The next time you’re in Chicago looking for something to do outside of the Wizard World Chicago Convention that you attend every year, you might want to check out some of the many Geek-friendly attractions the city has to offer. You’ll be amazed at just how wonderful the real world is when you give your World of Warcraft account a day’s rest and venture out into the city for some brain stimulating fun.

Here are 7 of Chicago’s finest attractions that any Science loving traveler would love to visit:

1. Adler Planetarium

As the oldest planetarium in Chicago, the Adler Planetarium is home to the Atwood sphere which allows you to see the night sky with all light pollution removed so that you can step into outer space and explore all the majesty it has to offer. At the Adler Planetarium you will learn about what NASA is up to these days and experience the Milky Way through nine exhibitions and multiple 3-D theaters. Before you put Return of the Jedi into your portable DVD player for the forty-second time, try seeing what the final frontier is really like.

2. Chicago Architecture Foundation

The city of Chicago is full of modern architectural wonders. You can learn a lot about the art of architecture just by walking around the city on your own but you’ll have a whole lot more fun if you take one of the 85 guided city tours available at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Did you know that Weird Al Yankovic went to school for architecture before becoming the white and nerdy musical parodist?

3. Field Museum

Do you like Dinosaurs? How about Ancient Egypt? Maybe the double helix of DNA is more your speed? Regardless of what scientific field you’re interested in studying, the Field Museum has something for you to enjoy. Here are just a few of the many exhibits designed to inspire and enlighten you: the Grainger hall of gems, the underground adventure, inside ancient Egypt, our evolving planet, and McDonald’s fossil prep lab.

4. Legoland Discovery Centre

Remember when you were a kid and built fantastical space crafts, pirate ships, and buildings out of Lego blocks? Well, at the Legoland Discovery Centre you can feel that joy once more and play with Lego like you have never played with them before. You can even learn building secrets from the master model builders at Legoland and learn about how they made giant Lego sculptures.

5. Museum of Science and Industry

The human race has made exponential progress over the years and in this age of the internet and gadgetry it can be easy to forget where it all started. At the Museum of Science and Industry you will see all of the technological wonders that brought us into the modern age and get a taste for what the future of technology holds for us.

6. Shedd Aquarium

The Ocean is a strange and mysterious place unless you’ve visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. In just one day you can do everything from hang out with blue iguanas in the desert to follow a sea turtle swimming through the pristine waters of the Caribbean. Learn about marine biology and all of the fascinating creatures of the sea by getting up close and personal behind the safety of clear glass walls.

7. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Speaking of up close and personal, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is your number one stop for getting to know the world around you.  At the heart of Lincoln Park the museum provides thought-provoking and hands-on exhibits like the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven and the Look-In Animal Lab. You’ll never look at mother Earth the same way again after visiting the nature museum.

Trying to jam pack your day-trip to Chicago with all of these wonderful attractions might be a little daunting. It might be better to stay for a few extra days just to take in all that the city has to offer. You can learn more about Chicago’s various attractions and even save some money on admission to most of them when you pick up a Chicago Pass from Smart Destinations.