Navy Pier: Chicago’s Most Fascinating Neighborhood for Families

Even the amusement park at Chicago Navy Pier has more to it than meets the eye! Like the interactive technological exhibits at the Chicago Children’s Museum, the fantastic variety of restaurants, shops, and crowds, fun rides on the carousel and Centennial Ferris Wheel. The sheer range of activities you can do here makes it the most wholesome experience for all members of the family.

Come winter or summer there is something on at the Chicago Navy Pier at all times of the year. Besides, it does not matter what time of the day you reach. Food, transportation, and places to stay are plenty in the neighborhood. With so much to offer, it is the Mid-West’s most vibrant and happening place to visit. Just ask any tourist, and they will attest to the truth of the statement.

This fascinating place is what we will explore with you to give you a feel of the place and set the right expectations. Don’t mind the crowds; as the Chicago Navy Pier draws the greatest number of tourists when they visit Chicago. Colorful famous buildings, jostling crowds at the Chicago Christmas bash, bright lights, rides galore, fireworks and even the Navy Pier IMAX 3D movie theatre! The Navy Pier has it all and more. So, let’s set off and discover its many wonders!

The Chicago Navy Pier celebrated its 100 years recently in 2016. The Navy Pier Chicago is also fondly called the “People’s Pier” and is an icon among tourist attractions at Chicago. It is an ideal representation of a community place made for families, tourists, performers, theatre, performing arts, and learning.

It is also home to several restaurants, retail shops, fine-dining options. Some others are expo-facilities, cruise boats and rentals, sightseeing options and over 50 acres of parks! The amusement park is equipped with an intelligent choice of rides, the Centennial Wheel, a carousel and many kids-friendly options for a day-out.

After its birthday bash, the Navy Pier became even better equipped with more attractive features. The Centennial Wheel, 53^rd Bank Pavilion, the Polk Bros Park, and the Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion were added on and have become instant hits cashing in on the wonderful scenery and the iconic skyline. There is more to discover at the Navy Pier Chicago than just the sightseeing tourist attraction.

And, what better way to discover learning through activity and fun-learning than visiting the Navy Pier Chicago with family and friends? Contact them for information at 600 East Grand Avenue. The web address is navypier.org, and their numbers are 312* 595*5300 and 312*595*5275. Just another tip! Jump the lines by buying your tickets for their events online and save close to 45 percent using the combined entrance Go Chicago pass to the Navy Pier.

The Navy Pier Chicago has been recently renovated after celebrating its 100^th Birthday in 2016. Among the changes being ushered in is the new Off-shore venue. It is the world’s largest venue on the rooftop. The 2019 Guinness World Records confirmed this. Get set to enjoy the view of the Chicago Skyline over Lake Michigan from this 36,000-sq ft facility with both outdoor and indoor access all-year-round! That’s not all!

The Navy Pier Chicago will also have a 7-floor Hilton Curio Collection hotel with 222 rooms adding the iconic skyline views to delight travelers and tourists. A marina, a boat-slip, onsite restaurants, and fine-dining options are set to be introduced soon to make the travel experience social, complete, fun, and educative.

Kids love the Navy Pier Chicago amusement park and its rides. At Navy Pier, the Centennial Wheel and the other rides are the true high-points of the day spent with family at the Pier. Enjoy the musical carousel, the full-size Ferris wheel, the wave-swinger and the other such carefully chosen rides meant to challenge kids and families to enjoy. What the best view of the Chicago skyline by night or day? Just hop onto the Centennial Wheel and see for yourself!

The Chicago city was responsible for transforming architecture with the Marina City Tower bringing back the migrant city-seekers. Chicago is a city with skyscrapers second to New York City. It has many interesting buildings which are worth admiring like the visually challenging Aqua skyscraper, the Trump International Hotel Tower, the grand Wrigley Building, the artsy Chicago Board of Trade Building and the stunning Carbide and Carbon Building.

The Architecture River Cruise lets you see the best marvels along the riverfront. Board the tour at the Chicago Navy Pier and don’t just do sightseeing. Discover why this Windy City is the best neighborhood for you and your family. You can buy your Chicago Architecture River Cruise tickets online and even avail a more than fair discount by buying the Go Chicago pass.

Can children have fun and yet learn? Well, the Chicago Children’s Museum is, the top experiential learning and most popular fun destination for families and kids. The museum has the unique “Dinosaur Expedition” where the young ones learn what an exaction pit looks like, how fossils are found and what they mean. The other several exhibits here are also the best way to let kids have some fun while learning. At the Chicago Navy Pier, this is one family-friendly museum you must find the time for.

If you are looking for a unique view from high above, Chicago does not disappoint. Try the view from the 94^th floor 360 Chicago observatory in the John Hancock Centre Building at Chicago Navy Pier. The glass-encased deck gives you a clear view of the street below, the Chicago city’s enviable skyline, the placid Lake Michigan and the entire spread of Chicago below.

No wonder it is called 360 degrees panoramic view! Entrance to the deck is ticketed, and it is the best place to stop by with family and kids. Renovated and redesigned recently you get an interactive lesson from the exhibit riding your way to the top. The 360 CHICAGO observation deck is located at 875 North Michigan Avenue near Navy Pier Chicago. Here’s a tip.

If you are on vacation, then where else would you go? Make it possible by renting a bicycle and ride around. Discover Chicago for free on a bike. Ride down the 26-mile shoreline of Lake Michigan and discover the campus of University of Chicago’s many wonders. Head into the city to discover the many parks on the way which are easy on the eyes. Maybe you could ride northwards and discover the zoo, Lincoln Park, or the Chicago History Museum. Would you rather head south-wards? Off you go then to the Museum Campus or Grant Park. No matter where you go and in which direction Chicago will provide you with something new to discover. The neighborhood, food, bars, museums, university camps, or 3D games wait for you to discover.

