Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Boystown

We've collected top 10 mentioned free attractions in Boystown from other articles such as Wheelchair Travel, 48 hours in downtown Chicago: Day 2, Travel Tips - USA Today.

Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Boystown

Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium
4.6 (25232 ratings)4 (9031 ratings)
State-of-the-art indoor aquarium, famous for its variety of habitats & views of Lake Michigan.
1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
AquariumZoos & AquariumsHistorical landmarkLearning center
Mentioned by The Crazy Tourist
50 Best Things to Do in Chicago (IL
"Sharing the Museum Campus Chicago with the Field Museum and the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium (1930) was for some time the largest indoor aquarium in the world. Donated by the philanthropist John G. Shedd, the attraction has an incredible 32,500 aquatic creatures from across the planet. These are in immersive zones like Amazon Rising, which has caimans, anacondas, piranhas and freshwater stingrays in tanks among the roots of rainforest trees."
Mentioned by TripSavvy
The 10 Best Attractions for Young Kids in Chicago
"The fish and other aquatic life at the Shedd Aquarium appeal to pretty much all ages from 1 to 100, especially the regular marine mammal shows in the Abbott Oceanarium. The centerpiece of the aquarium, the Caribbean Reef is a 90,000-gallon circular tank and filled with stingrays, sharks, eels, a sea turtle and an assortment of tropical fish. A diver hand feeds the fish and answers questions (while underwater!) several times a day."
Mentioned by Condé Nast Traveler
14 Best Museums in Chicago
"The entire marine world—from the Caribbean reef to Arctic waters—is on view on the banks of Lake Michigan. Some 32,000 animals live here. Big draws include Pacific white-sided dolphins, beluga whales, sharks, stingrays, and some awfully cute otters."
Millennium Park
Millennium Park
4.8 (58155 ratings)4.5 (22489 ratings)
24.5-acre green space with a video display, the reflective "Bean" sculpture & an outdoor theater.
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, USA
ParkSights & LandmarksHistoric Walking AreasPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Navy Pier
Navy Pier
4.6 (50660 ratings)4 (13593 ratings)
Former Navy training center draws crowds with carnival rides, restaurants, shops & fireworks.
600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Sights & LandmarksAmusement centerCultural centerEvent venuePiers & BoardwalksTheme Parks
Mentioned by Family Destinations Guide
28 Best Things to Do in Chicago with Kids for 2021 (Family Fun!)
"If you are wondering what to see in Chicago with kids, I would highly recommend the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier. This is a landmark in Chicago and while there are several other things to do at the Navy Pier, the Ferris Wheel should be on every tourist’s list. The wheel is 200-feet high and offers an incredible 360-degree view of Lake Michigan and the exciting pier."
Mentioned by Choose Chicago
Free Museum Days in Chicago | Free Admission to Chicago Museums
"The Chicago Children’s Museum offers veterans and active military free admission every day with the presentation of valid military status identification. They also offer families that qualify for state food assistance and are in possession of an EBT card or WIC card free admission for up to 6 people."
Mentioned by Crazy Family Adventure
25 Fun And Exciting Things To Do In Chicago With Kids
"Head over to Navy Pier to go up on the Centennial Ferris Wheel!. A fun way to get an amazing view of Chicago and the lakefront. You can get tickets through the Go Chicago Explorer Pass or check with the Loew’s hotel – they sometimes have specials going where you can get tickets with your stay."
Garfield Park Conservatory
Garfield Park Conservatory
4.8 (6118 ratings)4.5 (719 ratings)
184-acre park with a swimming pool, fishing lagoon, athletic fields, tennis courts & more.
300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624, USA
ParkSights & LandmarksBotanical gardenHistoric SitesGardens
Grant Park
Grant Park
4.7 (16394 ratings)4.5 (854 ratings)
319-acre centerpiece of Downtown housing some of the city's busiest attractions.
337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, USA
City parkNature & ParksPark
Glessner House
Glessner House
4.6 (178 ratings)4.5 (80 ratings)
Docent-led tours of a landmark 19th-century house & Chicago's oldest building.
1800 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
MuseumSights & LandmarksHistoric SitesSpecialty Museums
South Pond
South Pond
5 (4 ratings)4 (10 ratings)
Chicago, IL 60614
LakeNature & ParksBodies of Water
Mentioned by I Hit The Button
The 12 Best Places to Photograph in Chicago
"The Wooden Pavilion at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s South Pond is a fantastic way to frame Chicago’s skyline around the John Hancock Center. Additionally the structure itself is fun to photograph and a fun spot for portraits. South Pond on Google Maps"
Winnemac Park
Winnemac Park
4.7 (1140 ratings)
School park with a prairie garden, playground, trails, softball fields, soccer field, track & gym.
5100 N Leavitt St, Chicago, IL 60625, USA
Park
Fourth Presbyterian Church
Fourth Presbyterian Church
4.6 (358 ratings)4.5 (181 ratings)
1912 landmark church with neo-Gothic styling & stained glass by Charles Connick.
126 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Presbyterian churchSights & LandmarksSacred & Religious Sites
Mentioned by usatales.com
10 Best Churches in Chicago
"On a Sunday evening of 1871, the Great Chicago Fire swept the downtown. It destroyed the original church building of Wabash and Grand, and later, the renovated church was moved- to the new Michigan Avenue. Located in this Magnificant Mile, the Fourth Presbyterian Church is a mundane settlement of spire."

