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!
