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Explore Chicago's Most Popular Attractions

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While Chicago has tons of things to do, there are certain attractions that decidedly draw the visitors in droves. Here are some of the most popular spots in Chicago, so you too can be a part of (or avoid) the huge crowds.

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Prescott's Chicago Travel Blog

Bank of America brings 'Museums on Us' to Chicago

Wednesday January 26, 2011

Bank of America has brought its popular "Museums on Us" program to Chicago, where the bank picks up the tab for your general admission to select Chicago museums the first full weekend of every month of 2011. The catch? You have to own and present a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch debit or credit card. But given the scope of those two financial institutions, one would imagine that requirement will be very easy for plenty of people. The participating Chicago museums include:

"Museums on Us" isn't the only way to save some bucks when visiting one of the Windy City's museums -- here's a list of various Chicago museum free days throughout the year.

Seven Chicago Restaurants Get Top AAA Ratings

Tuesday January 18, 2011

A bevy of Chicago restaurants have received coveted AAA Five Diamond ratings, giving it the most of any other North American city for the fifth year in a row. The restaurants include Charlie Trotter's, Arun's, Alinea, Avenues, Seasons, Everest and Tru -- most of which, not surprisingly, also make my list for the best restaurants in Chicago.

Four Chicago hotels also got the AAA Five Diamond nod: newcomers to the list include the Elysian and Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, which were added alongside the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and the Peninsula Chicago. And hey, what do you know, they're all on my very own list of the best Chicago luxury hotels, as well.

Explore the 'Weird' Side of Chicago

Friday January 14, 2011

I am not a good tourist. That is, if a popular destination has a list of "must sees," I usually make that my list of "places to avoid." When I visit a new city, I'm not really interested in the spit-shined attractions set out for visitors -- I want to prowl around and explore the history of the place, and how the locals do things (perhaps that's why I'm a big fan of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations).

If you're the same way, consider checking out Weird Chicago Tours -- locals Troy Taylor and Ken Melvoin-Berg have put together a series of themed tours that take guests on the trail of off-beat spots that other bus tours would never dream of going to. It's also more interactive than most driving tours -- instead of simply sightseeing from the inside of a bus, guests on a Weird Chicago Tour get to frequently unload and walk around the tour spot being discussed. Find out more information by reading my Weird Chicago Tours profile.

Free Weekdays at the Museum of Science and Industry in January

Thursday January 6, 2011

The Art Institute isn't the only museum making with the free days this month. The Museum of Science and Industry is also opening up its doors for free every weekday during the month of January. And since you'll be saving $15 for each adult and $10 for each child in your group, that leaves some extra in the budget to take in one of the museum's paid special exhibits like a tour on the U-505 submarine, or a show at the Omnimax theater.

One word of advice -- it's probably best to not pick Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 17, to take advantage of this offer unless you really have to. The crowds are huge on school holidays as it is when admission is not free.

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