Windy
One of the more breathtaking scenes on the lake is watching this tall ship approach the docks at Navy Pier. The 148-foot-long, four-masted schooner (and its new sister ship, the Windy II) sets sail for 90-minute cruises two to five times a day, both day and evening. Of course, the boats are at the whims of the wind, so every cruise charts a different course. Passengers are welcome to help raise and trim the sails and occasionally take turns at the ship's helm (with the captain standing close by). The boats are not accessible for people with disabilities.

Chicago Architecture Center
Chicago's architecture is one of the city's main claims to fame, and a quick swing through this center will help you understand why. Run by the well-regarded Chicago Architecture Foundation, it's conveniently located across the street from the Art Institute. Still trying to figure out the difference between Prairie School and postmodern? Stop in here for a quick lesson. Exhibits include a scale model of downtown Chicago, profiles of the people and buildings that shaped the city's look, and a searchable database with pictures and information on many of Chicago's best-known skyscrapers. "Architecture ambassadors" are on hand to provide information on tours run by the foundation. Two galleries feature changing exhibits about ongoing Chicago design projects -- so you can see firsthand how local architecture continues to evolve. There's also an excellent gift shop filled with architecture-focused books, decorative accessories, and gifts. Allow a half-hour, more if you want to browse in the store.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
For the first 20 years of Wright's career, this remarkable complex served first and foremost as the sanctuary from which Wright was to design and execute more than 130 of an extraordinary output of 430 completed buildings. The home began as a simple shingled cottage that Wright built for his bride in 1889 at the age of 22, but it became a work in progress, as Wright remodeled it constantly until 1911 (he left there in 1909). During this highly fertile period, the house was Wright's showcase and laboratory, but it also embraces many idiosyncratic features molded to his own needs rather than those of a client. With many add-ons -- including a barrel-vaulted children's playroom and a studio with an octagonal balcony suspended by chains -- the place has a certain whimsy that others might have found less livable. This, however, was not an architect's masterpiece, but the master's home, and every room in it can be savored for the view it reflects of the workings of a remarkable mind. The Home and Studio Foundation has restored the residence and studio to its 1909 vintage. Allow 1 hour for the tour, more time if you want to browse in the bookshop.

The Fairmont Chicago
Located on the corner of North Columbus and Lower lake Street, The Fairmont Chicago is a modern high-rise luxury hotel located a half-block from Millennium Park and blocks from shopping along the Magnificent Mile. The city's finest downtown shops and boutiques, including Macys on State Street, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom are within walking distance, as are the financial/ business district and many of Chicago's finest theaters and ...

Four Points by Sheraton Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
Nearby Airports: * Midway Airport - 13 Miles * Chicago O'Hare International Airport - 17 Miles Nearby Cities: * Chicago - 5 Miles * Evanston - 12 Miles * Skokie - 14 Miles * Glenview - 18 Miles * Oakbrook Terrace - 18 Miles * Downers Grove - 25 Miles * Northbrook - 25 Miles * Schaumburg - 30 Miles * Naperville - 33 Miles * Gurnee - 39 ...

Tremont Hotel
Nearby Airports: * Chicago Midway Airport - 15 Miles * Chicago-O'Hare International Airport - 18 ...