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Magnificent Mile

One of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, the Magnificent Mile (sometimes called the Mag Mile) is a stretch of Michigan Avenue lined with up-scale shops, restaurants, and hotels. Large stores for luxury brands like Chanel, Burberry, Armani, and Tiffany & Co. line the wide, landscaped street. Mid-range brands are also well-represented, with some of the largest J. Crew, H&M, and Topshop stores in the Midwest.

Even if you don't intend to do any shopping, grab a milkshake from the Ghirardelli Chocolate store and take a wander up the street, window shopping and enjoying summer in the Windy City.

Cloud Gate

Another of Chicago's most famous attractions is Cloud Gate, a massive reflective sculpture by internationally recognized sculptor Anish Kapoor. Affectionately known throughout the world as the "Bean" because of its shape, Cloud Gate is best viewed on sunny days where the blue sky and skyscrapers are reflected and distorted in the sculpture's surface.

Take a picnic and sit near Cloud Gate in the beautiful lake-front Millennium Park, or check if there are any concerts playing in the park's music venue in the evening.

Willis Tower

One of the world's tallest buildings (currently the 2nd tallest building in the Western Hemisphere), the Willis Tower offers visitors amazing views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. Check out the SkyDeck on the building's 103rd floor, where visitors can learn about the tower's history and Chicago culture, as well as step onto The Ledge: a glass box that extends outside the walls (and floor!) of the main tower.

If you love the view, check out the Hancock Tower, a little over a mile away, which has an observation deck almost 100 meters higher.

Hancock Tower

Also known by its address (875 N Michigan Avenue), the Hancock Tower is another of Chicago's famous skyscrapers. Although it does not have the same record-setting height as the nearby Willis Tower, it offers similar views of Chicago. In fact, the Observation Deck is almost 100 meters higher than the Willis Tower's SkyDeck. The Hancock tower is also home to TILT, a section of glass-plate windows that tilts 30 ̊ outward from the building, giving visitors the illusion of being suspended more than 1000 feet (310 meters) off the ground.

The Hancock Tower also features the Signature Room, a bar and restaurant on the 95th floor. It offers amazing 360 ̊ views of Chicago, which are especially breathtaking at night over a cocktail.

Chicago Water Tower

Built in 1869, the Chicago Water Tower is the second oldest in the United States (after the Louisville Water Tower on Indiana's southern border). It is most famous for being one of only a handful of buildings to survive the Chicago Fire of 1871. Today, it holds an art gallery featuring Chicago artists and sits at the northern end of the Magnificent Mile. Don't get it confused with Water Tower Place, a modern shopping center located nearby!

Navy Pier

Chicago's most popular tourist attraction, Navy Pier extends more than 1,000 meters into Lake Michigan. It was built in 1916, and today is home to an eclectic set of attractions. Go for a ride on the carousel or Ferris wheel, board a yacht for tours of the city or a dinner cruise, explore the indoor botanical gardens, or grab a hotdog or ice cream on the boardwalk. Fireworks are also launched from the pier on Wednesday and Saturday nights throughout the summer.