The Navy Pier in Chicago which faces Lake Michigan was one of the city’s landmark historic sites, which has today morphed into a well loved leisure, recreation and shopping area.  The Navy Pier which was first built in 1916 at a staggering cost of 4.5 million dollars was intended as a cargo facility for freighters that used the lake. Subsequent development saw warehouses and passenger terminals being built as steamships were introduced.  The pier was a favorite among young lovers for its romantic ambience and wide vistas of Lake Michigan, something that keeps the crowds coming in even today.

There is seemingly no end to the amount of leisure activities on offer at the Navy Pier. The Pier Park is a beautifully landscaped area complete with a large Ferris wheel, an 18-hole miniature golf course and a quaint carousal. Due to the area’s immense popularity with children the Chicago Children’s Museum is also located here and features interesting exhibits such as Dinosaur Expedition and the Kraft Artabounds Studio.  More exhilarating adventures await you at the Amazing Chicago adventure maze, where visitors can try and put out the Great Chicago Fire and whizz down the spinning tunnel. Other interesting rides and places to visit include the Transporter FX, Bike Chicago, Segway Experience of Chicago and Stained Glass Museum.

Dining and shopping choices at the Navy Pier are diverse as anywhere else in Chicago. The Navy Pier’s restaurants range from casual family oriented to elegant candle light romantic dinners.  A wide variety of retailers in the area present shoppers everything from apparel and accessories to toys and souvenirs.  All these amazing sights and sounds can easily be accessed from the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago which puts you close to the action among all Chicago hotels. The Navy Pier also puts on a special pyrotechnic display as an added treat to visitors from the Memorial Day weekend to the Labor Day weekend.