Chicagoan here, I always bring visiting friends to the Cultural Center. It’s completely free, right there in downtown by all the attractions. Gorgeous building that always has some amazing local art, a great way to get a sense about the heart of Chicago and what it means to all the diverse people living here.

Chicagoan here. I second the Art Institute, the Architectural Boat Tour, and the Chicago Style Hot Dog. These are a must for any visitor.

I went for Halloween and it was amazing! The Boat Architecture Tour was worth every penny! Best to go close to sunset😀

1. Yes!! 2. Yes 3. Yes!!! Field Museum is the best!! 4. Yes, but I recommend an Italian beef dipped or a Do-Rite old fashioned donut. 5. YES, I absolutely love the architecture tour on the Chicago River. My addition to the list would be a *free* walk along the lakefront where you can get great skyline views at many stops along the way, from the south to the far north. And by the way Walter is correct, it will always be the Bean and the Sears Tower.

A personal favorite during the summer months is Buckingham Fountain, located in Grant Park midway between "The Bean" sculpture and Art Institute and the Chicago Museum Campus (Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium). During the day there's a 20-minute water show and, after sunset, a pretty spectacular colored lights and music show on the hour. Best part -- it's free, and a great way to enjoy the breezes off the lake on a hot summer day or evening.

This should be a nice location to add to my must visit bucket list, traveling is just so much fun, I am really happy I was introduced to Mrs. Anne Marie Martin, I must say, financially she turned my story around

When I moved to Chicago, the first thing I did was search for the FREE days at all the museums and other attractions...they all have free days.

I Love Chicago in the Spring, Summers, Fall & Christmas Holiday Season. (smile)

You’re absolutely right, it’s the bean 🫘, and the Sears tower. That’s what I call them. 😄😄😄

Every time I'm in Chicago, I like to visit the Sears Tower & see the city from up high. Also, I like to window shop at Marshall Fields. And visit the Navy Pier. Of course, I haven't been there since the mid-90s, so I'm sure things've changed. Oh, yeah - pizza, too! And listening to live blues.

For fans of Americana, I suggest taking a picture at the terminus point of Route 66, the Mother Road. The "beginning" signs are at Adams and Michigan. For those who watched 80s TV, Buckingham Fountian is in Grant Park. It's the fountain at the beginning of Married With Children. I tried a Chicago style deep dish pizza. I managed two pieces, it's very filling. Finally, a pic at The Bean, in your background, is always a worthy stop. Love your content and style!

It’s the hot dog’s RELISH that makes you question it’s healthiness??? 😂😂

Just came back from Chicago! So, Chicago theatre is outstanding. If you can't make it to see NYC shows, Chicago offers beautiful theatres for hosting Broadway tours. Some shows even have long runs there, like Hamilton was there for about 3 years. Just be careful out there. Follow the same awareness and safety as you would with any big city❤

I have been to Chicago multiple times with my family and it’s a great city regardless of the crime.

Great video as always, Mark. I've seen American Gothic in two cities - once in Chicago, and once in a travelling exhibition in Paris. Slightly embarrassed by how willingly I mimicked the Ferris Bueller poses in the Art Institute. Architecture boat trip - check (compulsory for my educational background); Sears Tower - check (top floor views are amazing and despite my acrophobia I had to lean my forehead against the glass to get the full effect); Bean - check (plus the Crown Fountain, Calder's Flamingo, etc. - Chicago has great public art); Wrigley Field - check (my brother's a Cubs fan and although we arrived just out of season we asked a janitor if we could sneak in for a couple of minutes to take a picture and we could see he wanted to say "yes" but wasn't allowed to, so we had a whiskey and a chat with the staff in Murphy's bar instead). It really is time I went back. Greetings from the UK Chicago your city is great.

Fabulous ideas. Field museum, Shedd aquarium are not to be missed. and the boat tour was absolutely fascinating!

Margie’s Candies!!! The Beatles ate there and it looks the same. Also the lobby of the Chicago Board of Trade building is stunning.

Also, if you come in the summer, go to the beach! Chicago has fun sand beaches.

Hahahaha! Yes, it will always be the Sears Tower! Chicago has THE BEST museums! You listed my three favorite! There's also the Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium. Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, the Magnificent Mile, Hancock building & Sears Tower, China Town. Fermilab is in a suburb of Chicago, but if you really love science it is really cool to take a tour!

Lived in Chicago for over a decade, totally agree with these top 5. One thing I would add would be to rent a divvy bike and ride up the lakefront path to Lincoln Park Zoo, always a must do activity for me when I visit in the summer. Also would add the Shedds Aquarium. And of course, for eats, an Italian beef sandwich from Al’s is always amazing.

We like going to the Adler Planetarium when were in Chicago

The absolute best field trips when I was a kid were to the museums in Chicago! 😀❤️

Thank you for the clarification. Sears Tower and The Bean. You're 100% correct.

Fun fact: the killer Lions of Tsavo at the Field Museum are actually female lions. This is why they don't have manes. Lionesses do most of the hunting.

I would say that the only thing that I would add is the Shedd Aquarium. It’s one of the largest in the world and it has some of the best exhibits that I’ve seen, but like you said, all the Chicago museums are fantastic.

Born and raised in Chicago South Suburbs...these Museums have been my favorite places as long as I can remember. ❤️ ...yes to that boat tour idea, too!

I once traveled to this beautiful and dreamy city and I have very good memories of Chicago

Will be travelling from Australia in may to Chicago thanks for the tips

Youre a legend mr wolter Always check out your videos before i travel!

Sears tower observation deck, second city shows, lakefront boat tour, museums, Lou malnatis deep dish

Thanks for calling out some of our great Chicago museums individually! I'm so lucky to live in a city with such fabulous museums, and my favorite is the Art Institute! I also love the Oceanarium part of the Shedd Aquarium with the dolphins. Quick tip for travelers - every once in a while there are free admission days or evenings at many of the museums, which saves a ton of money for both locals and tourists!

