If you have a person that isn’t too interested in clothes or shopping but likes sports and high-tech gadgets, drop them off at Niketown, the Sony Store (amazing new stuff in there), or FAO Schwartz. In fact, in my opinion, everyone should visit the FAO Schwartz at least once while they are in Chicago.

In addition to the high-end and specialty shops, there are stores for every type of style. There is a four-floor Gap, a two-floor Banana Republic, a two-story Victoria’s Secret, two United Colors of Benetton stores, a Timberland Store (sorry, never been inside, so I do not know how large it is), an H&M, a Chanel store, a three-story Crate and Barrel, a Kate Spade store, Nine West, Hugo Boss, Abercrombie, and Hermes.

If you want to get all your shopping done in one place, there are several department stores, including Marshall Fields (a Chicago tradition), Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales. These stores sell everything, from wedding dresses to pots and pans. If you can’t find something you like in one of these stores, then you need to come take a shopping lesson with me.

In my opinion, the best time to visit Michigan Avenue is during the Christmas season. This is one thing the city of Chicago does right - they decorate for the holidays! There is greenery and lights everywhere, and music usually coming from most of the stores. If you get a light dusting of snow (otherwise known as lake-effect flurries), you will be walking in a winter wonderland and put in the holiday mood. In addition, there is a free trolley that runs from Michigan Avenue to Water Tower Place to Navy Pier. This way, you can get all your holiday shopping done in one day and not have to worry about taking it all on the train/L or getting a cab.

One of the best things to do on Michigan Avenue is to just sit and people-watch. If it is nice out, there is a little park by the water tower; if not, find a little coffee shop to rest your tired feet at. You will see a perfect cross-section of America walking along Michigan Avenue at any given time, all types of races, genders, religions, nationalities, fashion choices, and more. It is always interesting to see if you can discern between the locals and the tourists.

Whether you go to Michigan Avenue for serious shopping, window browsing, or just to take in the sites, you will know why it is called The Magnificent Mile.

As you keep walking, you will come to the Magnificent Mile. You could easily spend a day or two shopping here and not see everything. Stop at the Old Water Tower (with visitor center) while you are here. The crowds get a bit thick as you keep walking. At the end of the day I cut back to Wabash Avenue to avoid the crowd (a perfectly safe area as well with very few people). Overall, it is a highly recommended walking route for those who love shopping or those who want to take a walking tour of waterfront Chicago.

Chicago’s Michigan Avenue has long been known as one of the world’s premiere power-shopping venues. As other cities built sprawling mega-malls in outlying suburbs, "Boul Mich." developers introduced the vertical mall: six to eight balconies of upscale shops surrounding a soaring central atrium. The first -- and in my opinion, still the most attractive -- is Water Tower Place, a block north of Chicago Avenue and across from an ornate limestone pumping station which, like the water tower it primed, survived the Chicago fire.

Others, attractive in the their ways but not as successful commercially, are at 700 and 900 North Michigan. All are worth a visit.

The newest entry, North Bridge, isn’t a high-rise like the earlier towers. Instead, it extends across Rush St. and Grand Ave. to fill a full city block, adding new glitz and glamor to the area just north of the Chicago River. It’s anchored by Nordstrom’s, but offers many other high-end shops.

If you have young children with you, take them to the amazing Lego showroom on the 2nd level at North Bridge. (If you have adult children with you, take them instead to the Billy Goat Tavern, a subterrainean lair populated largely by Chicago newspaper people -- Mike Royko and other legendary reporters are said to have often enjoyed beer and "cheee-sah borgers" here. Ask the barkeep or regulars about the original Billy’s famous "hex" on the Chicago Cubs.

Next to, and across the street from, North Bridge are two of Chicago’s most magnificent buildings: the almost-pure-white Wrigley Building and the stately, Gothic, elegantly-oramented Tribune Tower. To touch some pieces of world history, walk along the tower’s north and south walls; they’re embedded with bricks, stones and other artifacts from ancient temples, significant buildings and other historic achievements: a rock from the site of the Pilgrims’ landing, for example.

Follow the River

In the 1990’s, Chicago finally started capitalizing on the scenic value of its downtown river. Wacker Drive, the convenient but crumbling double-deck riverfront thoroughfare, has been dismantled and completely rebuilt. Upper Wacker Drive had long been a pleasant and attractive walk. Now, there’s also a water-level promenade with several upscale restaurants.

(How many of you knew there was an underground auto route from the Post Office south and west of the Loop to North Michigan Avenue?)

Walking is even better now that attention has also been paid toward beautifying the riverfront east of Michigan Ave -- long neglected. But for a relaxing alterative, try the Wendella WaterBus. It used to cost $1 and run only on weekdays during "rush hour". Now it costs $2, but operates all-day, every day. And, the route has been extended. Once operating only between Madison St. and Michign Ave, it now continues east to the popular Tavern on the Pier in the East River development, just a quarter-mile or so from Navy Pier. Seniors ride for $1 each way; adults can buy a round trip for $3.

We parked near Michigan and Kinzie, just past the river and walked down Michigan until we hit the Lake.

The picture taking was a diversion for the girls -- to take their minds away from spending money and it worked quite well.

It is quite a long walk, there and back, so wear comfortable *but very stylish* shoes -- it IS Michigan Avenue after all, and you may actually want to go in one of the stores. We stopped a lot along the way so the children never got too tired to finish the walk & it was winter so no overheating was involved.