With over 200 sites available to visit through Open House Chicago, where do you begin? We have a few ideas; ULI Chicago provides a list of must-sees in this week’s segment of the (Re)discovering Chicagoland Neighborhoods Series, our continuing focus on what makes this region unique.  Take advantage of the 70 degree weekend and share your excursions with #rediscoverchicagoland.

Downtown
Embrace your inner tourist and head downtown to get a closer look at two ULI Global Awards for Excellence Winners. Begin with a walk through Millennium Park, which received its award in 2005, before heading across the street to 300 E. Randolph (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois), a 2015 winner acknowledged for innovative vertical expansion that shapes the iconic Chicago skyline.

South
A short commute south of downtown, you’ll find sites new and old worth exploring. We recently (re)discovered Rockefeller Memorial Chapel while in Hyde Park, and recommend doing the same. Afterwards, visit the surrounding southern Chicagoland neighborhoods, which are home to multiple ULI Chicago Vision Award Winners including Stony Island Arts Bank (2016), Testa Produce (2012), and one of the farms from Growing Home Inc. (2013).

West
Just west of downtown you’ll find another ULI Chicago Vision Award Winner from 2015 known for being Chicago’s first Transit Oriented Development (TOD): 1611 W. Division. After soaking in sweeping views from their rooftop, head further west for a nature break at a spot we love to (re)discover – Garfield Park Conservatory. Finish your day with a meal and stroll through Oak Park, a neighborhood on-the-rise stemming from recent development, Vantage.

Feeling inspired to visit our picks? Share what you see on twitter with #rediscoverchicagoland.

FUN FACT: Open House Chicago, a free event put on by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, runs this weekend, October 15-16, 2016. Don’t miss the opportunity for exclusive access to our top-pick sites and more.