Conveniently located along the shores of Lake Michigan and just minutes from downtown Chicago, the McCormick Place Convention Center perfectly positions 85^th Scientific Sessions attendees to partake of the food and fun the city has to offer.

“Chicago is a great city with great food and great attractions,” said Marlon Pragnell, PhD, Vice President of Research and Science of the American Diabetes Association® (ADA). “It’s also a very well-connected city. You can easily get there from all over the United States and the world. And it’s one of those cities that people love to come to attend meetings.”

Choose Chicago offers a plethora of resources and guidance for getting around the Windy City and selecting what to see and do while in town. Below are some visitor favorites.

Chicago Attractions

The Museum Campus on the shores of Lake Michigan is home to some of Chicago’s most popular cultural, entertainment, sporting, and nature-centered venues. On the south end is the McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary, which is part of the McCormick Place Convention Center, the largest convention center in North America.

Heading north along DuSable Lake Shore Drive and then onto Northlerly Island, visitors will find Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears football team and Chicago Fire soccer team play; the Field Museum of Natural History; the Shedd Aquarium; the Adler Planetarium; among other attractions.

Additional Chicago landmarks and famous sites:

• Chicago Riverwalk: Featuring a 1.25-mile pedestrian path following the Chicago River to The Loop and passing through The Confluence, The Arcade, The Civic, and the Esplanade districts
• Navy Pier: Featuring a Ferris wheel and other rides, shopping, dining, and several points of interest
• Millennium Park: Featuring Cloud Gate (The Bean) sculpture and Lurie Garden
• Museum of Surgical Science: Featuring more than 7,000 medical artifacts representing centuries of medical history
• Art Institute Chicago: Featuring the works of international art icons including Vincent van Gogh and Georges Seurat, as well lesser-known artists from throughout the world
• Skydeck Chicago: Featuring stunning views of the city and up to 50 miles beyond on a clear day
• Wrigley Field: Home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team
• Rate Field: Home of the Chicago White Sox baseball team

Dining

Connected to McCormick Place via skybridge, the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Marriott Marquis Chicago, and Hiltons at McCormick Place each have multiple options for dining, from grab-and-go convenience, to a coffee shop, to a rooftop lounge with stunning views.

Nearby the convention center, a wide selection of restaurants and breweries caters to a variety of tastes, including Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza.

• Il Culaccino: Italian cuisine
• Moody Tongue Brewing Company: Specialty beers and an a la carte dinner menu
• Pizano’s: Pizza and pasta tavern
• Williams Inn: Pizza and sports bar
• Cafe Bionda: Italian, dinner only
• Bureau Bar and Restaurant: Soul food, modern bar snacks, and more
• Spoke & Bird: Cafe and seasonal patio
• Chicago Oyster House: Surf and turf
• La Cantina: Mexican cuisine
• Reggie’s Music Joint: Restaurant and rooftop bar
• Chicago Firehouse Restaurant: Steakhouse