Chicago Like a Local Blog

World-class arts and culture on a budget? Chicago has you covered. Here are 20 museums and attractions with admission fees of $10 or less — and often no admission fees at all!

Welcome to the major US city that feels like home. How can that be, you may ask. Well, home isn’t just a place; it’s a feeling. And in Chicago, it feels a lot like you’ll fit right in, no matter who you are or what you love doing.  

There's nothing like a bachelorette party to channel your girl power. Which is why these four outside-the-box, hip, fun and flirty party ideas — from vintage pin-up photo shoots and burlesque lessons to circus arts and swimming with mermaids — will have them talking about "the best bachelorette party ever" for months. 

Exploring Pilsen is a truly intoxicating experience, even by Chicago standards. Rich in Latino culture, it’s a neighborhood brimming with music, art, culinary tradition and nightlife buzz. Vibrant murals embellish building facades, tiny Mexican bakeries dot the streets, and artist studios hum with creativity. Simply, Pilsen is a place to be immersed body and soul. 

Exhibitions not your thing? Only go to the ballpark to grab a hotdog? Can’t sit still long enough to take in a show? If you want an out-of-the ordinary, not your father’s vacation, only-in-Chicago kind of experience, these 10 places are just the ticket. 

The one thing that strikes me about living in Chicago is that, no matter how long one lives here, there are always plenty of new experiences to discover. We have some amazing stories (beyond the Top 10 Tourist stops) that live here; the trickiest part is finding them. 

The Millennium Park Campus is a jewel – stainless steel surfaces glisten, waters shimmer and softly hued flowers sway majestically in the soft summer breeze. 

Whether your thing is food or film, music or museums, Frank Lloyd Wright or wildlife, Chicago’s fall line up of new and annual tours, attractions and events will leave you wide-eyed and filled with a sense of wanderlust.

Chicago is renowned the world over for its theater and improv. The Second City, for one, is famed for its improv alums, including Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and John Belushi. There’s also Broadway in Chicago, which brings blockbuster shows such as Hamilton and Tootsie to the city, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, featuring vibrant, award-winning interpretations of The Bard’s work. And let’s not forget Steppenwolf,  with acclaimed ensemble members that include Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. 

It’s a little mind-blowing arriving on the site of Chicago’s Museum Campus. Gorgeous neoclassical buildings set within verdant landscapes, and the gentle lapping of Lake Michigan’s waves make this a dream-like excursion to the realm of history, nature, science and culture.