This fun filled boardwalk is not only the number one tourist attraction in Chicago; it’s one of the top attractions in the entire Midwest. Complete with a 150-ft Ferris wheel, boat and segway tours, and hundreds of shopping and dining options, the Lake Michigan Navy Pier is a great destination night or day for both visitors and locals.
In terms of things to do at the pier, your possibilities are endless. At Pier Park, you can choose between the Ferris wheel, an 18-hole mini golf course, a musical carousel, an old fashioned wave swinger, remote control boat driving, or a 13 foot light tower ride. There’s also a children’s museum your kids will love and a 4000 square foot Funhouse maze with distorting mirrors and dizzying spin tunnels. For a panoramic view of the bustling streets of Chicago and the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan, take a ride 35 stories into the air in the Navy Pier AeroBalloon. The only view that might rival the AeroBalloon’s is the collection of gorgeous stained glass windows in the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows.
If you travel to the Navy Pier between May 28 and September 6, you’ll definitely want to get tickets for Cirque Shanghai at Cloud 9. The talented performers put on a beautifully extravagant show that will make your eyes pop, your heart stop, and your jaw drop. Check out another show of equal proportions at the 440-seat Navy Pier IMAX Theater that is currently playing the Twilight Saga Eclipse in 3D and will soon be playing Inception in 3D.
After you work up an appetite riding the rides and seeing the sights, stop by the food court in the Family Pavilion for a delicious variety of tastes. If you’d rather sit down and enjoy some of the best seafood Chicago has to offer, take the classier route and dine at Riva’s Crab House where meals are cooked fresh by expert chefs.