Magnificent Mile

Chicago’s world famous Magnificent Mile, the stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, is the heart of the city’s retail and entertainment district. Extending north of the Michigan Avenue Bridge where the area’s first permanent structure, Fort Dearborn, once stood, the Magnificent Mile is lined with posh stores, luxury hotels, four-star restaurants, and cultural and architectural attractions galore.

Among the many famous landmarks found along the Magnificent Mile is the Water Tower and Pumping Station, one of the few structures to survive the Chicago Fire of 1871. The beautiful, historic limestone buildings house a still-operational pumping facility as well as a Visitor Information Center for the City of Chicago. Just a quick walk north of the Water Tower is the fifth tallest building in the country, the John Hancock Center. The open-air deck on the Hancock’s 94th floor allows guests to take in magnificent views of the city, while the Signature Lounge and the Signature Room on the 95th floor offer guests a chance to sip martinis or dine in style with the spectacular sights of Chicago surrounding them.

At the other end of the Magnificent Mile is one of the city’s newest and tallest skyscrapers, the Trump International Hotel and Tower. This soon-to-be completed tower, made entirely of steel and glass, will offer luxury amenities and world class dining, making it a popular destination for elite travelers from all over the world. Adjacent to this modern architectural jewel are two of Chicago’s most historically significant buildings: the terra-cotta clad Wrigley Building, headquarters of the Wrigley chewing gum company, and the Gothic-style Tribune Tower, home of the Chicago Tribune newspaper and WGN radio and television studios.

Down a set of stairs across the street from the Tribune Tower sits the Billy Goat Tavern, tucked away in the underbelly of the Magnificent Mile. A venerable Chicago institution, the Billy Goat is a former hangout of Chicago’s journalistic greats, whose photos proudly adorn the tavern’s wall. Patrons can enjoy a cheap beer with the signature ‘cheezborgers’ that are forever immortalized in a well-known Saturday Night Live sketch.