Cultural Center in Boystown

Tiffany Dome
Tiffany Dome
4.6 (24 ratings)
78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Cultural centerCentresHobbies
Mentioned by Atlas Obscura
14 Surprisingly Romantic Places in Chicago
"Forget a Tiffany necklace, this massive stained-glass masterpiece at the Chicago Cultural Center is thought to be the largest Tiffany dome in existence."
South Shore Cultural Center
South Shore Cultural Center
4.5 (1408 ratings)
Landmark building (with solarium, theater, culinary institute & restaurant) plus a 65-acre park.
7059 S South Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60649, USA
Cultural center
Mentioned by planetware.com
9 Best Parks in Chicago | PlanetWare
"Located on the lakefront just south of Jackson Park, this park has 65 acres of green space and is home to the South Shore Cultural Center, originally built in 1095 as a country club. Today, the center is a historic landmark maintained by the Chicago Park District and offers a large variety of cultural programs, including classes for all ages in culinary arts, music, dance, and visual arts, as well as special events throughout the year. The parkland surrounding the center includes a golf course, acres of green grass dotted with shade trees, a beach, and the South Shore Nature Sanctuary."
Mentioned by Curbed Chicago
27 iconic Chicago buildings that everyone should know
"Originally built as the South Shore Country Club, this South Side icon was penned by architects Marshall and Fox in 1905. Purchased by the Chicago Park District in 1975 and renamed as the South Shore Cultural Center, the landmarked Mediterranean Revival building features painstakingly restored historic details, a grandiose ballroom, and golf course. It remains a popular venue for weddings and other large events."
Mentioned by TripSavvy
Top Free Things To Do In Chicago
"Located only a few minutes south from Hyde Park's Museum of Science & Industry, the South Shore Cultural Center has been an iconic structure in the neighborhood since 1905. Throughout the summer it focuses on rich programming that is free to all. Entertainment ranges from West African dance performances to live jazz or classical music."
Poetry Foundation
Poetry Foundation
4.2 (18 ratings)
61 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654
Cultural centerLibraryNon-profit organization
Mentioned by ArchDaily
23 Buildings You Shouldn’t Miss in Chicago
"Description: The new home for the Poetry Foundation was designed by John Ronan Architects and built in 2011, being 26,000 sq ft its project area. Yet so small it is one of the most effective buildings in terms of concept. Like a poem that invites multiple readings, the space encourages repeated visits, revealing itself slowly over time."
Mentioned by Museum Hack
Museums in Chicago: The Complete List (2020
"Chicago's Poetry Foundation is all about the study of poetry. It was the first place in the city of Chicago to focus only on poetry as an art form, which was the dream of Poetry magazine's Harriet Monroe. The foundation's goal is to heighten public and cultural interest in poetry."

Cheap Places to Eat in Boystown

Iron Horse Ale House
Iron Horse Ale House
4.3 (439 ratings)
Tavern with industrial & vintage design touches serving craft beer, pub eats & brick-oven pizzas.
6158 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago, IL 60631, USA
Pizza restaurantBarCocktail barRestaurantWine bar
Mentioned by 10Best
Chicago's Family-friendly Restaurant Scene Appeals to Kids and Adults
"The northwest may not be known as a trendy neighborhood according to some Chicagoan's standards but those who live in Norwood Park don't mind. They benefit from being able to get in some of the best places to dine and imbibe without the hassle of long wait times and parking woes. Iron Horse Ale House is the latest to open on the busy Northwest Highway strip in a two-story brick building what was once a post office."
Naf Naf Grill
Naf Naf Grill
4.5 (252 ratings)
Modern Middle Eastern counter-serve chain dishing up shawarma & falafel on pitas, rice or salads.
14 S Clinton St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
Middle Eastern restaurantFalafel restaurantFast food restaurantMediterranean restaurantRestaurant
Mentioned by Eater Chicago
20 Excellent Lunch Options in Downtown Chicago
"Choose a pita or bowl; add meats, salads, and garnishes; and finish it off with sauces. What separates it from the competition is the quality — the fluffy bread is baked on site, juicy chicken shawarma comes straight off the spit, and the falafel bear a perfectly crisp exterior."
Chicago Grilled Cheese & Mac Factory
Chicago Grilled Cheese & Mac Factory
4.3 (37 ratings)
1465 W Leland Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, USA
Delivery serviceTakeout Restaurant

