Lake Michigan is very vibrant, especially around the summertime. The Navy Pier is an extension of this, and I actually went there Labor Day weekend in 2003 for the first time.

There is fun for the whole family. First of all, the pier overlooks the lake, and it is nice to walk and enjoy the music, food, and other activities there.

My wife and I took a Ferris wheel ride there, and we admired the Chicago skyline and the evening lights from high above. They also have a mall at the end of the strip with vendors, ice cream, and other shops.

It is lots of fun, and often in the summer you are treated to a firework show. You have to love fireworks over the water - always nice! Make a point to go here, as it is easy to get there and everyone knows where it is.

Crowded with people, this place is the boardwalk of the Midwest. With a gigantic Ferris wheel, cotton candy, and kitschy souvenir shops, it's a tourist and local favorite.

We enjoyed the Ferris wheel. With its slow-paced rotation, we had plenty of photos ops of the Chicago skyline, and it was quite relaxing just to sit for a while after all the walking we did.

Then we took a high-speed boat ride on Lake Michigan. We went south to the observatory and north to North Beach in only 30 minutes. The sun had just set before the boat ride, so we got to see the city all lit up. We then enjoyed hamburgers and beer from the beer garden while listening to a ‘70s cover band.

As we walked back from the pier's edge, we searched for the five penny machines that were hidden among the souvenir shops. We successfully found all five; however, I was unable to get the last three pennies because I ran out of change again. Begging the store vendors for pennies and quarters didn't get me anything either. They thought I was crazy. Packed with people and lots of things to do, Navy Pier is a must for summer fun in Chicago.

I will definitely give Navy Pier another chance. Maybe we'll try the night time fireworks. When we were the in hot August, Navy Pier was less than expected. It was shoulder-to-shoulder crowded and HOT. Where was that Lake Michigan breeze??? It looked to me that the kids were enjoying themselves. The walk there is longer than expected, so take a free trolley. We took one back, but ended up talking politics with the crazy man in front of us. Maybe we should have walked back. Regardless, Navy Pier is a destination that you should see. The park at the entrance is gorgeous. You can rent bikes or rollerblades and head up lakeshore to one of the beaches from here. If you don't want to go into Navy Pier, at least check out the flora and fauna at the park outside.

Our first day in Chicago was definitely full of activity. We had stopped and walked around Chinatown on our way to Comiskey Park and an afternoon White Sox game. Following the game, we jumped back onto the "L" and headed for Navy Pier.

It was a beautiful summer evening and walking the one and half-mile pier was very enjoyable. Opening in 1916, Municipal Pier was originally designed for commercial shipping and recreation. There were restaurants and a theater, side-by-side with freight operations. In 1927, in honor of America’s WWI Navy veterans, it was officially renamed Navy Pier. Today, in addition to several lake-view restaurants, the pier has a Ferris Wheel, Carousel, and an IMAX Theater. From the pier, you can take several types of cruises on Lake Michigan. You can sail on a 148-foot, four-masted schooner; or take a thrilling ride on one of the four Seadogs. We chose the Seadog. If you make the same choice, hold on to your hats! The 70-foot Seadog is one of the fasted speedboats in America. We were surprised by the price. We had thought that it would be too expensive, but when we found out that it was only $15 we climbed aboard. The ride was so cool. TheSeadog throws about a 15 foot spray as you cruise the Lake Michigan shoreline.

After 30 minutes of wind and spray on our faces, we were ready for a cold brew and a bite to eat. We had noticed Charlie’s Ale House when we first arrived at Navy Pier. Charlie’s is not a micro-brewery, but the had a pretty good selection of ice cold beers to choose from. For dinner, I tried one their well-seasoned strip steaks. The steak was cook perfectly to my taste and the accompanying roasted red potatoes were excellent. We sat at one of the outdoor tables and had a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline and the activity on Lake Michigan. From the comments from my friends, I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

The late afternoon had turned to evening. As the sun set on Lake Michigan, Navy Pier offered the perfect place to walk off the over-stuffed feeling that I had after dinner. We did a little shopping and I took a few pictures before we put an end to my first, fun-filled day in Chicago.

It is a mall with perks. It has boat excursions, a ferris wheel, great selection of shops and restaurants, great views, kid activity area, art displays, street performers, and is easily accessible by public transportation, either walking or car. It is a fun place designed to instill the "Spirit of Chicago" in all who partake.