The 8,000-plus acres that comprise Chicago parks are welcome oases of calm in the midst of the concrete jungle. The Chicago Park District manages 600 parks, beaches and other facilities, and each has its own character. Grant Park is imbued with Chicago history, from the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots to Barack Obama's 2008 election-night rally. Millennium Park is fiercely contemporary, with the interactive sculpture Crown Fountain and the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion, which plays host to classical performances as well as rock and pop concerts.

Sample more than 100 wines from all over the world while listening to classical music at the second annual Lincoln Park Wine Fest. Yes, it doesn't get much more sophisticated than this. 

Our advice? Cozy up to the most nicely dressed person in attendance and ask them to take you for a post-fest ride on their yacht.

It doesn't matter if you're a tourist visiting the city for the weekend or a local looking for something to do on your day off, Chicago museums are can't-miss destinations. There's an abundance of world-class institutions throughout the city, including collections devoted to contemporary art, natural history and science that are among Chicago's best attractions. Within an afternoon, you can stroll through the Art Institute's collection of medieval armor, catch a screening in Adler Planetarium's domed theater and make your way through a confusing mirror maze at the Museum of Science and Industry (don't forget to check for an upcoming free museum day).