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Introduction
Start at the top. Hit the heights of the John Hancock Center or the Sears Tower Skydeck for a grand view of the city and the lake. Then take a walking tour of downtown with a well-read docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. In the afternoon, wander north to the Michigan Avenue Bridge, where you can pick up an informative boat tour of the Chicago River. Enjoy the architecture as you float by, resting your weary feet. Yes, it's a little schlocky, but Navy Pier is fun, especially for families. Everyone can fan out to shop in the mall, play minigolf in the Crystal Ballroom in winter, see a movie at the IMAX Theater, or explore the Chicago Children's Museum. Plus, there's a stained-glass museum, a maze, and a 3-D ride that whizzes through scenes of Chicago.Meet up later at the Ferris wheel for a photo op or just settle on the pier with a drink and enjoy the view. Do the zoo. Spend some time at the free Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory (the tropical plants will warm you up in winter), take a ride on the exotic animal-themed carousel, and then spend a couple hours at the nearby Chicago Historical Society for a quirky look at the city's past. If you'd like to stay in the Lincoln Park neighborhood a bit longer, have dinner at one of many great local restaurants and then head to The Second City, the sketch comedy troupe that was the precursor to Saturday Night Live.
If you've only got a bit of time, go see a museum. Although you could spend days in any of the city's major museums, two hours will give you a quick taste of Chicago's cultural riches. Take a brisk walk around the Art Institute to see Grant Wood's American Gothic, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, and one of the finest collections of impressionists in the country. Or check out the major dinosaur collection or the gorgeous Native American regalia at the Field Museum. Take a close look at the sharks at the Shedd Aquarium. If the weather's nice, stroll along the lakefront outside the Adler Planetarium -- you'll see one of the nicest skyline views in the city.
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