Explore things to do in downtown Chicago right outside our hotel

Situated in the heart of downtown Chicago, the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel places you within easy reach of almost every major attraction in the Windy City. Embark on a shopping spree along the Magnificent Mile, take a boat tour on the Chicago River, ride the iconic Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, or simply look at the amazing cityscape from the Willis Tower Skydeck. If you want more active things to do after a long day of on-site meetings, you can stroll along the Chicago Lakefront Trail or take in the blooms at Lurie Garden in Millennium Park. Here to cheer on the Cubs at Wrigley Field? Connect to free Wi-Fi from your room or suite so you can learn all the words to the “Go Cubs, Go!” fight song before you head out. And no visit to the area is complete without a selfie in front of “The Bean.”

Select what to see in a map

  • Culture
  • Family
  • Landmark
  • Nature
  • Shopping

Shedd Aquarium

1.33 mi / 2.15 km from the hotel
Explore the waters of the world and see more than 30,000 amazing animals, including beluga whales, sea turtles, penguins, sharks, dolphins, and seahorses.

The Field Museum

1.4 mi / 2.26 km from the hotel
With an international reputation for excellence, this natural history museum is a Chicago treasure, featuring exhibits that range from dinosaur skeletons to ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Art Institute of Chicago

0.49 mi / 0.79 km from the hotel
Join the more than 1.5 million visitors who annually stream into these halls to see ancient sculptures, medieval weaponry, and rooftop gardens filled with modern art. You can also admire classic works by Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, and Renoir.

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

6.89 mi / 11.09 km from the hotel
Discover your inner scientist when you visit this award-winning museum, where you can see the world’s largest pinball machine, get lost in a mirror maze, or take a VR trip to space. Be sure to catch one of the live science demos while you’re there.

Willis Tower Skydeck

0.94 mi / 1.52 km from the hotel
For the ultimate (and most terrifying) view of the Chicago skyline, step out onto the glass ledge of the Skydeck at the top of the third-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. From there, you can see four states, Lake Michigan, and the Chicago River.

Lincoln Park Zoo

2.54 mi / 4.08 km from the hotel
From aardvarks to zebras, Lincoln Park Zoo has something wild in store for every visitor. Start your journey in Africa, where you’ll see black rhinos and pygmy hippos, and then head to the Macaque Forest to watch the antics of the snow monkeys.

Chicago Lakefront Trail

0.7 mi / 1.12 km from the hotel
Walk, run, bike, or rollerblade along this beautiful 18-mile stretch around the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and take in some of Chicago’s best neighborhoods.

Grant Park

0.26 mi / 0.42 km from the hotel
Known as “Chicago’s Front Yard,” Grant Park is home to the famed Art Institute of Chicago, The Field Museum, Millennium Park, and Buckingham Fountain. The park also hosts Lollapalooza, one of the largest music festivals in the nation, each summer.

Millennium Park

0.32 mi / 0.51 km from the hotel
Indulge your senses in a park full of exceptional works of art, including Frank Gehry’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Anish Kapoor’s sublime Cloud Gate sculpture that’s also known as “The Bean.”

North Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile)

4.82 mi / 7.76 km from the hotel
Shop till you drop on this ultimate shopping avenue that’s home to the cosmopolitan Magnificent Mile with its chic boutiques and mega-malls.

Wrigley Field

4.6 mi / 7.41 km from the hotel
Famous for its ivy-covered outfield walls, Wrigley Field accommodates more than 41,000 Cubs fans for home games during baseball season. The park, which was built in 1914, is also known for its unusual wind patterns that help and hinder home runs.

Navy Pier

0.75 mi / 1.21 km from the hotel
A Chicago-area favorite, the 3,300-foot-long Navy Pier is home to the Chicago Children’s Museum, an IMAX theater, a carousel, and a nearly 200-foot Ferris wheel. Take a sightseeing cruise on the lake while you’re there.