Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Great View
After a quick visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo or the Peggy Notebaert Nature
Museum, take a quick stroll on Fullerton Avenue to the bridge that runs
over the lagoon (just before you get to Lake Shore Dr.). Standing on the
south side of Fullerton Avenue, you'll have a great view of the Chicago
skyline and Lincoln Park—and an excellent backdrop for family souvenir
photos. This path can get very crowded on summer weekends, so I suggest
trying this photo op during the week.
Moments
Navy Pier
All ages.
Because Navy Pier juts 3,000 feet into Lake Michigan,
the view from the end of the pier looking toward the city is fabulous—the next
best thing to seeing the Chicago skyline by boat. And, if you like heights, hop
aboard the Ferris wheel and get a 15-story-high vantage point. Go early in the
morning to see the sun rise, the rays gleaming off the glass Mies van der Rohe
buildings lining Lake Shore Drive. Surrounded by Lake Michigan, lush gardens,
and sculpture, the view from the Navy Pier is one of the best in the city. See the
review in the previous section for more details about the other attractions at
Navy Pier.
600 E. Grand Ave. (at Lake Michigan).
&
800/595-PIER
(outside 312 area code), or 312/595-PIER. www.
navypier.com.
North Avenue Beach
All ages.
One of the most famous views of Chicago
(and one that you'll find in many guidebooks as a featured photo) is taken on
the lakefront bike path, looking south to the John Hancock Center. To get a
photo of your family in this picture-perfect scene, walk north on Lake Shore
Drive to the tunnel at North Avenue that leads under Lake Shore Drive to
North Avenue Beach. Once on the lakefront path, turn south toward the city,
and you will have your photo opportunity. (Just watch out for cyclists, skaters,
runners, and dog walkers if it's a nice summer day!) See “Enjoying the 'Third
Coast': Chicago's Beaches,” in chapter 8 for more information.
Lake Shore Dr. at North Ave.
&
312/742-PLAY
for Chicago Park District and beach information.
Sears Tower Skydeck
All ages.
When you stand on a perch this
high and view the trains, river traffic, and expressways streaming with cars, you
can teach your kids the meaning of the term “transportation hub.” Sears Tower
is one of Chicago's most popular attractions. Since its debut in 1973, the Sears
Tower's lock on the crown of “world's tallest building” has been a source of civic
pride for the city. Sadly, the building's namesake, Sears, sold the building and
moved to cheaper suburban offices in 1992. Another blow to morale came when
Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, went up and laid claim to the title
of world's tallest buildings. (The Sears Tower has since put up a 22-ft. antenna
in an attempt to win back the title.) Tallest-building posturing aside, this is still
a great place to orient your family to the city, but I wouldn't put it on the top of
must-see sights for any family with limited time or limited patience for crowds.
The view from the 103rd-floor Skydeck is everything you'd expect it to be—
once you get there. Unfortunately, you're usually stuck in a very long, very noisy
line, so by the time you make it to the top, your patience could be as thin as the
atmosphere up there.
One suggestion:
I once went up the tower at night on a
weeknight, a couple of hours before closing (in summertime, it stays open until
10pm). We had the observation deck practically to ourselves. If that's too late for
Overrated
