Set in 10 hectares of parkland in the central Loop area, Millennium Park is a popular destination for local Chicago folk and visitors, ideally situated close to other major attractions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Magnificent Mile. With so much space to wander and soak up the atmosphere, it is a perfect spot for a bit of biking or jogging. It’s also used as a site for many big concerts that come to the city.
This area was home largely to warehouses for well over a century from the 1850s. Until in 1997, Chicago’s Mayor Daley commissioned a group of architects, artists and developers to transform the space into the civic gem it is today.
At the heart of the great park, you’ll find Wrigley Square, a popular patch where visitors come to relax on the lawn or take a pleasant stroll. Here you’ll also be able to see the Millennium Monument, a towering series of Doric columns towering up to 12 metres high. Elsewhere, check out other large art installations such as British artist Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, a 20 metre long and 10 metre high stainless steel bean-shaped sculpture reflecting the Chicago skyline.
Another dazzling feature is the Crown Fountain designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, where two 15-metre high glass towers look over either side of a shallow pool. On each tower, you’ll be able to see projected videos of locals squirting water from their mouths. In the warmer months, you can even stand in the pool alongside the locals to cool down.
The outdoor Boeing Galleries on the north and south sides of the park offer even more art, with exhibitions by local and global artists on show all year round.
In the summer months, outdoor concerts are held in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, sometimes open to everyone free of charge. Accommodating 11,000 spectators both in seating and on a grassy hill, there is plenty on offer – check the park website for a schedule of what’s on. In the winter season meanwhile, you can go along to music and dance shows held indoors at the Harris Theatre.
If all the downtime here at Millennium Park leaves you a little peckish, head to the wonderful 300-seat restaurant at the Michigan Avenue side of the park. Of, if you prefer something more casual, you can always pack a picnic to enjoy on the sprawling lawns.
