{"id":24469,"date":"2017-11-09T14:55:08","date_gmt":"2017-11-09T19:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/?p=24469"},"modified":"2017-11-09T14:58:38","modified_gmt":"2017-11-09T19:58:38","slug":"tourist-attractions-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/tourist-attractions-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Biggest Tourist Traps in Chicago, Plus 7 Less Touristy Alternatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>The Biggest\u00a0Tourist Traps<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>They&#8217;re our city&#8217;s beloved treasures. But once there&#8217;s a massive crowd, they can quickly become our city&#8217;s biggest nightmares. It&#8217;s a fine line.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>#7. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.360chicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">John Hancock Center<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_452620798.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24479\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_452620798.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_452620798.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_452620798-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_452620798-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_452620798-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>875 North Michigan Avenue<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The attraction at the John Hancock Center known as 360\u00b0 Chicago brings in around <strong>550,000 visitors annually<\/strong>, making it a top destination for tourists. Add the picturesque views from the Signature Room on the 95th floor and there&#8217;s no question why tourists flock to this well-known building in Chicago&#8217;s skyline.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>#6. <a href=\"http:\/\/theskydeck.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Willis Tower<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_579496999.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24478\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_579496999.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_579496999.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_579496999-600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_579496999-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_579496999-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>233 South Wacker Drive<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Being Chicago&#8217;s focal point, if you will, it&#8217;s no surprise that Willis Tower is one of the first stops on a tourist&#8217;s checklist. The building draws in around <strong>1.7 million visitors annually<\/strong>, particularly to the Skydeck. The Ledge, a feature that lets people experience the true magnitude of Willis Tower, is a major highlight. With new developments underway (<a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/willis-tower-rappel\/\" target=\"_blank\">rappelling, anyone?<\/a>), tourism will only go up for this iconic landmark.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>#5. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fieldmuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Field Museum<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_396724789.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24477\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_396724789.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_396724789.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_396724789-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_396724789-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_396724789-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>1400 South Lake Shore Drive<\/em><\/p>\n<p>When you&#8217;ve got a permanent resident like Sue, who wouldn&#8217;t want to come to the Field Museum to catch a glimpse? This Chicago institution welcomes up to <strong>1.79 million visitors per year<\/strong>, so when you&#8217;re ready to explore that cool new exhibit, be prepared to do it with a crowd.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>#4. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheddaquarium.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Shedd Aquarium<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_576923242.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24476\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_576923242.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_576923242.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_576923242-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_576923242-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_576923242-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>1200 South Lake Shore Drive<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The Field Museum is great, but people just <em>love<\/em> going to the Shedd. It&#8217;s as simple as that. And can you blame them? It&#8217;s not every day that you find a gorgeous building teeming with aquatic life from all over the world. Being one of the largest and most visited aquariums in the country (<strong>2.02 million visitors<\/strong>, to be exact), it&#8217;s easy to see that even though it&#8217;s a tourist trap, it&#8217;s worth it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>#3. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lpzoo.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lincoln Park Zoo<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_120976900.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24475\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_120976900.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_120976900.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_120976900-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_120976900-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_120976900-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>2001 North Clark Street<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Now we&#8217;re getting to the big &#8216;uns. Being one of the oldest zoos in America, this place has been drawing in big crowds for a long time, to say the least. Attracting <strong>3 million visitors per year<\/strong> and offering tons of seasonal events for guests of all ages, the appeal to tourists is obvious. If you&#8217;re planning a visit, be ready for lots of people. And lots of selfie sticks.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>#2. <a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago\/navy-pier\/\" target=\"_blank\">Navy Pier<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_84611896.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24474\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_84611896.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_84611896.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_84611896-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_84611896-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_84611896-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>600 East Grand Avenue<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Then there&#8217;s Navy Pier. This is one where locals tend to visit sparingly because we just know it&#8217;s going to be busy. But when you <em>do<\/em> visit, you remember why it&#8217;s such a high-traffic area. The Centennial Wheel, the Children&#8217;s Museum, the firework shows, and the endless exhibits and events are what brought <strong>9.3 million people<\/strong> to Navy Pier in 2016. It&#8217;s just a happy place, man.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>#1. <a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/millennium-park\/\" target=\"_blank\">Millennium Park<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_440161984.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24473\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_440161984.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_440161984.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_440161984-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_440161984-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_440161984-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>201 East Randolph Street<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Can you think of a place with more visitors and tourists than Navy Pier? It&#8217;s hard, but it exists. That place is Millennium Park, which broke records with a whopping <strong>12.9 million visitors<\/strong> in the second half of 2016 alone! The city has been diligent about hosting as many free events at the park as possible, making it super accessible. With concert and film series in summer, stunning city views, and our precious Bean, you can bet your bottom that tourists aplenty will be snapping pics in this spot.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>The Less Tourist-y Alternatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You&#8217;ve been there. You&#8217;ve done that. You love it, of course, but you just \u2013 can&#8217;t \u2013 do it \u2013 again. Worry not, there&#8217;s more to this city than skydecks and Sue.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/garfieldconservatory.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Garfield Park Conservatory<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_166759721.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-24480\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_166759721.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_166759721.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_166759721-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_166759721-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/shutterstock_166759721-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>300 North Central Park Avenue<\/em><\/p>\n<p>City residents should really take advantage of this one more often. Gorgeous greenery from all over the world inhabits this multi-room conservatory, with thousands of plant species from various climates. When you need a break from the chaos, this is where you go to find your perfect natural oasis.