed by Frank O. Gehry, MoPOP is located at Seattle Center, near the Space Needle.

Washington, DC–

I think DC’s lesser-known museums can sometimes get lost in the shadows of the more imposing, free-admission Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall. If the cost of admission is what’s keeping you away, then Museum Day is a great opportunity to finally visit!

National Museum of Women in the Arts

My mom and I loved participating in a National Museum of Women in the Arts community day. I hope to visit again and check out more of the artwork!

Newseum

I very much wanted to visit the Newseum while we were in DC, but I just couldn’t fit it in. It’s a museum about the news, specifically how breaking stories are covered and the importance of a free press.

For more exhibitions and museum events, check out this fall’s Happenings List!

At the Museum of Pop Culture/EMP, we were guests of Visit Seattle.

November 4, 2017November 4, 2017

Free Admission to Arizona Museums with the Culture Pass

You can get free passes to over 30 museums and attractions if you have a library card from Maricopa County or Pima County, Arizona.

How to Check Out a Culture Pass

The program is called the Culture Pass, and it works like this:

Visit the Culture Pass kiosk at a participating library.
Pick the pass you’re interested in. There will be cards for all the available passes – it’s first-come, first-served.
Check the pass out with your library card. You will be exchanging the card from the kiosk for a receipt-like slip of paper, which is your actual ticket in.
Go to the museum! Each pass is good for free general admission for two people one time. You have one week to use it before it expires, but you don’t have to return anything to the library.

You may be able to search the library’s catalog online to see ahead of time what’s available.

If you live in Maricopa County, you can get a library card from any of the County’s public libraries. Only ASU students can check out Culture Passes from ASU libraries, although alumni and community members are eligible for cards with limited access to other ASU library resources.

Culture Pass Arts Destinations

Some of the Culture Pass Arts Destinations we’ve enjoyed (with or without a pass):

Arcosanti (Cordes Junction)
AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park
Desert Botanical Garden
Heard Museum
Phoenix Art Museum

Culture Pass Performances

More recently, the program has also expanded to include performances. It works basically the same way. Certain plays, ballets, operas, and symphony concerts will have Culture Passes available a couple weeks ahead of time on a first come, first serve basis.

These include performances from…

Arizona Opera
Ballet Arizona
Great Arizona Puppet Theater
The Phoenix Symphony

…and lots more!

Outside of Maricopa County

The Sedona Public Library also has passes for Northern Arizona destinations, like Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Route 66 Museum in Kingman, and the Sedona Heritage Museum.

Pima County Public Library branches have passes for Tucson destinations like Tohono Chul Park, Tucson Museum of Art, and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, as well as performances by Arizona Opera, Tucson Symphony, and UA Presents.

I believe there are similar programs at some libraries outside of Arizona. If you know of one, let me know!

September 21, 2017September 19, 2017

Smithsonian: Air and Space Museum and Mitsitam Café

Cafe at National Museum of the American Indian

While I could have easily spent a full day at the Smithsonian American History Museum, a D.C.-area friend had recommended the Mitsitam Café at the Smithsonian American Indian Museum as a “little known gem.” I decided to make my way there for lunch.

The cafeteria serves native-inspired foods that span the American continents. I got a buffalo burger and fry bread.

The menu also includes options like wild rice and ceviche.

This is definitely a place I’d like to come back to and try more things!

National Air and Space Museum

When I walked down Independence Avenue to the south entrance of the Air and Space Museum, I was discouraged to see a line over 100 feet long to get in. I had started back toward our hotel, when I looked back and saw that the northern entrance – along Jefferson Drive – didn’t seem to have a line! Sure enough, about five minutes later I was in the museum!

So keep in mind that there is more than one entrance, especially since, as Stephanie later told me, the Air and Space Museum is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums.

Immediately upon entering, I saw display spaces festoooned with replica and original air and space craft – a lunar landing module, the “Spirit of St. Louis,” the front half of the fuselage of a 747, rocket nozzles as big as my living room.

In the past I had wanted to be an astronaut, so I was particularly intrigued by the exhibits showing relics of the U.S. space program in the 60s and 70s – toolkits, suits, windowed hatches, flight manuals, and the like. There’s even a very official and ornate “certificate of merit” presented to the first chimpanzee sent to space by the U.S., which I found both ridiculous and moving. While I was certainly impressed by the spacecrafts themselves, oddly, it was these historic bits of ephemera that captivated me the most.

The guided tour moved a bit too slow for me, so I bailed out to cover more ground.

Marty met up with me about an hour into my museum visit, so that was a nice surprise. We toured the World War II fighter aircraft exhibit together. I especially appreciated the naval aircraft display that replicated both the deck and interior of an aircraft carrier.

Unfortunately, our time soon ran out at the Air and Space Museum. We went to the food court with the biggest McDonald’s I’d ever been to. There was a large seating area and lots of windows to let in light. Fortunately, we went as the day was winding down, so we didn’t have to wait in line long.

I enjoyed sitting in the gradually-emptying mega-McDonald’s and debriefing the museum sights with Marty.

September 7, 2017September 5, 2017

Smithsonian: American History Museum

I arrived at the National Museum of American History just in time for a guided tour. The group was small – only me – but the docent/tour guide was still more than happy to take me on the full tour.

It started with a walk through the first floor exhibit on the history of transportation in the US with early trains and automobiles on display.

My tour guide mentioned that, at any one time, there is way more stuff in storage at the Smithsonian than there is on display.

One thing that’s always out, however, is Julia Child’s kitchen, rebuilt piece by piece. It reminded me of the end of the movie Julie and Julia, where a scene in this historic kitchen fades into today’s museum display.

Combat Zone

One standout section for me was the display on the history of war in the United States. It was more realistic than idealistic, providing insight into the enormous human toll war has had on our country.

I was also profoundly moved by a display of items left at the Vietnam Memorial including notes from loved ones and friends. I looked at the dates of the “boys” that died. Some of them were born about the same time as my father. I thought about all the friends, fathers, and uncles that those in my generations never grew up knowing.

Counter Protest

A section of the lunch counter from the Greensboro sit-in during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s was on display, somewhat unceremoniously, in a clear space between larger exhibits. If I hadn’t known it was a display, I might have just thought it was a closed (and very dated) snack stand.

When I saw the placard and description, I stood there a long time, trying to imagine how it would have been to sit there in protest years ago.

It’s easy to idealize the moral stands of the past; with the benefit of reflection and history, most would agree the Greensboro sit-in was necessary. However, in the moment, with hostile people around clamoring for “peace and order” and to “stop trespassing,” it would have been easy to flinch or doubt oneself.

History doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s made up of the mundane things of life, uncertainties and all. I stared at the lunch counter and marveled in its reality. It was gathering place with ugly pastel-colored seats. A place where people sat down to eat and drink coffee. A place where people sat down to protest a kind of oppression I will never know.

With the voices of so many marginalized populations still asking for a place at the table to speak, it doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago.