The Magnificent Mile
If you can feel your credit card burning a hole in your wallet, make your way to The Magnificent Mile. It is worth the trip. With department stores and luxury retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Macy's, and Lord & Taylor lining the stretch of Michigan Avenue that runs between Lake Shore Drive and the Chicago River, this section of Michigan Avenue is a shopping paradise for shoppers. Additionally, The Magnificent Mile is home to various high-end restaurants and luxury hotels, such as The Drake, a Hilton Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, and the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, all of which are located on the mile.
A journey down this street will also be appreciated by architecture enthusiasts due to the unique variety of structures that can be found there. Walking about, keep your eyes peeled for views of the Historic Water Tower, which was built in 1871 and is the oldest structure on Michigan Avenue. It survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and is the longest standing structure in the city. Other notable structures include the Wrigley Building (formerly the headquarters of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr.) and the Tribune Tower (was the offices of the Chicago Tribune) (home to the Chicago Tribune daily newspaper).
Shopaholics adore The Magnificent Mile all year long, but visiting during the Christmas season will allow you to see some of the best window displays the neighborhood has to offer. If you’d like to walk to get the greatest views of the street's architecture, if you get tired of walking, you can get on one of the many buses that run through the area, including route Nos. 26, 3, 125, 146, 143, 148, 147, 148, and 151, to get around.
If you're coming from the Loop, you can get to The Magnificent Mile by walking across the DuSable Bridge, taking a bus, taking the L (the nearest stations are at the Grand and Chicago stops on the Red Line), hailing a cab, or driving. For a truly unique perspective, try taking advantage of one of the best Chicago boat excursions available today. For a price, several parking garages are available nearby, and public facilities are available in the Water Tower Place shopping mall. Even though the Magnificent Mile is open to the public at all hours of the day and night, businesses and other establishments have their own hours of operation. More information on what there is to see and do along the Magnificent Mile may be found on the Magnificent Mile's official website.