Chicago Day 2: Navy Pier

After window shopping at Water Tower Place, Ben brought us to the Navy Pier.

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When Ben first visited Chicago in 2008, he was not aware of the free trolley service and he actually walked to the Pier. So, it’s walkable from the Magnificent Mile.

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The free Navy Pier Trolley was packed.

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Navy Pier is a pier built along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. It serves as a commercial pier, for entertainment, as a Navy training center and a public gathering place.

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Our first stop is at the McDonalds to get some cold drinks.

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I had ice-coffee while Ben had real fruit smoothies and Nanzaro had Mocha.

McDonald's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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After the drink, we went to the Crystal Garden on the upper deck.

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The Crystal Garden is an indoor botanical garden. It is a six-story glass atrium with a 50 foot arched ceiling. The live palm trees look majestic.

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Besides lush foliage, there is a also a dancing “leapfrog” fountains.

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Exiting the Crystal Garden, we then proceeded to the Pier Park. It’s a landscaped area with rides like the musical carousel on the photo above.

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The most iconic ride is the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel. It was constructed as a landmark for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

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The view of Chicago’s skyline from the pier.

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You can take sight seeing cruises at the pier but we did not as it is not cheap besides there were long line-up.

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Chicago Shakespeare Theater is another major attraction at the pier.

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The pier is very long.  This is the end of the pier.

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We decided to go back via the indoor section of the pier. There were restaurants, place to sit down along the inside walk.

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We came upon a display of stained glasses by Tiffany Glass & Decorating Co.

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After the long walk at the pier, we took the free trolley ride back to Michigan Avenue.

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