The Museum of Contemporary Photography began its collection in the early 1980s and it now includes more than 16,000 objects by over 1,500 artists. Go beyond Ansel Adams and Diane Arbus at the leading photography museum in the Midwest. The museum continuously searches for new photographers so each visit is a revelation – that won’t cost you a cent! In 2021, see “Much Unseen is Also Here,” a show by two artists that includes large-scale views of places and people in the contemporary American landscape, and sculpture, drawings, and animation that examine representations of femininity prompted by who monuments historically depict. The Midwest Photographers Project is a revolving collection of portfolios by 72 established and emerging photographers from Illinois and neighboring states. The portfolios are loaned to the MoCP for three years. Consider taking a free docent-led museum tour or making an appointment to view works from the museum’s collections.

The award-winning Chicago Riverwalk is a 1.25-mile promenade with opportunities to see art, hear music and people watch – all for free. Lounge on an Adirondack chair on the riverbank, drink in the city’s distinctive architecture, watch boats float by, drop a line to fish off a pier, stroll. The seasons bring interactive activities, art installations, live music and other happenings. Enter at any major intersection and find six coves each with its own name, landscape and activities: The Marina; The Cove; The River Theater; The Water Plaza; The Jetty; and The Riverbank. Families should head to the sunny Water Plaza (LaSalle to Wells) where kids can frolic in water sprays and the Riverbank is the place for Insta pics. Choose any point on the map for a romantic date night stroll or if you have a few shekels, stop for a snack, beer or glass of wine.

No, it’s not the University of Chicago waving its intellect at the rest of us (although it is on the campus), but rather this Hyde Park museum is named for brothers David and Alfred Smart, the original publishers of Esquire magazine. It just semantic serendipity that there are many very smart exhibits and programs at the free entry cultural institution. Among the collections, don’t miss sculpture by Degas, Matisse and Rodin; Asian and European art; sleek furniture by Frank Lloyd Wright; and paintings and sculpture by Mark Rothko, Diego Rivera and Henry Moore. With over 15,000 objects, spanning five millennia of both Western and Eastern civilizations, Smart Museum also welcomes fantastic traveling exhibitions. Expect hands-on art-making programs for families and thought-provoking lectures and symposia for adults, too. Visit when the weather is cooperative and enjoy the outdoor sculpture garden featuring work by Scott Burton, Richard Hunt, and Arnaldo Pomodoro.

The 24.5-acre Millennium Park is one of the most extraordinary public spaces in the world, a stunning showcase for the visual and performing arts and a permanent homage to the vitality of our world-class city. The centerpiece of the park is the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion and there’s not a chance you’ll miss one of the world’s largest outdoor sculptures by British artist Anish Kapoor – Cloud Gate – or the Crown Fountain designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. The towers project video of faces of Chicago citizens on LED screens and water flows through an outlet in the screen to give the illusion of water spouting from their mouths. Be sure to admire Lurie Garden, a distinctive blend of spatial structure, plantings and lighting that’s a five-acre urban oasis.

The Hyde Park Art Center has been the south side heart of contemporary arts and an incubation space for artists since 1939. The venue reopens in 2021 with a trio of exhibitions featuring established and emerging Chicago-based artists. See Cuts and Beats: Cecil McDonald, Jr., photomontages of manipulated historical images of Black artists (vintage sheet music covers, theater ads, and artist publicity photographs) with contemporary photographs taken by the artist himself in dance clubs around Chicago. Discover new artists the Ground Floor exhibit, an ongoing biennial exhibition and works in Next Window, Please! document the days between March and May of 2020 from the perspective of young Chicago artists. Upcoming exhibitions in 2021 include a major sculpture installation; a new series of large figurative paintings examining the service industry; a large-scale solo exhibition; and an installation of clay sculpture. There’s always something new to see at this Hyde Park institution. Exhibition admission is free but advance registration is required.

Located east of Lake Shore Drive, the Lakefront Trail is an 18.5-mile linear path that stretches from the far north part of the city to the south side. Neighborhoods dot the path as well as notable cultural landmarks including the Museum of Science and Industry; the Field Museum; Shedd Aquarium; Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum; the Chicago Children’s Museum; the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; Lincoln Park Zoo, and the South Shore Cultural Center. The paved path is very popular among walkers, joggers and bicyclists and it will and does get crowded during warm weekends. Expect to slow down around Navy Pier, one of the most congested points on the trail. The Lakefront Trail Separation project divided bike and pedestrian paths in late 2018 so pedestrians and cyclists claim their own parts of the trail.

Designed by the renowned landscape architect, Jens Jensen, in 1906, the Conservatory is one of the world’s largest indoor gardens, a respite of serenity, and it’s also a great place for kids of all ages, too. Since the collection is constantly evolving with new specimens and hybrids, and the Show House changes several times a year, consider visiting more than once. Locals love lolling in the tropical Palm House or the Desert House especially in winter. The Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden is open during normal hours where they can see larger-than-life-sized roots and seven-foot-tall seeds begging to be climbed. It’s quite alright to touch the Sensitive Plant which cringes when touched and take a whiff of French Fry plants that may have them clamoring for a stop at McDonald’s on the way home.

Whether you’ve lived here since the first Mayor Daley was “the Boss” or you’ve just arrived from a small college to live in the big city, you’ll have an enlightening time on a Chicago Greeter tour. Why did the Swedes settle in Andersonville and who this Anderson anyway? Tour the Old World neighborhood of Ukrainian Village filled with Eastern European restaurants and glorious churches like Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral which was designed by Louis Sullivan in 1899. The free, guided walks are led by local Chicagoans and the free, year-round service takes you to wherever your interests lie. See pubic art in Pilsen or learn about Lincoln Park. Greeter visits are offered in 10 languages and cover over 25 neighborhoods and 40 interest areas. Register at least 10 business days in advance for a free 2-4 hour guided visit of Chicago.

There’s an eclectic mix of live music performed on the Frank Gehry designed outdoor Jay Pritzker Pavilion from cutting-edge indie rock to Pacific Afro Colombian. Lawn seating is free, but don’t worry about being too far from the stage. The proscenium bandshell is one of the world’s most state-of-the-art outdoor music pavilions with spirals of stainless steel. It is the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the country. Pack a picnic and open your ears for the Grant Park Music Festival, the only remaining free outdoor classical music series in the nation. The Millennium Park Summer Music Series features free weekly concerts and the venue also hosts activities like yoga sessions and outdoor film screenings.

An ape house, a birdhouse and a working model of a five-acre Midwestern farm are just a few examples of what makes this zoo special. Founded in 1868 and known as America’s oldest free public zoo, the Lincoln Park Zoo still manages to charge no admission and remains open year-round. Set on scenic park grounds with lush lawns and pleasant walkways, the zoo greets visitors with the beauty of Georgian Revival buildings and a spectacular greenhouse. See a white blotched river stingray in a rainforest habitat; a dynamic, new exhibit home to African penguins; snap a selfie at the swan pond; and then there are the elephants, giraffes, sea lions, gorillas and reptiles. The Zoo is open 365 days a year and constantly hosts events and activities. Check the website for announcements on newborns – always a treat.