Chicago in 3 days: the city where the Great Fire of 1871 accidentally made it the most architecturally innovative place in the world, where deep dish pizza was invented in 1943, and where Chicago Blues became the direct parent of rock 'n' roll.
The CAF River Cruise: the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower stones from world landmarks, the Marina City corncobs (1964) and Aqua Tower (2010) explained by architecture docents on the water.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe 110-ton polished steel ellipsoid that reflects the Chicago skyline in warped panorama, beside the twin towers of video-faces with water pouring from their lips. The most visited sculpture in America.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe finest Impressionist collection outside France, Grant Wood's American Gothic (1930), Hopper's Nighthawks (1942) and the extraordinary Thorne Miniature Rooms (68 rooms at 1:12 scale).
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe 45-minute-to-cook casserole pizza: the cheese layer goes under the chunky San Marzano tomato sauce, the crust is pressed up the sides of a deep pan and enriched with butter and cornmeal.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe most complete T. Rex skeleton ever found, the full-scale Ancient Egypt tomb with 23 mummies, and a working DNA lab where scientists extract ancient genetic material from museum specimens.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe 1km pier extending into Lake Michigan: the 196-foot Ferris wheel (inspired by the 264-foot 1893 World's Fair original) and the most dramatic lakefront skyline view in interior North America.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideBuddy Guy's own club: the Hall of Fame guitarist who connects directly to the original 1950s Chicago Blues that became rock 'n' roll. Live music every night, Buddy himself performs every January.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Brown or Pink Line through the Loop: iron lattice at eye level with office buildings, sparks from steel wheels on the tight corners, and 300,000 daily passengers on infrastructure from 1897.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Six Corners intersection: independent record stores, vintage clothing, the Flat Iron Arts Building with artist studios, and the brunch restaurants of Chicago's most vibrant creative neighborhood.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideVienna Beef in a steamed poppy seed bun: yellow mustard, neon green relish, raw onion, tomato wedge, pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. Civic law forbids ketchup. Portillo's since 1963.
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