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Lake Michigan

No 1 on our list of things to do in Chicago has to be Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is one of the five great lakes of North america. Although only the 3rd largest, when looking out from Chicago's shoreline it’s easy to mistake it for the ocean. Lake Michigan alone has 1,300 km of shoreline and it takes a staggering two and a half hours on a ferry to travel from the east side to the west. It even has 10 ports along it’s shores.

This lake and everything around it is simply beautiful. It has crystal clear water that’s great for swimming in and also full of people participating in water sports, from jet skis, to kayaking and even scuba diving. The lake is constantly filled with locals and tourists spending days out on their boats, particularly during the summer. If you don’t fancy spending time on the water there are also plenty of sandy white beaches to choose from that are full of buzzing activity.

Navy Pier

Navy pier is consistently rated as Chicago's best waterfront attraction, packed everyday of the week with tourists and locals alike. This buzzing and magical pier stretches 1000m long and deep into the lake waters. The pier is full of an abundance of attractions and eateries, including the iconic 200 ft tall Ferris wheel. The pier also has multiple stages and hosts regular events including, DJs, theatre performances and live musicians. If you fancy heading out on the water it is also one of the best places to take boat tours of lake Michigan, that depart from the south dock of the pier.

Navy pier is a great thing to do in Chicago with kids, as there is literally something for everyone. There’s even a ‘Family pavilion’ that includes a 3 story children's museum.

There is no admission fee to enter the pier you just have to pay for the attractions that you want to use, and don’t worry the pier has attractions to enjoy all year round, including an I-max cinema.

Spend the evening at a Jazz bar

Though often mistaken for the birthplace of Jazz (this is actually New Orleans), it’s easy to see why. Chicago is one of the most thriving and abundant cities in the world for Jazz. It runs through the veins of Chicago's community and the city continues to make incredible contributions to the Jazz scene.

Chicago hosts some of the best Jazz events and festivals in the world including Chicago Jazz festival. So if you are lucky enough to be visiting Chicago when one of these events is on be sure to get a ticket.

The abundance of small and authentic jazz bars around the city keep the Jazz scene alive everyday of the week and are consistently showcasing new talent and legends.

I would be criminal not to add a classic jazz bar to your list of things to do in Chicago. It’s hands down one of the best things to do at night in this vibrant city. Two great clubs are ‘The Green Mill’ and ‘Andy’s Jazz Club’, two of the highest rated in the city.

Grant Park

I’m cheating a little here because Grant park is huge and actually includes several additional attractions that I would put on the list of top things to do in Chicago: Millennium park and cloud gate, as well as Chicago's Museum of Art that I’ll touch on lower down this list. .

Grant park is an urban park located on the edge of lake Michigan and just a few moments away from Chicago's business district, and spans 1.3 km squared. Pristinely kept and frequented daily by Chicago city workers looking for an outside spot to enjoy lunch. The park is home to several of the city's top attractions including: Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum Campus.

Millennium park forms a section of Grant Park and houses 4 major artistic attractions: the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Stage to many live performances every year), Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, and the Lurie Garden. The park also has interactive fountains, rock climbing and ice skating during the winter months.

Skydeck

Chicago's Skydeck is located on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower in Downtown Chicago and contains clear observation boxes & views extending to four states.

Step outside the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, at a height of 1,353 feet where the ledge’s glass boxes extend out 4.3 feet from the Skydeck, and you truly feel like you are floating on air. If you are afraid of heights, take a deep breath.

I highly recommend checking out their Instagram for some really cool photos taken by visitors in the observation boxes.

North Avenue Beach

North Avenue Beach is one of Chicago's most popular beaches and located north of the city (hence the name), in the well known Lincoln Park. The beach contains an ocean liner inspired building that is permanently docked on the beach and offers lots to do inside for the family. The upper deck also offers some of the best views of the city and sunsets out at Lake Michigan. Though you cannot kite-surf or participate in most motor-sports here, there is still an abundance of watersports to do. Including Kayaking, paddle-boarding and jet ski hire. The popular Sun and Moon Beach Yoga also offer yoga daily on the beach.

At the back of the sand you’ll find a lakefront trail that follows along the back of the beach, and offers a smooth ride for rollerbladers, cyclists and runners you’ll often see exercising and travelling throughout the day.

If you have the time, definitely spend a whole day relaxing here. There are several waterfront eateries to choose from, but if you feel like cooking up a storm yourself there are also designated grills dotted around that are free for you to use.

Try a Deep Dish Pizza

In case you didn’t know this already Chicago is the home of the Deep Dish pizza, and if you think buying a Chicago town pizza from the freezer aisle is the same, you’d be strongly mistaken.

An authentic deep dish pizza, involves baking a high edged, thick pizza crust to support the abundance of filling. The ‘dish’ of the crust is then filled with chunky tomato sauce, cheese and whatever your toppings are. This filling is filled so high and so dense that a pizza slice feels heavy, and your slice will be about 20% crust 80% topping. The best thing, they are never dry and they are so full of flavour. One slice alone has about 400 calories, but don’t let that put you off!

In most pizza places in Chicago you can’t buy a pizza by the slice, and unfortunately you have to pay for a whole pizza. (When it's a deep dish, that’s tough to finish. However ‘The Art of Pizza’ is one of the best deep dish pizzas in Chicago and does it by the slice. So head on down and give it a try.

Cloud Gate

Cloud Gate or as it is commonly referred to - ‘The Bean’ is one of Chicago’s most photographed sites. It is a permanent outdoor art installation, and the largest of its kind in the world.

Located in Millennium Park, Cloud Gate was inspired by liquid mercury and created by the sculpture Anish Kapoor. It was called Cloud Gate due to its archway that visitors can walk under to enter the park, while 80% of its surface reflects the sky.

The Art institute of Chicago

Located in the beautiful Grant Park, The Art institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States, and welcomes over 1.5 million visitors every year.

The Museum permanently houses over 300,000 pieces of art, from both world-renowned icons to lesser-known gems from every corner of the globe. There are also regular temporary exhibitions that are always highly rated.

Until recently I never truly appreciated art, but some of these pieces are truly remarkable, and will capture your attention, art lover or not. On Trip Advisor the museum is rated as the Number one thing to do in Chicago. So even if you aren’t 100% sold, definitely go and give it a try.

Watch the Chicago bears play

Watching an NFL game on your trip to the USA is by far one of the best things you can do. Luckily for you Chicago is the home of the Bear and is considered a top 5 team in the NHL . You are guaranteed one hell of an atmosphere at the Bears games. Definitely follow the cliches - get a foam finger, buy the jersey, get a hot-dog from the hot dog guy, and scream like a true Bears fan.

If you aren’t a big NHL watcher I highly recommend watching just one game before you go and brushing up on some of the rules. Having gone with some people who didn’t really know what was going on (though still hilarious and fun), it can be a slightly more confusing experience.

Be sure to check the Chicago Bear game schedule well in advance before you trip to Chicago and get tickets early so you aren’t disappointed.