The Art Institute is home to some iconic and beautiful pieces and was a beloved weekend activity for Hannah in High School. It's also across the street from the hotel and offers student and senior discounts.
Chicago's iconic museum campus, parts of which were built initially for the Columbian Exposition in 1893, is a short car ride or a long walk from the hotel. It includes the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium (a favorite of the bride's father). The bride and groom recommend taking a rideshare to the specific museum of your choice and then walking around the campus to look at the lake and the skyline, if it's not too cold.
Stop by for a cake shake and an iconic Chicago hot dog
If you want to learn more about Chicago architecture and you're short on time and cash, Hannah recommends a walk to the financial district to check out the lobby of the Rookery Building. Initially designed by White City architecture titans Burnham and Root in 1885, it was redone and restored by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905. The Rookery Building and many of the surrounding buildings in the financial district are well known for their gilded age or art deco design (Hannah recommends the Bank of America building on LaSalle for art deco) and are free to enter and view.
A good place for real Chicago deep dish pizza.