Navy Pier

Travel Post #31: Navy Pier

Boat horns sounding as they enter and leave the dock, children shrieking in bliss atop of the Ferris Wheel, vendors calling out to passer-byers to make the next sale, music sailing through the sky from live bands… The Navy Pier is constantly filled with excitement! For over 10 years, the Navy Pier has been the place to go for not only tourists, but also Chicago locals.

My experience in Chicago was during the 4^th of July holiday which of course included fireworks on Lake Michigan. We gathered with 1,000s of people to watch the fireworks emerge from the pier. The onlookers sat in silence looking at the sky filled with radiant colors from the pyrotechnics.

While the fireworks display was amazing in every way, I could certainly have done without the crowds. The holiday weekend in this Northern town made the Navy Pier a little less than desirable for these vacationers; nevertheless we were determined to see/do it all.

Features of the Navy Pier include the Ferris Wheel and a few other minor amusements, Billy Goat Tavern and Grill and many more delectable delights, shopping outlets housing all the souvenir wonders you can imagine, Cirque Shanghai Extreme, and number shoreline sightseeing tours.

Check Out Their Website: http://www.navypier.com/

Chicago Line Cruises

Travel Post #30: Chicago Line Cruises

“Critics say that if you have only two hours in Chicago, this is how to spend it!” The Chicago Line offers both Architectural and Historical cruises that depart from the North Pier Docks at River East Art Center. These comprehensive and engaging tours are terrific for all ages.

Here is a taste of the Architectural tour:

• Ceres (the Goddess of Grain) sits atop of the Chicago’s Board of Trade Building –Built by Holabird and Root in 1929
• Tribune Tower is one of Chicago’s most famous structures with a gothic design. This 36 story skyscraper was the result of a competition in which 286 entries were submitted from around the world. –Built in 1925
• Lake Point Tower is a 70 story apartment tower built by pupils of Mies van der Rohe in 1968.
• In 1974 the Sears Tower (Willis Tower) was built. For a quarter of a century this 1, 454 foot structure was the tallest in the world. The 4.4 million square foot tower has a special nine-piece bundle tube vertical truss. –Built by Dr. Fazlur Khan

A quick glance of the skyline:

Building Name	Year Built	Architect
Wrigley Building	1919-1925	Graham, Anderson, Probst, & White
Kinzie Street Railroad Bridge	1915	John B. Turner
Civic Opera Building	1968-1974	Graham, Anderson, Probst, & White
Swissotel	1986-1989	Harry Weese & Associates
Montgomery Ward Warehouse and Offices	1928-1929	Willis J, McCauley
Marina City	1959-1964	Betrand Goldberg Associates

Sail away with the Chicago Line crew on an hour journey through history and architectural marvel. The free fresh baked cookies and coffee aren’t too shabby either!

Check Out Their Website: http://www.chicagoline.com/