Navy Pier
Navy Pier
Located in the Near North Side neighborhood and jutting into Lake Michigan is perhaps Chicago's most popular attraction, Navy Pier. Navy Pier offers such a wide variety of attractions and experiences that one can visit many times and still do something completely new each time. One part of Navy Pier is the Pier Park where kids of all ages can ride a Ferris wheel (modeled after the world's first Ferris wheel that was built for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair) that arcs 150 feet into the air, an old fashioned musical carousel, and a "wave swinger." In the summertime there is an "Aero Balloon" that visitors can ride that climbs to about 350 feet in the air. In a beautiful courtyard-style theater is the Shakespeare Theater where Chicago's best live actors perform Shakespeare's classics (which can be enjoyed whether or not you have read the play before), along with a variety of shows that will appeal to people of all ages (on the night that the pictures were taken of the theater below, an excellent version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was playing). Navy Pier also has an IMAX theater that plays the latest movies released. There are a variety of live performances going on at various times throughout Navy Pier. It's not uncommon to walk the length of the pier and to see two or three taking place at one time. If you are walking the pier and you see men in suits and women in fancy dresses, don't feel under-dressed. Navy Pier offers several cruise ships of which the dinner cruises are especially popular. Although a bit pricey, a dinner cruise on one of the cruise ships would make for a romantic date with dancing, spectacular views of the city, and on certain nights there are fireworks from Navy Pier to cap the evening. Don't be surprised if you see a man get down on one knee to propose on one of these dinner cruises, either. Another popular water attraction at the Navy Pier are the architecture tours by boat on the Chicago River. On top of these attractions, Navy Pier offers many unique shops and restaurants as well as a beer garden. After enjoying one of the exciting rides or attractions, probably the most enjoyable thing to do at Navy Pier is to find a quiet table along the lake with some good food and a good drink and lazily watch the boats come in and set out. To learn more about Navy Pier, you can visit there website here.
Nice summer's afternoon at the Navy Pier
|
|
Shakespeare Theater at Night
 The Ferris Wheel lit up at night.  View from on top of the Ferris Wheel looking east |
 The Ferris Wheel at night  Sailboats at Navy Pier |
Navy Pier at dusk. Notice that the Trump Tower on the right is still under construction in this 2008 image.
Moon and Chicago city skyline from Navy Pier
Hancock Center at night from Navy Pier
