Since reopening in the 1990's, the revitalized Navy Pier has emerged as one of Chicago's premier recreational tourist attractions. On the surface, Navy Pier is basically one big, brash tourist mecca for shops, fast food, and general goofing-around. However, one must look past the gaudy and glossy surfaces to experience a Chicago destination that has had a varied history and a bright future.

Navy Pier was originally conceived as part of the famous Burnham Plan of 1909 for Chicago. Navy Pier opened in 1916 with ship docking facilities as well as public entertainment facilities. Since then, its 3000-foot length has been utilized as a military training base, a Chicago campus for the University of Illinois, as well a location for trade shows, festivals and concerts.

The new Navy Pier was designed and shaped by VOA Associates and Benjamin Thompson Associates. The walk through Navy Pier can get quite crowded, whether inside or out. Since the pier juts into Lake Michigan, you are surrounded by some spectacular views. Take a look around while you are dodging rollerbladers, kids with ice cream cones, and brisk lake winds.

Navy Pier now has diverse attractions like the Chicago Children's Museum, IMAX Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows. The Skyline Stage is the site for summertime concerts, and the Festival Hall on the east end hosts a variety of public events and receptions. Kids and lovestruck couple will enjoy a slow ride on the large Ferris Wheel. You can still get dressed up before boarding a boat for a nice dinner cruise. Fireworks displays light up the summer nights, but not every summer night so check the schedule.

Besides the so-so food court, there are restaurants like Bubba Gump's, Riva, Charlie's Ale House, Joe's Be-Bop and a spinoff of the famous Billy Goat Tavern. Navy Pier actually has its own parking garage, but it is hard to imagine driving in this congestion. It is a healthy walk from downtown, and just walking through the pier is a long stroll as well. It is not a quiet place to be, but try and enjoy the fun along with the masses.

The lake breezes are cold, but if you're going to experience crowds, weather makes a difference. This is very enjoyable because we didn't feel rushed. We did exactly what we wanted with a neat vista of the lake in background stopping occasionally to drink hot cocoa to warm up.

Up for a real bird’s eye view of the Windy City? Visit Navy Pier and ride the 15-story Ferris wheel, for an incomparable view of the city’s skyline. The wheel’s 40 gondolas accommodate 6 passengers each, and it is open year-round, weather permitting. The Ferris wheel rotates so slowly you hardly feel it moving, and then all of a sudden, you’re at the top and seeing the city in a totally new way.

The Pier also has a delightful hand-painted musical carousel the littlest visitors are sure to love. Adults and kids can be transported back in time over 100 years in the Time Escape Virtual Reality 3D Thrill Ride. For fireworks lovers, Navy Pier offers two shows weekly: Wednesday evenings at 9:30 and Saturday evenings at 10:15. These shows are free, and feature fabulous pyrotechnic displays set to music.

For a more leisurely day at the Pier, visitors can shop for souvenirs, sports attire, and much more at Barbara’s Bookstore, Sunglass Hut, and Magic Masters, just to name a few. Throughout the Pier, you’ll also find a number of unique vendor carts. If all the activity is making you hungry, you can get anything from a snack to a meal at the Food Court, Billy Goat’s Tavern and Grill, Bubba Gumps, and, of course, McDonald’s.

Not surprisingly, Navy Pier offers a variety of boat rides. Seadogs offer 30-minute lakefront speedboat rides as well as architectural riverboat rides. The 30-minute tour travels south to the Shedd Aquarium and north to North Avenue Beach with a number of daily departures. The architectural tour cruises down the Chicago River to the Sears Tower and back to Navy Pier for a unique perspective of Chicago’s famous skyline.

It should be noted that a family visit to the Pier won't come cheap. The Ferris Wheel is $4 per adult, the boat cruises vary in price from about $15-30 per person, so plan accordingly. For more to see and do, check out Navy Pier’s website.

Navy Pier was one of two piers that were planned to extend into Lake Michigan over one mile. The other one was scraped, but the existing one opened for shipping business in 1916.When my mom was little, her grandmother would bring her to the pier to ride the merry-go-round and the ferris wheel (1930's) but when I was little, the pier was a deserted old place lined with fishermen on any given day. Ritchie Daley has turned that whole thing around and made the pier THE "IN" PLACE to be!
First came the 150 ft. ferris wheel and the merry-go-round and then came the tour boats featuring lunch, dinner, and sunset cruises. Then special events came such as the CHICAGO SPRING FLOWER AND GARDENING SHOW--right in the nick of time for those entering depression from such a long winter! In summer, the tall sailing ships make an appearance. There is always something to do at the pier these days and on summer nights don't forget the 10 p.m. free fireworks show !

What does a Ferris Wheel, an National Public Radio station, a magician, and a stained glass exhibit all have in common? Answer: They are all part of the fun on Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is a party waiting to happen. It is full of fun shops, interesting activities, changing exhibits, and a wide range of restaurants.

Shopping
Shopping here runs the gamut from a pretty good book store to a store selling magic tricks, to the Navy Pier souvenir shop, all amidst a myriad of kiosks selling all manners of stuff. There aren’t many bargains here, but looking is half the fun. One of the coolest shops is the museum store attached to the Chicago Children’s Museum, which is also located here.

Food
There are lots of food choices on Navy Pier. There is a food court anchored by a McDonald’s. For the more adventurous, the Billy Goat Tavern has an outpost here now - see my journal entry for a more complete rundown. Joe’s Be-Bop Cafe is a loud and raucous dining experience, while the Riva, further down the pier, is much more sedate. If you can’t find food to your liking here, you’re not trying. (Did I mention that Haagen Dazs has a cafe here, too?)

Activities
This is where Navy Pier really shines. During the summer, Navy Pier turns into an outdoor art gallery called Pier Walk. The sculptures on display change every year. (The bear at the bottom of the page is from Pier Walk 2002.) The Richard H. Dreihaus Gallery of Stained Glass is a small, easily navigated exhibition of Tiffany stained glass, and shouldn’t be missed. The Dreihaus exhibit is part of the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, which is a permanent exhibit at Navy Pier.

A number of cruises offering tours of the watery parts of Chicago take off from the south side of Navy Pier. Many of these require reservations, so plan ahead. One of these tours is an architectural tour of the city from the water, and should not be confused with the Chicago Architectural Foundation River Tours, which depart from the southeast corner of Michigan Ave. & Wacker Drive at the Michigan Ave. Bridge.

Chicago’s Shakespeare Theater has its home here, as does an Imax theater. There are frequent performances - suitable for children - at center stage by the Children’s Museum. Skyline Stage is an open air theater, home to all manner of entertainment. And, during the summer, there are fireworks on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Navy Pier is a high energy, entertaining place, and shouldn’t be missed. To find out more about what’s going on at the Pier, go to NavyPier or call 312-595-PIER.