I consider myself an avid shopper, but Michigan Avenue is almost too much, even for me! But it is a challenge I'll be willing to tackle again and again. Before my first trip through the mile, I had heard of its magnificence, but I’m not sure I believed it. After a quarter mile of it, I was sold and have been doing my best to tell my friends. One of my favorite finds, however, was just off the avenue. Orvis was just a block over, and it has become an indispensable contributor to my wardrobe.

The Magnificent Mile is a great way to spend a day walking in Chicago. There are 460 stores spread over 8 city blocks. Some stores include Express, Victoria's Secret, American Girls, and Lord & Taylor. I'd suggest beginning your walk at the area around 8th/9th Street. This is not part of the shopping area, but there are some great things to see. The waterfront lines one side and has a nice park (Grant Park) with hills for sleigh riding, interesting sculptures, and an ice-skating rink. The Art Institute of Chicago is also a few blocks down on your right.

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.

Window shopping along Michigan Avenue was quite fun, especially as we were so close to Christmas. On the weekend after Thanksgiving the store windows were decorated beautifully, the people too, were decorated beautifully. Totally got us into the spirit of the season. But, instead of shopping we took pictures.

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.

I'm from New York, but Michigan Avenue/Oak Street is fairly impressive for shopping. Designer stores abound everywhere - Chanel, a very big Ralph Lauren store, Armani, Gucci, Malo, Saks, Neiman's, etc. There's also a huge Crate & Barrel store (Chicago is where they're based) and a North Face store (we don't have that in New York). Along Oak Street are some more designer boutiques and stores including Barneys, Prada, Loro Piana, Jil Sander, among others. At the end of the Mile, you're rewarded with a beautiful view of the Lake.