I first visited the Windy City of Chicago in November 2011. Freezing cold and not particularly crowded as evidenced by the curiously empty Chicago Bean below , it didn’t leave much of an impression and was high on my list of places to return to. Fast forward several years, and I found myself back in the Windy City, this time in late July for a corporate event photography job. Despite enduring Chicago’s crazy summer weather of extreme heat and humidity, sudden torrential downpours, and awesome lightning storms, I gained a full appreciation for the third largest city of the United States and eagerly hope to return again.

Chicago 2016 Stats

6

Days

99 degrees

Hottest day

50.73

Total miles walked

15.01

Most miles walked on a single day

44.4

Hours Worked

freelance photographer life

Toughest job in the world: meet and greet after assisting on a photo shoot with Michael J. Fox.

Chicago Tourist Destinations

I had the incredibly tough job of being a tourist in the city as part of my photography assignment and was lucky to visit and photograph most of the city’s famous tourist attractions throughout the week. Due to client disclosure, those photos unfortunately can’t be published yet, but I can highly recommend all of the below destinations as worthy of a visit. Included below are hobby photos I snapped while exploring the city during my time off.

  • Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)
  • Navy Pier
  • Adler Planetarium
  • Michigan Avenue Shopping District
  • Oak Street Beach
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Millennium Park + Maggie Daley Park & Playground
  • Lincoln Park Zoo
  • Chicago Cultural Center
  • Museum of Science and Industry
  • Chicago History Museum
  • Giordano’s Pizza
  • Rainbow Beach Park
  • Wendella’s Signature Lake and River Tour
Chicago Travel Photography

City skyline from Adler Planetarium

Chicago Travel Photography

Chicago Bean at Millennium Park. Much busier in the summer than the winter.

Chicago Travel Photography

A lifeguard stand at Lake Michigan, Rainbow Beach Park

Chicago Travel Photography

Chicago city skyline from Rainbow Beach Park

Chicago Travel Photography

City skyline

Chicago Travel Photography

City skyline from Adler Planetarium

Chicago Travel Photography

Shedd Aquarium

Chicago Travel Photography

Trump International Chicago

Chicago Travel Photography

The Wrigley Building

Chicago Travel Photography

Ferris wheel at Navy Pier

Chicago Travel Photography

WGN Radio building on Michigan Ave

Chicago Travel Photography

Tiffany Dome ceiling of Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago Travel Photography

Navy Pier at night

Chicago Travel Photography

Chicago city skyline

Chicago Travel Photography

Taking cover from a torrential downpour.

Chicago Travel Photography

Chicago city skyline from Adler Planetarium

Chicago Travel Photography

Descending above ground after taking cover from a torrential downpour.