I’ve been binging your videos all day lol . They’re really great 👍🏾 I’m hoping to definitely travel more.

Gotta have Harold's Chicken, specifically 6 wings fried hard with lemon pepper and mild sauce. And don't forget Garrett's Popcorn. I tell all my rideshare riders that.

Perfect timing,i`m in May the first time in Chicago.Super excited🤩

Good list! Glad to see you give MSI some love. So many people forget about it because it's not connected to downtown like the Shedd and the Field. I would have added the Hancock or the Sears towers (yes I said HANCOCK and SEARS)

A great one for tourists or townies: Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the Hancock. Get a window seat. Drinks are expensive and mediocre, but you aren't paying for the drinks, you're paying for the best damn city view in the world. If I recall correctly, even the bathrooms have tremendous views of the city.

Thank you for another Chicago video! Nobody knows more than a local!

I am so glad you mentioned the ghost in the darkness! I was getting ready to comment that! That’s one of the main reasons why I plan on going and checking out Chicagothis late fall. I’m seriously having a hard time coming up with stuff to do in Chicago, unlike New York or DC or wherever just I don’t know that much about Chicago other than the movie the fugitive. But I did know about the lions.

Chicago is the best city in the world.

Great!

I will be visiting Chicago in April.

Stroll around on Magnificent Mile, enjoy the New Years Fireworks from Navy Pier, watch a Chicago Bulls Game at United Center, visit Oak Park, take the elevator up to the observation Deck of Hancock Tower, say hi to the animals of Lincoln Park Zoo or take a Look to President Obamas old house 🇺🇸 near Washington Park. You can find a shit 💩 fountain in Chicago as well 😏 - the Windy City offers a lot 😃 Thanks for your videos! Lukas from Dortmund, Germany 🇩🇪

Awesome video

I was going to Navy Pier before they called it that.

*Wolters World Thanks for the upload **2:31**, hope your subs reaches 938K 😁. May God bless you, your family and all Wolters World fans* 🤗🤗

Long time subscriber, first time commenter. Would you consider making a video about how to get the best deals on places to stay? I would love to visit some of these cities but, man, the prices to stay at these places are insanely expensive. The last few major cities I've visited, which were D.C., NYC, Portland/Seattle, and Denver I was lucky enough to know some people who live there and I could stay with and that cut down the cost of the trip by a lot, but I don't know anyone in some of the other cities like Chicago and the people I knew in those cities have all moved out. What do you say Mark?

Love your videos!

So cool!

Chicago resident here. Yes and no. If you really want to get a feel for Chicago you have to get out of downtown, off the museum campuses, and out into the neighborhoods. Go to Clark Street in Lakeview. Go see all the new snooty restaurants in Fulton Market. Walk down 18th street in Pilsen. You will only know tourist-Chicago if you don't leave the loop (and I say this as somebody who lived in the loop for 6 years).

I miss the city ❤ 🌆 it’s the best city in the world 🗺

Wrigley Field is inside Chicago and easily accessible by bus. Don’t even think about driving and parking there.

My mom has a lifetime membership to the art institute so I can go for free whenever I visit her in Chicago :) I also have a tattoo of one of the lion statues that stands Infront of the art institute

I always take visitors on the architecture tour!

❤❤❤❤❤

Great video! Do grab a hot dog because they're easy to do right and hard to screw up. Italian beef on the other hand... Grab a drink at Miller's Pub. Or the Berghoff, opened by German immigrants over 100 years ago and the first post-prohibition liquor license in Chicago. Get a drink at the Green Door, built right after the Chicago Fire; a beef at Mr. Beef, which people might recognize from its fictional twin on The Bear; or cross the street for old school Italian at Club Lago, which is as Chicago as it gets. That's all before you leave the center of the city to see the neigborhoods!

Don't forget the pizza and the Billygoat! (Cheeseburger, cheezeburger, cheeseburger).

Don't go to Chicago without Wolter's World Merch!

I really like going to Chinatown, Ukrainian Village and Mexican Village.

Very nice!

right next to american gothic is nighthawks too!

You came to Chicago, and you didn't visit me? I'm a Gothic ENTERTAINER! I also could have gotten you into all the museums... for FREE. 😋

Looks like a much cleaner city than I thought.Hmm. Is it?

Hi Walter! I love your videos. Do I need rental car or Uber for Chicago? Hotels are really $400/$500 a night?

Notice how Mark did NOT say a word about Navy Pier? Follow that advice- it's little more than a tourist trap.

Proper Chicago hot dogs are not cooked on a roller…

Although I don't like Chicago very much, I have to admit that I have more than a dozen family members in Chicago. And yes, the second best hot dogs in the United States. New York City has the best hot dogs available in the country.

Aren't those two lions mane-less because they are females? Or did they really lose their hair while getting stuffed for display? ETA Wrongo! Indeed, two males, and Wikipedia says the skins were in terrible shape when the museum got them.

Wouldn’t come here. Too many gangsters

Ew. Cubs game? Nah, you mean a White Sox game. You should definitely see a White Sox game.

No offence to the locals of Chicago, but that hot dog looks horrible..and what's wrong with ketchup on a hotdog?

Chicago hot dogs are overrated. Portillos for an Italian beef - now that's the food you really should try when you go to Chicago.

#1-#5: Just get out alive.

Word of advice don’t go to Chicago. If you prefer gambling in the state of Nevada Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada for picky travelers I went on Norwegian cruise line and tell yourself to stop teaching me Chicago people are actually really friendly and there’s beautiful girls in Chicago.

My favorite was UNO’s