Chicago on the Cheap

Did we say cheap? We meant free.

You might think one of the world’s most sophisticated cities is exorbitantly expensive, particularly for visitors. Well, think again. Chicago has a surprising number of free things to do throughout the year, including many of the city’s best attractions. Here are a few of our favorites.

• Navy Pier
  At historic Navy Pier, the Midwest’s #1 tourist and leisure destination, the full lineup of free entertainment includes shows, special seasonal events, and music and dance performances from around the globe. Fifty acres of parks, gardens, and promenades make this lakefront playground (open daily except Christmas and Thanksgiving) a lovely place to stroll and enjoy unparalleled views of the cityscape. And on Wednesday and Saturday nights in summertime, dazzling fireworks displays off the Pier light up the nighttime sky. Inside the Pier, Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows exhibits 150 stained glass windows—both religious and secular windows in Victorian, Prairie, Modern, and Contemporary styles—in the first such museum in the U.S.
• Millennium Park
  In the heart of the city is Millennium Park, an award-winning gem of art, music, architecture, and landscape design. Performers utilizing this spectacular space for theater and music include Grant Park Music Festival, which serves up the nation’s only remaining free outdoor classical music series in the magnificent Jay Pritzker Pavilion on summer evenings. Ever-changing displays of art and sculpture throughout the year include ice sculptures in winter. Master gardeners point out native plantings and Chicago symbolism during free guided tours of Lurie Garden.
• Gardens Under Glass
  Displays of plants and flowers, as well as seasonal shows, are presented at Chicago’s two “gardens under glass”: Garfield Park Conservatory on the city’s west side and Lincoln Park Conservatory just north of downtown. A few steps from Lincoln Park Conservatory is a world of wildlife in Lincoln Park Zoo. This natural oasis in the shadow of skyscrapers is home to reptiles, mammals, beautiful birds, and countless other creatures.
• Chicago Cultural Centre
  In the heart of the Loop, the Chicago Cultural Center could easily rest on its laurels as an architectural landmark. But it also works hard as one of the most comprehensive free arts showcases in the country. Hundreds of programs in dance, music, theater, and film, plus art exhibitions, literary programs, lectures, and discussions provide nonstop opportunities to spark visitors’ imaginations.
• Where to Stay
  Willows Hotel: A graceful hotel with a European flare and upscale amenities.
  555 West Surf, Chicago, 773.528.8400
  Majestic Hotel: The tranquility of an English country estate amidst the bustling Chicago city life.
  528 West Brompton, Chicago, 773.404.3499
  City Suites Hotel: A sleek, retro property characterized by its unique Art Deco style.
  933 West Belmont, Chicago, 773.404.3400
  For details on each of these properties, see BroughtonHotels.com. Be sure to check out the latest issue of the Broughton Quarterly magazine.