Day one covers the icons (Millennium Park, the Art Institute, the river cruise, the Skydeck). Day two belongs to the Museum Campus and the lake.
Morning
Be at the Field Museum at opening: SUE the T. rex, Máximo the titanosaur and the Ancient Egypt tomb before the crowds. Our review of the museum is in the ultimate guide.
Afternoon
Walk the lakefront to the Shedd Aquarium (belugas and the Caribbean reef) and the Adler Planetarium, then photograph the skyline from Adler’s point — the best view in the city.
Evening
Deep-dish round two in River North, then live blues: Chicago invented the electric kind, and Kingston Mines in Lincoln Park plays until late.
