By: Katie Anderson

Looking for fun things to do while your friends/family are visiting?  Do you like staycations?  Chicago is a city full of interesting things to do… from babies to grandparents, this city has it all!

• Chicago Architecture Tours:  My favorite summertime activity is heading down to Navy pier and catching a boat tour down the river.  There are TONS of tours to choose from, and no matter how many times I’ve been, I always learn something new.  Check out Wendella Boat Tours, they have been around since 1935, and really know their stuff!  Insider tip:  take the last tour, its still daylight heading into the river, but on the way back, the sun has set, and you can see the city lights.  Two different views for the price of one!!

• The John Hancock Building:  A staple feature of the Chicago skyline, the John Hancock Building stands 100 stories high, and is the 6^th tallest building in the United States.  There is an observatory showcasing fantastic views of the city (pricing starts at $15), but I always head to the Signature Lounge on the 96^th floor.  Drinks are pricey ($6 for a soda, $10 for a cocktail), but still cheaper than the admission into the observatory, with the same view!

• The Green Mill:  Stepping into this famous Chicago Jazz club is like walking into a time machine.  Looking around the room, you almost feel like Al Capone is still sitting in “his” booth.  Opened in 1907, and originally called Pop Morse’s Roadhouse, The Green Mill has been home to mourners (it’s very close to the St. Boniface Cemetery), musicians, comedians, gangsters, and actors/singers (Frank Sinatra!) over the last 100 years.  Today you can find an eclectic mix, from Saturday night dates to young hipsters. 

• Wrigley Field: Chicagoan’s love baseball so much, there is an entire neighborhood dedicated to Wrigley Field!  Nicknamed the friendly confines, Wrigley was built in 1914 and is the 2^nd oldest major league ball park in America.  Tours are available on non-game days.  The tour costs about $25 per person, and takes you through the dugouts, locker room, press box, and you can even walk on the field!  An amazing way to see Wrigley, and WAY cheaper than a game!