TRAVEL TUESDAY - 5 THINGS TO SEE IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AND A LINK UP

I had only heard about the Windy City, but past week I had the chance to witness the beauty of Chicago. We took a four day trip to Chicago and saying that “I was mesmerized by the charming windy city ” would be an understatement.

Famed for it’s magnificent architecture, diverse culture, food and hospitality, Chicago is sure to keep you awed with what it has to offer. So if you ever get a chance to visit Chicago, do so and check out these 7 places, to cross off your list when there.

The best way to see the city is to get on a trolley, hop on hop off double decker bus. The 90 minute architecture boat tour is also a great option to witness Chicago’s magnificence. We bought a 48 hour bus pass and three-attraction city go card, which in true sense was unfair, owing to the ceaseless options Chicago has to offer. The best is that the tour bus takes you to all the major attractions, which worked out best for our short trip.

1) WILLIS TOWER / SKYDECK / LEDGE

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Formerly Sears tower, Willis tower is an American Icon. It is an office building with it’s grandeur extending to 103 floors. The skydeck is the best location to get a 360 view of Chicago. If you ain’t a sissy, then the ledge is for you. Made of glass, standing on it feels like walking on air.

2) MILLENNIUM PARK / THE BEAN / CLOUD GATE

If you miss this, then you haven’t seen anything. Millennium park is the hub of all cultural activities and the premier green space for the locals. The iconic bean is a part of the millennium park and the Art Institute of Chicago happens to be in the vicinity too.

3) THE MAGNIFICENT MILE

Home to this life-size statue of Abraham Lincoln, the Trump tower and all the shopping, this mile long stretch of road is the prefect hang out on a good weather day. With the hustle and bustle, this street is the life of Chicago. Another high-end shopping neighborhood is OAKS ST, that houses stores like Prada, Gucci and Christian Louboutin, to name a few. So if you have a couple extra thousands to spent, then this is the place to be.

4) NAVY PIER / CENTENNIAL WHEEL

Have kids?? – then you ought to visit Navy Pier. Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot-long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. The Navy Pier currently encompasses more than fifty acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities and is the top leisure destination in the Midwest. Home to the Centennial Ferris wheel and Chicago Children’s museum, visiting this place is highly recommended.

5) WATER TOWER PLACE

Water Tower Place is a Chicago landmark on the Magnificent Mile and renowned for its vast selection of over 100 stores. Beyond shopping, the eight story mall also houses a number of restaurants and entertainment options, including a live theatre. Do stop by The American Girl store and The Lego store, coz there is still a kid in everyone.

Other places to see in downtown Chicago are Adler Planetarium, The field museum, The Shedd Aquarium and The John Hancock/ 360 Chicago building.