Millennium Park

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Millennium Park - Tours

Author: Dee Fabbricatore

Millenium Park is filled with a countless selection of art, stunning architecture and landscapes, and events for the whole family to enjoy in its 24.5 acres of land. You can venture out and explore the grounds freely, or take one of the guided tours the city has to offer. Experience Chicago's most famous park in the most detailed way.

Millennium Park Greeter Tours

Make the Welcome Center your first stop and meet with a specialist who can help plan your visit. The Millennium Park Greeters offer free 45-minute guided tours of the park mid-May to mid-October at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., daily. Free tours are provided for groups of 10 or less and are on a first-come, first-serve basis so be sure to arrive at the Welcome Center at 201 E. Randolph Street early to secure your spot.

Millennium Park Self-Guided Enhanced Audio Tour

Explore Millennium Park and learn its secrets from the park's very own creators like architect Frank Gehry and artists Anish Kapoor and Jaume Plensa with the self-guided audio tour--downloadable from your very own computer--and transferable to any mp3 player.

The tour is about 40 minutes long, but with its random access technology it allows you to pick and choose what you want to hear when you want to hear it. Pick up a park map at the Chicago Cultural Center or download and print it out from the park's website and you are set to discover Chicago's Millennium Park at your own pace. Millenium Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Lurie Garden Guided Tours

Another scenic and totally free tour is through the magnificent Lurie Garden. Led by University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners, this 20-minute tour leads the discovery of Chicago symbolism in the garden's design and teaches which perennials can easily be grown in home gardens.

Meet gardeners at the BP Bridge at the eastern side of the park, who will then lead visitors - rain or shine- through the garden. Tours leave every 10 - 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. between mid-May and the end of September. Click here for more info.

Millennium Park Revealed

This two hour in-depth tour enhances your visit on a whole new level. Learn interesting facts, like why the area was conspicuously left blank in the 1909 plan of Chicago, or how brilliant minds of architecture and art transformed an ugly railway parking lot into a park that is the envy of cities worldwide.

Understand the inspiration for Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture, nicknamed "the bean," or Juame Plensa's high-tech Crown Fountain. And for five months beginning on June 19, 2009, view the temporary pavillions dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Burnham Plan.

Days and times fluctuate depending on season, so be sure check out the Chicago Architecture Foundation website for tour dates and times. Tickets vary depending on age and student status but the average basic ticket costs $16.

Bike Chicago Guided Tours

Bike Chicago, located on the northeast corner of Millennium Park at McDonald's Cycle Center, offers five fantastic Chicago tours. The Amazing Lakefront Tour covers beaches, lagoons, gardens, animals and architecture in eight exciting biking miles.

Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, and North Avenue Beach are just some of the high points of this two to three hour-long tour. The Friendly Neighborhoods Tour covers five Chicago communities during its two to three hour, seven mile-long bike tour.

Discover the Gold Coast neighborhood where high-end specialty shops and the Playboy Mansion reside; see the cobblestone sidewalks and historic architecture of Old Town; view the heavy foliage of Lincoln Park; and ride through trendy and hip Lakeview and Streeterville districts.

The Sites @ Night Tour incorporates a three mile-long tour of the city's most captivating nightime locations like the Magnificent Mile and Millennium's own dazzling Crown Fountain, and a skyline boat tour, ending with a spectacular view of the Navy Pier fireworks show.

Bike Chicago also offers up their classic Amazing Lakefront and Sites @ Night tours by way of segway for an additional cost. Prices, times and reservations are available on the official Bike Chicago Web site.

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nearby places of interest

Aria Restaurant
200 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago, IL 60601

A top Chicago restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine at The Fairmont Chicago hotel, Aria has proven that it's here to stay. Currently under the leadership of chef de cuisine Leon Gunn, the kitchen here serves a menu that's bursting with cultural influences from around the world.

Bongo Room
1152 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60605

Serving breakfast and lunch, this sibling to the popular Wicker Park location serves omelets, breakfast burritos and upscale flapjack offerings such as the “Oreo cookie” for breakfast. If you’re looking for lunch, seasonally inspired salads and sandwiches highlight the menu.

Bike Chicago Rental & Tours
239 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601

Bicycle rental, bicycle tours, segway tours, and in-line skate rentals make Bike Chicago a key attraction in the city. Bike Chicago has five locations scattered throughout the Chicago area, which is convenient for tourists and locals alike.

Bobby's Bike Hike
465 N McClurg Court, Chicago, IL 60611

Guided bike tours, (bicycles provided), that are definitely family friendly. Tours are designed for riders of all ages and fitness levels. A great way to learn about Chicago’s past, as well as insight into current events around the city. Bike rentals are also available for riders looking to explore the nearby Lakefront Bike Path.

Buckingham Fountain
Congress Parkway & Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60601

The Buckingham Fountain is one of the most popular attractions in Chicago. Located in Grant Park, it's unique and stunning architecture is a sight to see. Be sure to come on the hour to see the water display as it shoots out water 150 feet in the air for 20 minutes.

John Hancock Observatory
875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611

See Chicago from the top of the John Hancock Center in the heart of downtown. The John Hancock Observatory offers Chicago views at their finest and their new Cafe Espression by Lavazza is one of the most high altitude coffee purveyors in the world.

Lincoln Park Zoo
2200 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago, IL 60614

Lincoln Park Zoo, located in Chicago, is among the oldest zoological gardens in the country (established in 1868) and is also among the most modern. Generations of Chicago kids and visitors to the city alike take the time to stand face to face with apes and even go palm-to-palm with them through the glass. Human-to-animal interaction is mixed with the heavily scientific- and research-based initiatives here.

Millennium Park
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60610

Millennium Park has become Chicago’s newest main stage attractions. Aligned with the city’s emphasis on architectural innovation, this 24.5-acre phenomenon integrates historical significance with contemporary style from a number of international players. It is bordered by Michigan Avenue to the west, Columbus Drive to the east, Randolph Street to the north and Monroe Street to the south.

John Hancock Observatory
875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611