That’s the beauty of staying fit and still being able to discover your very own city and Navy Pier Chicago on a bike. Insider tip here is that if you have a Go Chicago pass, they include a 4-hr rental from Bike and Roll Chicago. You could also try their Segway tours. You can also use a Divvy bike that you can drop off at any of their stations to get on with your schedule.

Day or night Navy Pier Chicago is the pedestrian’s delight! Just indulge in people watching if you are not up for too much activity. Walk down the Lake Michigan shores, and you have a beach day. Cruises, the exciting Chicago skyline, the nearby UChicago campus. More than 50 parks to relax and unwind in and restaurants, bars, and diners galore to spend time watching the crowds float by.

The centennial celebrations of Navy Pier Chicago have transformed this family-spot to a buzzing tourist destination for its city-within-a-city all-in-one experience in educative and fun-learning entertainment and food-hotspot.

Drop-in at Harry Caray’s Tavern and watch the Cubs in action. Sip on cold beer and smoke treats and meats, on their patio overlooking Lake Michigan with the latest HDTVs. Or rent-a-bike and work it out to go on a foodie-tour of Naval Pier.

Navy Pier Chicago normally is the venue for free cultural experiences, unique art exhibitions and thrilling performances from across the globe. It was designed to help inspire the families and community to form strong bonds. To connect with people and tourists from across the world as they come together to learn through learning inspired by experiences.

Towards this end, Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents some unique performances of Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo, and Juliet and other Shakespeare plays. Shakespeare’s plays are very educative and are interestingly interwoven with easily identifiable characters. Take advantage of these plays and performances at the Navy pier to help promote your understanding of different languages, diverse forms of theatre, appreciative arts, and different cultures.

Tickets for the shows can be bought online or at the performance itself.

All celebrations like the Chicago Christmas are held at Navy Pier. Did you know that other than on such festive days you get to watch the fireworks show every Wednesday at 9:30 pm and on Saturdays at 10:15 pm between Labor Day and Memorial Day and Labor Day? One such festive day is the 4^th of July. Arrive early if you want the best view. It is bound to be crowded.

The 4^th of July Aon Summer Fireworks is just one such celebration. You can also usher in the Chicago Christmas and New Year at the Navy Pier. The Chicago New Year’s Eve is a highlight of Chicago Christmas season that rings-out the old year with a bang. You can celebrate Chicago Christmas wherever you want at the Navy Pier as the options are many. Try any of the bars and restaurants along the lakefront, and they are sure to be crowded around the Chicago Christmas time.

You can also have a fun Chicago Christmas time at the AON Grand Ballroom, the shores of Lake Michigan, or Crystal Gardens to participate in the festive Chicago Christmas celebrations and have a load of fun. Don’t forget to book your Chicago Christmas tickets early at the Navy Pier website as these events do get super-crowded.

Tired of the activity-based action? It’s time for food! The simple experience of having dinner can be transformed into a cultural food tasting walk with the water-front view. Navy Pier Chicago has an amazing 50-acres of space dedicated to both the indoor and outdoor activities. It has a huge, simply huge variety of bars, restaurants, specialty foods, gourmet Michelin starred restaurants and food artisans to choose your dining, cuisine, and food options.

Chicago’s style and food hits are best discovered through the Navy Pier’s Signature Food Tour with equally famed partner Chicago Food Planet. Their 365-day food tours include a gastronomic experience, the food, drinks, and even your food-guide charges!

Talk up the shopkeepers and restaurateurs to discover their specials. Browse through the various food joints en route, guzzle a few adult-drinks while you discover the insider secrets of Navy Pier Chicago. Meet the tourists, learn a different language, try some exotic food from the Far East, or have a cool drink, coffee, or tea.

Do some people watching for the cultural entertainment of a different kind. It is great for the kids too as they get typical Chicago food like the pizzas, Italian beef sandwiches, popcorn, hot dogs, and more while learning and eating at the same time. There are no age restrictions on a food tour. But, the only essential qualification is a whipped up good appetite and hunger for good food.

To have a home theatre experience? Drop-in at the Navy Pier IMAX 3D theatre. Pick up your popcorn and relax till the Navy Pier IMAX movie involves you. The Navy Pier IMAX has the largest screen among flat-screens in Chicago. And the latest in laser projection technology movies like the space-themed ‘A Beautiful Planet’ made especially for Navy Pier IMAX viewing spring out and envelope you in immersive ways you have never experienced before.

Even regular movies at the Navy Pier IMAX and the silver screen oldies exhibited here are transformed through technology for IMAX viewing at the Navy Pier IMAX. Crystal clear surround sound and absolute high-definition full-HD resolution pictures with brightened auto-adjusted brightness are some features that enhance this unbelievable IMAX experience. Don’t wait! Just book your tickets in advance and treat yourself to the Navy Pier IMAX movie. Do check the website of the Navy Pier regarding the Navy Pier IMAX show, its timings, and bookings.

In rounding the trip to Navy Pier off, let’s say that there could never be a neighborhood in Chicago better than the Navy Pier for families. There is educative fun for the young kids and plenty of things to see and do at the Navy Pier for the not-yet-old-enough kids or parents too.

You have 50 parks, an amusement park, several pavilions to promote the theatre, arts, and performing arts, the University of Chicago a short distance away, the Navy Pier IMAX experience.

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