If you plan on being in the Chicago area this summer, or if you're a resident of the Windy City and have never taken advantage of the many museums surrounding you, it's time to do some prowling! Discover space, art, famous writers and more as you delve into the museum scene. You could spend a whole season haunting the wonderful buildings, many a work of art in their own right, and uncover parts of our world and history you've never imagined before.

Ever dream of combing the galaxy, reaching uncharted corners of our universe and discovering new stars or new life forms? Then The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum is for you. The building, a beautiful twelve-sided spectacular, contains the first planetarium in the western hemisphere. It is one of two sky-theaters, offering visitors a unique look into the night sky, with stunning, close up views of galaxies, planets and their moons. The StarRider Theater entices guests with virtual reality shows, allowing the space-pirate in all of us the chance to participate in a 3-D simulated flight across action the universe (with controls located in the arm rest of each visitor's chair). The museum also offers exhibit rooms and a caf' and, on Far Out Fridays (the first Friday of each monty), lectures, games and displays. This museum is a must see.

Art museums abound in the Chicago area. There is no shortage of cholices for the art lover.

The Art Institute of Chicago provides visitors with masterful and diverse world-class collections. From the magnificent Impressionist exhibit, featuring the world's largest collection of Monet paintings, to American Gothic and Contemporary sections, the museum shines. View such painters as Picasso, Warhol, Dali and Matisse.

Opened in 1996, The Museum of Contemporary Art is the nation's largest collection of this genre. Here, visitors find more than 7000 items, ranging from photography to sculpture to performance art (music and dance). Make sure to check out the sculpture gardens and, if you visit during the summer, the wide range of special summer programs and activities.

The Smart Museum of Art boasts a collection of 7500 objects, dating from antiquity to modern era. Viewing these paintings and sculptures, including Tiffany glass, ancient Greek vases, paintings by the masters and murals by Diego Rivera gives visitors a comprehensive and breath-taking look at both Western and Eastern art forms.

Perhaps the most unique art museum in the area is Museum of Holography.

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