Magnificent Mile

 Magnificent Mile - Chicago, USA

The Magnificent Mile in Chicago is a must for those on a time budget. On the spur of the moment, while my dad and I were in Iowa, we decided to hire a car, drive the 3.5 hours to Chicago, and stay overnight. Follow in our footsteps and arrive via the intimidating spaghetti maze of the interstate highway to reach the heart of the Magnificent Mile. As a prominent starting point, John Hancock Center provides one of the best views in Chicago – you can pay to go right up to the observatory, but the view from the café one floor down is priceless… literally. FREE!

Cloud Gate is a massive shiny kidney in Millennium Park that attracts millions of people, so make sure you get a snap here. For exhibits, rides and attractions, be sure to check out Navy Pier. You can take in the views of the city from the Ferris wheel and grab some tucker at Bubba Gump’s. If you’d like something a little more up-market, the world famous Art Institute of Chicago is also in Millennium Park, where you’ll be instantly immersed in wall-to-wall classic artwork. Everything from Vincent Van Gogh’s 1887 Self Portrait and Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, to Grant Wood’s American Gothic are within your sights. All this within one mile - a condensed look at American culture!

- Tim