Chicago offers many free attractions for the frugal traveler. These free views offset more expensive splurges like deep-dish pizza, admission to the famous Shedd Aquarium, and a trip to the Sears Tower.
Free Carts
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, between 10 am and 6 pm, free trolleys run every 20 to 30 minutes to Chicago’s most popular tourist destinations. There are stops along Museum Campus, Michigan Avenue (The Magnificent Mile), and Navy Pier. Do some of the loops to get a feel for the city. Drivers often give snippets of information about landmarks.
Street parking in the center is usually free on Sundays.
Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park and Millennium Park
The Buckingham Fountain (seen in the opening credits of the TV show Married With Children) in Grant Park, near the waterfront, was designed to emulate the large fountains at the Palace of Versailles. It consists of three basins, surrounded by four bronze seahorses.
More modern art can be found in the adjoining Millennium Park. The Corona Fountain has two giant glass towers with projections of faces on them. The water squirts from the mouths of the faces, to the delight of the children who walk through the water. Cloud Gate resembles a giant stainless steel jelly bean, warping the viewers reflection.
navy pier
Navy Pier hosts a street carnival atmosphere. There’s a 148-foot vintage-style Ferris wheel, a musical carousel with painted animals, a children’s museum, a stained glass museum, and a funhouse maze. Throw in seasonal street performers, food vendors, and face painters, and travelers can people watch for hours.
The old water tower
The Old Water Tower, located on famed Michigan Avenue near the John Hancock Center, is one of the most famous survivors of the Great Fire. Designed to resemble a small European castle, the Old Water Tower is now a visitor center.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Featuring great American masterpieces like Grant Wood’s American Gothic, the Art Institute of Chicago is a must-see for art lovers and a treat for the savvy traveler. From May 31 to August 31, admission is free from 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
There are plenty of other free or frugal attractions in the Windy City, storefronts on the Magnificent Mile, facades like the Dearborn Street Station, and others.
