The
Chicago skyline marks the gateway to culture and to an incredible adventure for
visitors of all ages. Approach Chicago from any direction, and marvel at the
incomparable view. Explore nearly thirty miles of Lake Michigan shoreline in
this water enthusiast’s paradise. Savor the aromas and flavors of the wide
variety of dining choices. Visit museums, art galleries, and parks. Enjoy a
ballet, a symphony, an opera, a leisurely day of shopping the Magnificent Mile,
and a stroll along the waterfront.
The
skyline dominates the view along Lakeshore Boulevard and Michigan Avenue. In the
foreground, is one of the finest aquariums in the world, the John G. Shedd
Aquarium. To the right of the skyline, reaching out into Lake Michigan, is the
impressive 3000 foot-long Navy Pier. The large globe-like structure on the hill
is the Adler Planetarium.
Millennium
Park, an ambitious and sometimes controversial addition to Chicago's downtown
lakefront has opened. The centerpiece of the 24-and-a-half-acre park is the
Pritzker Pavilion, a 120-foot-high outdoor music stage framed with a signature
Gehry sculpture. The pavilion will be the new home of the Grant Park Music
Festival, a 70-year-old summer series of classical concerts. A pedestrian
bridge, also designed by Mr. Gehry and spanning Columbus Drive, provides access
to the pavilion and links Millennium Park to the rest of Chicago's lakefront
park system.
A
fountain, by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, features the faces of 1,000
Chicagoans projected onto two 50-foot glass towers, while artist Anish Kapoor's
110-ton, steel sculpture reflects both the faces of those who approach it and
the city's famous skyline. The
Kapoor sculpture and the Plensa fountain are sure to be the topics of animated
conversation for years to come.
Other park features include a free November-to-March ice rink, a
three-block-long promenade for outdoor festivals, a replica of the 1917
neo-Classical peristyle that once stood on the site, a perennial garden with
more than 240 plant varieties, and the 300-seat Park Grill restaurant.
Chicago‘s
architectural achievements include the Sears Tower and the Tribune Tower, whose
base includes stones from famous buildings throughout the world. The Art
Institute of Chicago houses a world-class collection, from Impressionist masters
to more contemporary works in photography and ethnic art. From there, many of
the city's major cultural and tourist attractions are within walking distance,
including the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Hancock Tower.
Chicago
is home to world-champion Chicago Bulls and the well-loved Chicago Cubs. Chicago
sports fans are known around the globe for their undying devotion in the bitter
winter to the Bears, and through the warm summers to the Cubs, as they cheer
from the bleachers at Wrigley and Comiskey (now US Cellular) parks.
Chicago
offers an endless variety of places to explore and things to do. There are
museums of every kind; avant-garde art galleries; dance, theater, and music
venues, and ethnic and cultural delights in food, music, and shopping.
What
would Chicago be without the blues? The original House of Blues is located on
Dearborn Street and hosts the current masters of this music.
The
heart of downtown, formed by the "Loop" of elevated train tracks, has
additional energy these days, invigorated by the renovation of the grand old
theaters, the opening of Millennium Park, and the enhanced nightlife options
that are breathing new life into this fabulous city. What a perfect time to
visit Chicago, Illinois! |