Yeah, it's okay to visit as long as you stick to the "tourist" areas :) If you park in certain places expect to be besieged by panhandlers as you walk, e.g. in the underpass entrance leading to the Shedd Aquarium. Don't let them stop you to "ask you a favor"--politely but firmly say "No thanks" and keep walking. You may have to dodge some of that while going between places, but once you're inside the main tourist attractions you're pretty safe and it's nice. The Shedd, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Field Museum of Natural History are great. I know they also have a nice art museum I haven't seen yet.