Home to attractions that make locals proud and draw in tourists from around the world, the South Loop is one of the city’s cultural centers and an easy place to spend a day or a full weekend.
Morning
Shop for furniture, clothing, collectibles and produce while snacking on Mexican and Latin street food at the Maxwell Street Market (800 S. Desplaines St., 312-745-4676, www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/maxwell_street_market.html) running from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday. Other days you can start at the Museum Campus, home to the Adler Planetarium (1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-7827, www.adlerplanetarium.org), which boasts a variety of kid-friendly interactive exhibits and shows about the solar system and the universe beyond.
Early afternoon
After musing about the possibility of life on other planets, meet some of the fascinating creatures that live at the Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-939-2438, www.sheddaquarium.org) or learn about ancient history at the Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-9410, www.fieldmuseum.org), which boasts rotating blockbuster exhibits spotlighting artifacts from around the world, along with a permanent collection of dinosaur bones, Egyptian mummies and much more. It’s easy to explore the Shedd in just a few hours (unless you get lost watching the otters swim), but the Field can easily take a full day, so if you feel like you need to go back, check the website for a list of free days for Illinois residents.
Afternoon
Chicago is a major hub for craft brewing, and you can learn more about the trend at Baderbrau Brewing Company (2515 S. Wabash Ave., 312-890-2728, www.baderbrau.com More Top Picks Best Curling Irons
Evening
Have a leisurely dinner at Acadia (1639 S. Wabash Ave., 312-360-9500, www.acadiachicago.com), which serves seasonal five- and 10-course menus you can watch being prepared in its open kitchen, or take your taste buds on a trip to Spain by sharing sangria and tapas at James Beard Award-winning chef Jose Garces’ Mercat a la Planxa (638 S. Michigan Ave., 312-765-0524, www.mercatchicago.com). If you’re looking for something more casual, head to Villains (730 S. Clark St., 312-583-0283, www.villainschicago.com), where you can pair food from its locally sourced menu with one of 40 beers on tap.
Didn’t make it to the Adler in the morning? Leave the kids behind and come for Adler After Dark, an adults-only night from 6-10 p.m. the third Thursday of every month, featuring special lectures and entertainment.
Samantha Nelson is a freelancer.