It's free! You don't need to go in the Planetarium itself, just hang out on the shores facing northwest towards the skyline. There's no better view of the Chicago skyline. Locals love coming here for hanging out at night or for a nice way to wrap up a romantic date.
View Gallery
View Gallery
You won't need to pay a cent. As an architectural mecca for American architects, Chicago's skyline is one of the greatest this side of the world. From this angle, you really see the widest angle of the skyline. On a calm evening, the skyline reflects magnificently off Lake Michigan. You'll see a handful of tourists, but it's pretty sparse.
From here, you have access to several world class museums nearby. Also, go here for sunrise. Super romantic.