City Page Type: Destination

Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark servicing the MLB, and for all but two years of its operation it’s been home to the Chicago Cubs. In 1914, Charles Weegham built the park, named it in his own honor, and hosted games for the Federal League. When that league folded a year later, Weegham bought the Cubs and renamed the park Cubs Park. Four years later, it was renamed after the gum merchant William Wrigley who bought into the franchise. Despite its modern amenities, Wrigley Field still has that classic ballpark feel. Its ivy covered walls, iconic red marquee, and hand-operated scoreboard still stand, making it the perfect setting for the 2016 World Series when the Cubs won the series for the first time in a century.

When the Medical Center Campus (a famous medical school operating since the 19th century) and the Chicago Circle Campus (once located at the Navy Pier where it educated recently returned veterans) combined into one institution in 1982, the University of Illinois at Chicago was formed. Today, the University instructs 31 000 students, offering 87 bachelor’s programs. The athletics department of the University is represented by the Flames, a team name chosen to remember the Great Fire of 1871. The men’s and women’s basketball teams are very popular, but the real star of the show is the mascot Sparky D. Dragon. Whether you’re visiting campus to check out the medical center or to watch an NCAA game, charter a Chicago bus rental for you next group trip to UIC.

The University of Chicago’s motto is “Let knowledge grow from more to more, and so be human life enriched.” Since its founding in 1890, the university has done more than its fair share of enriching human life. Besides educating hundreds of thousands of eager minds, the University of Chicago is turning out some pretty high profile alumni including Satya Nadella, Carl Sagan, and Susan Sontag. It also supported the first American Nobel Laureate, Albert A Michelson, who measured the speed of light and took home the Nobel Prize in 1907. The campus is almost as impressive as its alumni. Modeled after Oxford, the buildings are a mix of English Gothic style and sleek new developments. It’s also home to a few famous labs that have released groundbreaking research and changed the world.

In 1988, two of the biggest names in Chicago sports combined forces up to create the largest arena in America. William Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Jerry Reinsdorf, majority owner of the Chicago Bulls, put down a great deal of money to make stadium history. Since its 1994 opening, United Center has hosted more than 40 million guests at over 200 yearly events. Throughout its halls you’ll find monuments to the giants of basketball and hockey. There are statues of Johnny “Red” Kerr, a famous sports broadcaster, Scottie Pippen of the Bulls, and Stan Mikita of the Blackhawks. And of course, there’s the statue of Michael Jordan in front of Gate 4. The statue’s unveiling coincided with the retirement of Jordan’s number 23—a historic moment for a historic stadium.

Shortly after its opening in 1924, the Chicago Gold Star Mothers successfully campaigned to rename Grant Municipal Stadium in honor of the WWI fallen soldiers. That’s where the name Soldier Field came from. The entire building honors veterans, but there are several sculptural features, the Veteran’s Memorial Water Wall and the Doughboy Foot Soldier Statue, that are specially dedicated to the American military. Beyond its stately memorials and striking architecture is a venue that’s hosted everything from rock concerts to circus performances. The historic Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney fight of 1927, the Army-Navy football game of 1926, and the first Special Olympics Games in 1968 took place behind Soldier Field’s famous Colonnade. The stadium has hosted historic events, and now it can be the venue for your private affair. Use a Chicago charter bus to organize special event transportation.

The story of Shedd Aquarium begins with a humble stock boy, John G. Shedd. He worked diligently everyday until he became the president of a successful department store company. John G. Shedd felt a close connection to Chicago, the city that made him. He wanted to give a gift that all of its residents could enjoy, and so began the planning of Shedd Aquarium. Unfortunately, John G. Shedd never saw his aquarium realized. He died at 76, one year before Shedd Aquarium opened in 1930. Today, over 32 000 animals live at Shedd Aquarium. Visitors can explore exhibits in this gorgeous neoclassical building, designed by the same architects who did the Field Museum and Wrigley Building. Whether you’re a history-buff, an architecture-enthusiast, or marine biology-lover, the Shedd Aquarium is the perfect destination for your group outing.

Navy Pier has been the home of many of Chicago’s most important institutions, but today it hosts a variety of cultural events that attract millions of visitors every year. At times, it’s family-friendly, and other times, it’s a total party. Enjoy the Winter Wonderfest, a fireworks show, an open-air movie, or the magnificent Centennial Wheel. Before the pier was the festive destination it is today, it was a U.S. Navy training grounds and mess hall. Then it became part of the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. After the Navy and the University vacated, the pier fell into disuse from 1966 until about 1995, when it was given new life as an events venue. Over the last 20 years, Navy Pier has become a vibrant home to arts and culture.

Best known as “the Bean,” Cloud Gate is instantly recognizable to everyone from lifelong Chicago residents to first-time tourists. It’s 110 tons of steel plates welded together into a massive sloping bean-shape. It’s smooth, shiny, and reflective. The entire surface is shined twice a day to keep it fingerprint-free and ready for selfies. When Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor unveiled his piece, he had no idea it would become one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. 80% of Cloud Gate reflects the sky, and it is one of the best ways to capture the Chicago skyline on film (or with your smartphone). You can’t leave Chicago without this bucket-list selfie, so plan a stop on your tour. Our booking specialists can help you work Cloud Gate into your itinerary.