Neighborhood Spotlight: Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile isn't really a neighborhood; it's more of an attraction. Chicago’s equivalent of New York City’s Fifth Avenue or Paris’ Champs Elysées, the “Mag Mile” spans Michigan Avenue’s 8 blocks from Wacker Drive to the lake. It is home to over 460 stores and boutiques, from Gucci to The Disney Store, and more than 200 restaurants. Michigan Ave is the place to go for Chicago’s famous eateries - Chicago Style pizza, Garrett’s Popcorn, and Ghirardelli Chocolates. The Mag Mile is home to Chicago’s famous yellow brick Water Tower, one of the few buildings that survived the great fire of 1871. The Mag Mile also boasts the Water Tower place mall, which features 8 levels of shopping and restaurants, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the historic Fourth Presbyterian Church, and the sky-high John Hancock building.

> KNOWN FOR: Famous shopping and dining; shiny skyscrapers; the historic Water Tower & Water Place Mall; and the John Hancock Building.

> DON’T MISS: The 95th Floor Signature Lounge at the John Hancock building (875 North Michigan Avenue) for drinks before, after, or instead of going to the Observatory ($11 tix at the HI-Chicago front desk; the lounge is free); the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 East Chicago Avenue), especially on Tuesdays when it’s free and open until 8pm!

> GET THERE: By foot: Walk 25 minutes north on Michigan Avenue; By bus: Take bus #147 (north) from State and Van Buren to Chicago and Michigan; By train: Take the Red Line (towards Howard) to Chicago and walk east.