Best Arts and Culture Places in Boystown

Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago
Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago
4.5 (4061 ratings)4 (792 ratings)
Downtown museum showcasing post-World War II paintings, sculptures, photos, videos & performances.
220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Modern art museumMuseumsArt museum
Mentioned by Choose Chicago
11 Must-See Museums Near Downtown Chicago
"Get a little bold and adventurous at the Museum of Contemporary Art, located just one block east of historic Water Tower Placeon The Magnificent Mile. Browse the museum’s permanent collection, which includes more than 2,500 works, displayed in rotation, spanning media and movements from the 1920s to the present. Over the summer, Tuesdays on the Terrace brings you free, live jazz in the museum gardens, while morning visitors are greeted with weekly farmer’s markets at the museum’s monumental front steps."
Mentioned by The Crazy Tourist
50 Best Things to Do in Chicago (IL
"Dedicated to art from 1945 to the present, the Museum of Contemporary art is endowed with a serious collection, spanning surrealism, conceptual art, pop art and minimalism. You’ll get to see works by Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Francis Bacon, René Magritte, Alexander Calder, Ann Hamilton and Richard Serra. When we wrote this article in 2018 there was a haunting exhibition by the Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Otobong Nkanga, combining installations, photography and textiles."
Mentioned by ArchDaily
23 Buildings You Shouldn’t Miss in Chicago
"Description: The MCA was the first project in the United States by Josef Paul Kleihues, the German architect behind Berlin’s reconstruction after the fall of Berlin Wall. The Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago opened its doors in 1996 with an exposition of Frida Kahlo, the first in the US!. Don’t miss a remarkable aspect of the museum: the stairwell."
Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Rhona Hoffman Gallery
4.3 (3 ratings)
Longtime gallery that showcases emerging national & international artists in all media.
1711 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
Art Gallery
Mentioned by Widewalls
9 Must-Visit Chicago Art Galleries
"Founded originally as Young Hoffman Gallery in 1976, Rhona Hoffman Gallery in the West Town of Chicago has launched many of emerging artists’ careers, being one of the first galleries to offer exhibitions to women artists including Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holzer, and Sylvia Plimack Mangold. They specialize in international contemporary art in all medias, and art that is conceptually, formally, or socio-politically based. Among the artists the gallery has exhibited and/or continues to exhibit are Vito Acconci, Leon Golub, Robert Heinecken, Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Sol LeWitt, Robert Ryman, Lorna Simpson, Nancy Spero, Richard Tuttle, Carrie Mae Weems, and Kehinde Wiley."
Mentioned by Culture Trip
Must-Visit Galleries in Chicago, Illinois, for Art Lovers
"Founded as the Young Hoffman Gallery in the 1970s, Rhona Hoffman took full ownership of the space in the ’80s, showcasing a mix of emerging and established artists. Though the gallery continues to enrich Chicago’s arts community, its most notable contribution to the creative world is its advocacy of female artists. This West Town institution was one of the first to prioritize the exposure of new female artists, helping to launch the careers of Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger."
Mentioned by The World and Then Some
12 incredible art galleries in Chicago
"The Rhona Hoffman Gallery was founded in 1976 (although under a different name back then) and it’s a melting pot for artists and works of art that reflect the social and political climate of the years they were created. Generally these pieces tend to be international contemporary art, and the media is completely mixed. You’ll find artists such as Jenny Holzer, Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Barbara Kruger and Cindy Sherman."
Tiffany Dome
Tiffany Dome
4.6 (24 ratings)
78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Cultural centerCentresHobbies
Mentioned by Atlas Obscura
14 Surprisingly Romantic Places in Chicago
"Forget a Tiffany necklace, this massive stained-glass masterpiece at the Chicago Cultural Center is thought to be the largest Tiffany dome in existence."

Vacation Rentals, Airbnb, Hotels & Cabins near Boystown

4.0 (428 reviews)
The Drake Hotel
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$164 /night
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4.1 (1397 reviews)
Crowne Plaza - Chicago West Loop
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$175.12 /night
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3.9 (1472 reviews)
Best Western River North Hotel
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$123 /night
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