Things to do in Hastings

Historic Charlton Park

Tyden Park

Barry Expo Center

Fish Hatchery Park

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Great Lakes Region

The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1879 and moved to its current location in 1893. Its gray-white stone building exemplifies classical Beaux-Arts style and stands as one of the United States' most historic and large-scale art museums. The collection spans millennia and covers all continents, encompassing painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, photography, decorative arts, African art and pre-Columbian American art, with a total of hundreds of thousands of works. It is often called a "museum of all nations." The French impressionist and post-impressionist collection is the highlight here. Beyond masterpieces by Monet and Renoir, Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte," Van Gogh's "The Bedroom," Picasso's "The Old Guitarist," and Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks" are all on display. Grant Wood's iconic "American Gothic" is widely regarded as one of the symbols of American culture. The pair of bronze lions flanking the main entrance have stood guard for over a century, serving as both a city emblem of Chicago and a popular photo spot for travelers before entering. The museum also features a modern wing dedicated to contemporary art, architecture, and design collections, with densely packed exhibits worth seeing—plan to spend at least half a day to fully appreciate them.

Yankee Springs Recreation Area

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

Thornapple Plaza

Tangle Town

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Chicago

875 North Michigan Avenue

The architecture of 875 North Michigan Avenue is informed by its expressive structural system and gently sloping façades. This innovative form was designed to efficiently accommodate the variety of uses contained in the building. The gentle inward slope creates optimally-sized floor plans for both the lower parking and office levels and the higher residential floors. Additionally, the tapered form significantly reduces wind loads, allowing for a reduction in the size of structural members. For Chicago's busy streetscape, the building's shape increases the visual verticality of the building; adding perceived height to an already impressively tall tower. The architectural form of the 875 North Michigan Avenue represents a radical departure from established aesthetics of the time. Initially, critics labeled the building as too industrial, but over time it has come to symbolize the gutsy tradition of structural expression in Chicago. It is often characterized as super-rational, logical, and a representation of the machine age of architecture. It exhibits its true structure much in the tradition of bridge construction. These qualities are at the heart of why the building has endured in the minds of so many.