When you talk about great American cities, Chicago always comes up. The architecture, culture, and of course the beautiful scenery of Lake Michigan draws in millions of tourists every year.

Buckingham Fountain

See what you can do with 48 Hours in Chicago in our new video series:

“Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the United States. Let’s explore the Windy City and see what you can do with two days there. Start your walking tour near Soldier Field, home to the NFL’s Chicago Bears. Nearby you’ll find the Field Museum. This is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. You can easily spend a few hours taking it all in. The Shedd Aquarium is also located over here. The aquarium is home to over 1,500 different species, including penguins and dolphins. Finally there’s the Adler Planetarium, where you get a great view of the city.

For brunch, head to Yolk. Try one of their eggs Benedict – they’re all amazing. Continue on your walking tour across the street in Grant Park. The Buckingham Fountain is a popular place. You’ll see lots of people walking around or even taking a Segway tour. This is a great place to walk or ride a bike, right alongside Lake Michigan.

Cross the Chicago River, and you’ll see Navy Pier nearby. This is a great place to hang out on a nice day. There’s a children’s museum, a ferris wheel, and much more to see and do here.

Keep going north and you’ll end up in Lincoln Park. Stroll around and enjoy this nice big green space in the middle of a huge city. You can even go into the zoo for free. See zebras, gorillas, snakes, kangaroos, tigers and more. That’s enough exploring for a day.

Reward yourself with dinner at Bavette’s. This trendy steakhouse is one of the best restaurants in the city. Let’s see a sampling of the menu… A whitefish caesar salad… a chilled seafood platter… a ribeye steak… a lamb shank… thick cut bacon… and a few side dishes for good measure. Ask if there are any off-menu specialties that evening. Now that’s a dinner! If you can, save some room for dessert and coffee.

Once you’ve digested all that, head to Three Dots and a Dash. Visit a tropical island in the big city at this awesome tiki bar. Choose from one of their many island cocktails, and watch the bartender at work – it’s really a work of art. Not a bad way to end your first day in Chicago.”