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mocp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Museum of Contemporary Photography<\/a><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24481\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24481\" style=\"width: 753px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ClementCooper004.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24481\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ClementCooper004.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"753\" height=\"502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ClementCooper004.jpg 753w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ClementCooper004-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ClementCooper004-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ClementCooper004-128x86.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 753px) 100vw, 753px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24481\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo Credit: Museum of Contemporary Photography<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>600 South Michigan Avenue<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This museum founded by Columbia College in 1976 often goes overlooked, but as it&#8217;s the leading photography museum in the Midwest, it&#8217;s definitely worth carving out a few hours from your afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/imss.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">International Museum of Surgical Science<\/a><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24484\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24484\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/o-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24484\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/o-1.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/o-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/o-1-600x347.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/o-1-300x173.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24484\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo Credit: Yelp<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>1524 North Lake Shore Drive<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Open to the public since 1954, this unique intersection of science and art is an amazing part of Chicago&#8217;s museum culture. Featuring exhibits representing nations across the globe, as well as methods and instruments spanning from ancient to current, this is a fascinating look at the evolution of a medical practice.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/flwright.org\/visit\/robiehouse\" target=\"_blank\">Robie House<\/a><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24486\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24486\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/robie-house-02-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-24486\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/robie-house-02-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/robie-house-02-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/robie-house-02-2-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/robie-house-02-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/robie-house-02-2-1300x731.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/robie-house-02-2.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24486\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo Credit: Open House Chicago<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>5757 South Woodlawn Avenue<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This national historic landmark on the University of Chicago campus is one of Frank Lloyd Wright&#8217;s most famous designs. You can even browse the space with a drink in hand during one of their cocktail hours.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/driehausmuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Driehaus Museum<\/a><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24487\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24487\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Main_Hall_with_View_of_Parlor_The_Richard_H._Driehaus_Museum_Photo_by_Alexander_Vertikoff_2011.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-24487\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Main_Hall_with_View_of_Parlor_The_Richard_H._Driehaus_Museum_Photo_by_Alexander_Vertikoff_2011-1024x635.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"1024\" height=\"635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Main_Hall_with_View_of_Parlor_The_Richard_H._Driehaus_Museum_Photo_by_Alexander_Vertikoff_2011-1024x635.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Main_Hall_with_View_of_Parlor_The_Richard_H._Driehaus_Museum_Photo_by_Alexander_Vertikoff_2011-600x372.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Main_Hall_with_View_of_Parlor_The_Richard_H._Driehaus_Museum_Photo_by_Alexander_Vertikoff_2011-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Main_Hall_with_View_of_Parlor_The_Richard_H._Driehaus_Museum_Photo_by_Alexander_Vertikoff_2011-1300x806.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Main_Hall_with_View_of_Parlor_The_Richard_H._Driehaus_Museum_Photo_by_Alexander_Vertikoff_2011.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24487\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo Credit: Driehaus Museum<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>40 East Erie Street<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Founded in 2003, this building is preservation and restoration at its finest. Tour the ornate designs and turn-of-the-century opulence of the Gilded Age, as demonstrated by the Driehaus Museum. It truly feels as if you&#8217;ve gone back in time, and brings new meaning to the word &#8216;elegance.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newberry.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Newberry Library<\/a><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24490\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24490\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Newberry-Building-from-park.2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24490\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Newberry-Building-from-park.2.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"800\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Newberry-Building-from-park.2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Newberry-Building-from-park.2-600x385.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Newberry-Building-from-park.2-300x192.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24490\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo Credit: Newberry Library<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>60 West Walton Street<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If you haven&#8217;t been \u2013 this place is an <em>absolute must<\/em>. The world-renowned independent research library houses a vast amount of rare materials, and the space itself is stunning. It&#8217;s basically a sanctuary for readers, writers, scholars, researchers, and all that are curious and knowledge-hungry.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/americanwritersmuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">American Writers Museum<\/a><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24492\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24492\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/American-Voices.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24492\" src=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/American-Voices.jpg\" alt=\"tourist attractions chicago\" width=\"900\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/American-Voices.jpg 900w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/American-Voices-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/American-Voices-300x197.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24492\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo Credit: American Writers Museum<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>180 North Michigan Avenue<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Having just opened this summer, this is the newest name on the museum scene. And it&#8217;s pretty much the first of its kind. With interactive exhibits celebrating past and present American authors, and seminars and workshops for local writers, it&#8217;s a great destination to catch before it becomes a tourist trap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Biggest\u00a0Tourist Traps They&#8217;re our city&#8217;s beloved treasures. But once there&#8217;s a massive crowd, they can quickly become our city&#8217;s biggest nightmares. It&#8217;s a fine line. &nbsp; #7.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":24524,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3231,941,3230,3227,3229,3228],"class_list":["post-24469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-category-popular","tag-chicago-attractions","tag-tourism","tag-tourism-in-chicago","tag-tourist-attractions-chicago","tag-tourist-traps","tag-tourist-y"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.4 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>7 Biggest Tourist Traps in Chicago, Plus 7 Less Touristy Alternatives | UrbanMatter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"They&#039;re our city&#039;s beloved treasures, but once a massive crowd hits, they can quickly become our city&#039;s biggest nightmares. 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