Millennium Park, Chicago

This was the first place that my boyfriend and I went on our trip to CHicago, b/c we read the reviews and assumed it would be the best thing to do. So we walked there and yeah they have some cool things to look at, but other than that...it's just kind of boring. Once you get your view of the kidney bean and the cool spitting fountain...you can eat some reaaally overpriced food and that's about it. Overall it's a cool place to just stop by when you are passing it, but don't make it a priority.

We had an outstanding time. It is beautiful, free and has great photo opportunities. It is within walking distance of a lot of things which makes it even more convenient.

prefect for the family you should visit any time of the year hot or cold. at the park there are face's that shoot out wat so maybe in the summer. the kids and adults would enjoy it. prefect time

New York has Central Park; now Chicago has Millennium. Our park at 24.5 acres is much smaller than New York's, and a lot is compressed into this space. In very little time, the park has become a people magnet, and the most popular draw seems to be the "Bean" (named Cloud Gate by the sculptor; renamed by literal-minded Chicagoans), a huge, kidney-bean shaped stainless steel sculpture which reflects the city, you (there you are! waving at your own reflection!), and the clouds above. At night the Bean resembles a giant jewel, with the lights of the city shining on it like a sparkly necklace. In the summer, the park offers free concerts at one of the best outdoor venues in the world, with a gorgeous Frank Gehry designed bandshell whose undulating design mimics the music. Over the lawn, a giant weblike sound system lets listeneners in the grass hear the music as if in a hall, while multicolored lights subtly play on the whole scene. People are invariably relaxed, smiling, and politely attentive to the music. The park is divided into sections; one section contains two 50-foot tall glass block sculptures, which are colorful multimedia fountains, showing projected images of slowly changing giant-size faces of real Chicagoans, lips puckering and then spitting real streams of water over the heads of kids shrieking and running in the shallow water below. On a warm night, this goes on for hours, while the kids get soaked. (Knowledgable parents bring a change of clothes.) Another section contains a year-round native garden which is terraced and amazingly quiet and "private" in feel, with paths to wander and benches for relaxing. Leading away from the park to the east is a long, curvy stainless steel and wood bridge (another Gehry design) winding over Columbus Drive to another park, with Lake Michigan beyond. It's hard to resist the impulse to wander over the bridge, and back again. In winter the outdoor ice rink, situated on the western edge of the park on Michigan Avenue, draws crowds from morning 'til night, from opening day (Thanksgiving weekend) until closing in the spring. No matter how cold the weather, some hardy souls only leave the ice when the Zamboni is at work. There's music to skate by, lights at night, hot drinks, skate rentals and a warming room. Sometimes movies are filmed on the ice (Nicholas Cage did a few turns there last year, while making The Weatherman.) My office on Michigan Avenue overlooks the ice rink and the Bean, but for five years it was a noisy construction site. Originally scheduled to be completed in 2000 at a cost of $200,000,000, the thing opened in 2003 at nearly $500,000,000. I was determined to be unimpressed by the park, but find it impossible not to like Millennium. The most winning aspect is the enthusiasm the park inspires in visitors, who arrive singly and in groups from all over the world, daily, in all weather; cameras at the ready, waving at the Bean, visiting the art displays, riding high on the rented Segways (not as hard to do as the Prez made it seem). Good public art is supposed to be interactive; the art in this park truly gets people of all ages to respond. Costly as it was for us natives, it's free to you, our guests, so please come and enjoy the park in any season of the year. Be sure to spend a lot of money in Chicago while you're here!

Millenium Park is a beautiful park. I took my family to there and had a wonderful time. I believe everybody will love it.

It was a simple mistake. My boyfriend and I were a bit lost in trying to find Randolph Street Station walking back from Navy Pier. But this miscalculation in direction proved to be a cool twist of fate called Millenium Park! As we quickly marched towards what seemed to be our destination, we were puzzled and awe-struck by what seemed to be a diamond in the rough. Not only was Millenium Park a perfect blend for the city of Chicago, the atmosphere there had the innate ability to set ones troubles aside and make you appreciate the finer qualities in life. The park is symbolistic of its city's nature. It is there to be discovered, if one chooses to seek it as well as encapsulating the very idea that even in a city where life is seen faster paced, that life really is about enjoying the small and most wonderful things that seem to stumble into your life when you least expect it.

It was a simple mistake. My boyfriend and I were a bit lost in trying to find Randolph Street Station walking back from Navy Pier. But this miscalculation in direction proved to be a cool twist of fate called Millenium Park! As we quickly marched towards what seemed to be our destination, we were puzzled and awe-struck by what seemed to be a diamond in the rough. Not only was Millenium Park a perfect blend for the city of Chicago, the atmosphere there had the innate ability to set ones troubles aside and make you appreciate the finer qualities in life. The park is symbolistic of its city's nature. It is there to be discovered, if one chooses to seek it as well as encapsulating the idea that even in a city where life is seen faster paced, that life really is about enjoying the small and most wonderful things that seem to stumble into your life when you least expect it.

It is so close to the loop and Michigan Avenue, it is a must see. It is right next to the Art Institute and Orchestra Hall. And, it is free!

In the heat of a 90� day, dipping our feet in the wading pool was the best surprise in the park. Beautiful natural looking gardens.

Millenium Park is the best park in the world.If you have not had a chance to visit yet it should be on your to do list.The park is full of art and culture from all over the world from the Frank Gery, desinged bridge and pavillion to the drops of water dripping from the crown fountain along the magnificent mile.There's great music,food and people and some of the most friendly security officers i've ever met