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Ultimate Offbeat Guide to Chicago, Illinois

Poop statues, turtle races, & occult bookstores are just the beginning!

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Created by ellelatricia - July 20th 2018

The Windy City is one of the most traveled-to cities in the country (and for good reason!) but few get to experience the stranger side of Chicago. If you're headed to Chi-Town, why not add a dash of weird to your trip? From quirky tours to niche museums to fascinating art, here are some of the coolest ways to get weird in the Windy City!

1524 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL, US

International Museum of Surgical Sciences

The International Museum of Surgical Sciences is a strange but effective mix of scientific and surgical ephemera. You'll see iron lungs, old-school surgical equipment, technical analyses of viruses and infectious diseases, plasticized circulatory systems (a la ‘Body World’) and enormous cringe-inducing gallstones.

WARNING: This is not a museum for the squeamish, so unless you think you can stomach seeing a plasticized body cut into one inch slices and spread the length of a room, you should steer clear.

Tips: Entry costs $15, and you can plan on spending at least an hour and a half if you're rushing through. Student? Bring your ID and save five bucks.

55 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, US

Cloud Gate

Standing thirty-three feet tall, Chicago's famous Cloud Gate art installation, which distorts the city's skyline, was inspired by liquid mercury, and looks pretty insane up-close.

It's true that you're probably going to have to fight your way through the crowds of tourists who are always there, but regardless, you still have to do it, because it's a Chicago staple!

Tip: "The Bean" is best experienced on a sunny day with lots of clouds, which results in a strange flowing river effect.

Photo of Not Your Mama's Bus Tour
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1331 S. Michigan, Chicago, IL, US

Not Your Mama's Bus Tour

Not Your Mama's Bus Tour is a non-profit tour company that is in the business of helping members of the Chicago homeless community turn their lives around. Passengers are taken on a tour of the city, all while being serenaded with music and powerful short stories, all written by former homeless people.

The tour, which has only been beating the concrete since last year, takes guests to some of Chicago's most famous off the beaten path stops, including filming locations from "E.R" and "Chicago Hope", Chicago's Civic Center, and even the former site of the series "Good Times".

Photo of Oz Park
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2021 N. Burling St., Chicago, IL, US

Oz Park

Oz Park is one of Chicago's hidden gems. It's completely Wizard of Oz-themed, with statues of all the major characters. Sorry Wicked Witch fans, the famous green villain is the only character missing her own statue. And yes, Dorothy is sporting her ruby slippers!

Photo of Shit Fountain
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1005 N. Wolcott Ave, Chicago, IL, US

Shit Fountain

The bronzed “coil” sits proudly atop a marble pillar on Augusta Boulevard, daring all “crappy” dog walkers to leave behind a “dog pile”. Water ripples from the top of the statue as a subtle war cry, telling all 4-legged passers-by to keep on walking.

The gross fountain is on private property, but that hasn’t stopped sightseers from taking a peek and snapping a poo-poo profile pic of their own.

Tip: If you’re interested in checking out the turd memorial, remember to respect the homeowners and stick to the sidewalk… that goes for your pooch too.

Photo of The Boring Store
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1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, US

The Boring Store

This cute spy-themed store, which peddles spy glasses, fake mustache disguises, and "burn after reading" stamps among other things, is actually a front for 826CHI, an organization devoted to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to help teachers inspire their students to write, via tutoring, classes, field trips and more. Secret agent gadgets to support an awesome charity? A must see!

2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL, US

Kuma's Corner

Kuma's Corner, which has a stellar reputation for being one of the coolest (and most delicious) burger joints in the city, has no problem living up to its expectations. Every burger on the menu is named after a famous heavy metal band, including the Led Zeppelin burger, which you have to hold together with waffle fries.

Tips: Kuma's Corner is literally one of the busiest restaurants in the city, so if you're planning on grabbing lunch, be there well in advance. Make sure to bring plenty of cash, because the staff aren't fans of using cards. Seriously. Don't try and use a card. We warned you.

1818 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL, US

Big Joe's

Head down to the racetrack for the most intense gambling experience of your life! This local dive bar features turtle races on weekends, and it gets pretty wild– turtles have never been so exciting, and it’s the only time you’ll ever want your bet to be the slowest animal on the track. The cheap drinks and fun atmosphere make this place a crazy good time, and definitely one of the most unique things to do in Chicago.

Tip: Get there extra early to grab a table, but stick around until the end of the night - most of the crowd turns in early and passes off their spare race tickets to the crowd, which means more chances to win big!

1513 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL, US

Woolly Mammoth Antiques, Oddities & Resale

Oddity shops are nothing new, but Woolly Mammoth is easily one of the country's weirdest. Filled with vintage taxidermy, real human skulls, and the most bizarre antiques you've ever seen, the shop is a dream-come-true for weirdos looking for the perfect accent to their personal collections. Need a creepy old medical device? They've got that. A pig fetus in a mason jar? Sure! How about a taxidermy giraffe? Yep, they've got that too.

Tip: Ever wanted to learn taxidermy? They offer regular courses!

If you're headed to the Windy City and you're looking to turn your road trip into a wonderfully weird one, look no further. These destinations are guaranteed to satisfy any offbeat adventure itch!