| understated mixed and female-only dorms sleep 4 people and come with bunk beds, en suite bathrooms, free wi-fi and lockers. other amenities include an urban bar, a cafe and a communal kitchen. there's also a 2-bedroom duplex. housed in a 1927 building in the vibrant river north neighborhood, this funky hostel is 1 mile from both willis tower and millennium park. continental breakfast is complimentary. most private rooms add flat-screen tvs, ipod docks and desks, and some feature city views. check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. parking is available for a fee
O'Hare International Airport 25 min
Shedd Aquarium (12 min)
State-of-the-art indoor aquarium, famous for its variety of habitats & views of Lake Michigan. Crown Fountain (9 min)
Public sculpture with a pair of 50-ft. LED towers & a reflecting pool, by Jaume Plensa, a Catalan. Cloud Gate (9 min)
Huge outdoor sculpture shaped like a bean & allowing for views from its many mirrored sides. Field Museum (11 min)
State-of-the-art museum of science & invention, with the world's largest Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Art Institute of Chicago (5 min)
Renowned art museum holding nearly 300,000 works from all over the world, spanning many centuries. Buckingham Fountain (6 min)
Among the world’s largest, Grant Park’s 3-level rococo fountain (1927) offers light & water shows. Lincoln Park Zoo (9 min)
Small, free zoo with lions, primates, reptiles, a children's area & an interactive farm exhibit. Grant Park (5 min)
319-acre centerpiece of Downtown housing some of the city's busiest attractions. 875 North Michigan Avenue (8 min)
Skyscraper observation deck offering panoramic city views from 1,000 feet up, plus food & drink. Skydeck Chicago (8 min)
103rd floor of the former Sears Tower with clear observation boxes & views extending to four states. Chicago Cultural Center (6 min)
Free art & shows in an 1897 Beaux-Arts building with vaulted lobby, mosaics & 2 stained-glass domes. Chicago Riverwalk (5 min)
Riverside pedestrian path featuring city views & dining, plus bridges, fishing piers & boat docks. 360 CHICAGO (9 min)
Observatory on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building with a tilting glass lookout 1000 ft. up. Millennium Park (8 min)
24.5-acre green space with a video display, the reflective Bean sculpture & an outdoor theater. Navy Pier (7 min)
Former Navy training center draws crowds with carnival rides, restaurants, shops & fireworks. | 
