Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/821088
DREAMSCAPES SPRING/SUMMER 2017 22 fascinating objects from Ancient Egypt to First Nations to arguably the world's most famous dinosaur—SUE the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Then cast off from the aquarium on a relaxing lake cruise for an all-encom- passing view of Chicago's magnificent waterfront vista. ON THE WATER AND IN THE SKY Cruising Chicago's waterways is also the best way to appreciate the city's architec- tural wonders. A Chicago Architecture Foundation tour sounds a little dry per- haps, but they offer a choice of 85 walking, bus and boat tours that joyfully bring Chicago's groundbreaking buildings to life. It is best to book ahead for their popular River Cruise boat tours on Chicago's First Lady. It departs from Michigan Avenue Bridge for a 90-minute cruise on the Chicago River to view some of the most iconic skyscrapers from the Wrigley Building to the Willis Tower. Return to the Willis Tower, the second tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, for the best panoramic views in town from the Skydeck on the 103 rd floor. If you are feeling adventurous, step out into the void—the glass box of the Ledge extends over a metre outside the building, a dizzying 412 metres above the Chicago River. Not only can you see into four states from this aerie, but you can also see most of the 77 diverse neighbourhoods whose patchwork quilt provide so much of the unique character of the city. Each of these neighbourhoods has its own personality and reasons to spend time there—mixes of historical sites and attrac- tions, arts and culture, dining, nightlife, shopping and ambiance. There is the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue—13 blocks of shoppers' paradise, including more than 460 stores and upscale bou- tiques, not to mention 275 restaurants and 60 hotels. River North has the greatest con- centration of art galleries in America outside of Manhattan with over a hundred clustered in the gallery district on Superior and Huron. And Little Italy, where the orig- inal legacy of Italian immigrants is now suffused with additions from other cul- tures into a robust meld of great restaurants and festivals, including the Spring Awakening Music Festival. JAZZ AND BLUES The best way of coming to grips with these neighbourhoods is to choose a theme that ABOVE: 360 CHICAGO observation deck at the John Hancock Building offers 360 degrees of breathtaking views of Chicago's skyline and Lake Michigan. OPPOSITE TOP: The Bean is the centrepiece of Millennium Park.