Walking Tour at Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois

Описание: Walking Tour at Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois

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Millennium Park is more than an attraction — it’s an expression of the Chicago experience. The lakefront campus, located in the heart of downtown Chicago, is home to the iconic Cloud Gate statue (aka “The Bean”), interactive fountains, tranquil gardens, free events, public art, skating rinks, rock climbing, and plenty of green space.

You can’t come to Chicago and not visit The Bean, one of the city’s most famous icons. Unveiled in 2005, this is British artist Anish Kapoor’s first outdoor public sculpture in the United States, and one of the largest sculptures of its kind in the world. See yourself and the city skyline reflected on Cloud Gate’s silky surfaces as you enter Millennium Park.

Conceptual artist Jaume Plensa’s interactive, larger-than-life video sculpture is composed of a black granite reflecting pool positioned between a pair of 50-foot glass brick towers that use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to display digital videos. From May through October, the faces of Chicago locals spout water from pouting lips, showering splashers with cooling spray.

Lurie Garden is an award-winning masterpiece of botanical landscaping. Throughout the year, and for every season, native perennials and bulbs give the garden great diversity, creating a haven for wildlife, birds, and insects. Take free guided tours from May through September, or tour at your own pace throughout the year. Self-guided scavenger hunt worksheets in English and Spanish are also available for family fun as you stroll.

The spectacular oasis at Maggie Daley Park is a kid’s fantasyland. The fun Play Garden is fashioned in the spirit of Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with suspension bridges, tube slides, and a big ship to explore. Older kids flock to the 40-foot climbing wall and 18-hole mini golf course, putting through Chicago-themed obstacles. In the summer, the curvy Skating Ribbon becomes a walking and rollerblading path (in-line skate rentals are available). And in winter, the ribbon becomes a haven for ice skaters. Adults love the park, too, with tennis courts and picnic groves for a little recreation and relaxation. Take a walk along the spectacular stainless steel BP Bridge to reach neighboring Millennium Park.

The McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink is a year-round attraction along Michigan Avenue. Over the summer, it’s a picturesque alfresco dining space and home to the Park Grill. In winter, it’s a charming ice rink, with Cloud Gate and the city skyline as its backdrop.

Frank Gehry’s one-of-a-kind bandshell stands 120-feet tall, with a flowing crown of stainless steel ribbons and curving steel plates that make it a stunning and surreal place to see live entertainment. Plus, the pavilion has a state-of-the-art sound system designed to mimic the acoustics of an indoor theatre. Grab a seat or sprawl out on the Great Lawn with a picnic as you take in Millennium Park’s Summer Music and Summer Film Series, and a host of annual festivals, including the Grant Park Music Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and the World Music Festival.

Credit: choosechicago.com