Chicago has all the offerings you'd expect from a major city: world-class museums, vibrant shopping districts, and broad nightlife venues, just to name a few. If you're there to learn, plan to spend a fair amount of time in Grant Park: This area is home to such notable institutions as the Art Institute of Chicago and The Field Museum. For a more Windy City-centric education, start your vacation with an architecture river cruise that can provide background on Chicago's famous skyscrapers like the Willis Tower and Tribune Tower before exploring the city's innovative roots at the Museum of Science and Industry. Just save time for some of the city's quintessential experiences like catching a game at Wrigley Field and window-shopping along The Magnificent Mile.