Jutting more than half a mile into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier is Chicago’s most beloved gathering place — and one of its most historic. Built in 1916 as a shipping and recreation pier, this 3,300-foot landmark now hosts year-round public festivals, fireworks, gardens, and some of the best lake views in the Midwest.
The 200-foot Centennial Wheel, added for the pier’s 100th birthday, lifts you over the waves in heated, enclosed gondolas — day or night, summer or snow. Stroll the lakefront promenade, catch a free concert at the Beer Garden stage, ride the antique carousel, or simply sit and watch the sailboats drift past. Admission to the pier itself is free, so it’s easy to come just for the sunset.
Navy Pier shines for families, couples, and anyone visiting Chicago for the first time. Tip: the free Navy Pier trolley runs from downtown to the pier — hop on near State Street and save your legs for the lakefront. Fireworks light up the sky twice weekly in summer, and the winter ice-skating rink is pure magic with the skyline behind you.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Fæ
