Chicago Navy Pier On The City Lakefront From Chicago Traveler

Long one of Chicago's most popular attractions, Navy Pier continues to offer a great variety of activities on the Pier including dining and entertainment options, as well as being a hub for a number of tour boats, on which you can see Chicago from the Lake.
See our feature article, A Visitor Guide to Navy Pier Chicago.

Top 10 Things to Do at Navy Pier

1. Ride the Ferris wheel. This might seem a bit cliched, but riding the ferris wheel in Navy Pier is something of a magical experience, especially if you go at night. See the famous Chicago skyline all lit-up and sparkling across the water from one of the best vantage points in the Windy City.
2. Explore the Smith Museum of the Stained Glass Window. This hidden gem is something of quiet surprise compared to the chaos that dominated the rest of Navy Pier. Check out works by Henry Louis Comfort-Tiffany as well as several religious installations from churches that have been shut down; another perk is that this museum is free!
3. Take the kids to the Chicago Children’s Museum. For a completely interactive, fun and educational experience, young kids will love this hands-on museum. Watch as they have a blast creating an art project or climbing on the indoor jungle gym.
4. Catch a play at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. This seven-story theater on the pier stages plays by the bard year-round, as well as other dramas and comedies. There is also a Shakespeare resource center and British style pub here as well.
5. Cruise through Lake Michigan. Tons of cruises depart from Navy Pier, and taking in all of the hustle and bustle from the water is just another great way to experience the area.
6. Take in the Chicago sunshine at the Landshark Beer Garden. This seasonal outdoor beer garden is a fantastic way to sip a cold one and bask in the warm spring or summer weather.
7. See a movie at the Imax Movie Theatre. Seeing a movie on an IMAX screen is like nothing else, so definitely fit a screening in when you need a chance to rest your feet after all of the walking.
8. Chow down on some grub. Navy Pier is a full amusement park/carnival experience, and which of those would be complete without indulging in some delicious junk food? Cotton candy, hot dogs, hamburgers, you name it, Navy Pier has something to eat for everyone.
9. Play a round of miniature golf. There are tons of fun games to choose from on the pier, but miniature golf is a fantastic way to relax with friends and family while having fun and taking in the experience.
10. Cap off your day with a spectacular firework show. The standout attraction of Navy Pier has to be the awe-inspiring fireworks shows, which are offered all year-round so there is no excuse not to fit a show in on your next trip to Chicago.

Navy Pier Information

Navy Pier was originally built in 1916 to serve Lake Michigan freighters and provide transportation to other cities on the Great Lakes, as well as for recreational purposes. In 1941, Navy Pier was converted to military use and used throughout World War II. From 1946 to 1964, it was a college campus. After a lull in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Navy Pier was revitalized and, today, it is a multi-million dollar convention, cultural and recreation center and Chicago’s most visited attraction.

Navy Pier features a number of attractions for visitors and locals alike. Reminiscent of Chicago’s 1893 World Colombian Exposition, the most visible feature of Navy Pier is its 150-foot Ferris wheel. Close by is the musical carousel, painted with historical depictions of the pier. Pier Park features an 18-hole Chicago-themed miniature golf course and a cliff climbing structure. Some of the indoor attractions include a 15-minute walk through Funhouse Maze and the Chicago Children’s Museum. Navy Pier is home to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, with its 500-seat courtyard theater and 200-seat flexible black box theater. There is also an IMAX theater on Navy Pier, with a 6-story flat movie screen featuring 2D and 3D films. The Smith Museum of Stained Glass windows is a permanent display of 150 stained glass windows housed in an 800-ft.-long series of galleries along the lower level terraces of Festival Hall. Continue reading...