Navy Pier - Chicago

One could easily spend a half, or even a full day on Navy Pier. Known as Chicago's playground, Navy Pier offers many family oriented attractions, shops, restaurants, gardens, and entertainment.

The entertainment includes fireworks, theatrical productions, an IMAX Theater, Cirque acrobats, and live staged shows featuring jugglers, magicians, and marching bands. One can enjoy shopping with possible purchases such as apparel, souvenirs, collectibles, and toys. Navy Pier has a wide variety of restaurants ranging from casual to family-oriented to candle-lit dining. After you work up an appetite, your senses will sure be pleased.

A big hilight of Navy Pier can be see from a-far, and that is the giant Ferris Wheel in the middle of the Pier. I did not get a chance to go on it, but I can tell you that I have never seen a bigger Ferris Wheel anywhere, and I'm sure it will be well worth the ride!

Tips on Navy Pier:
-If Navy Pier is a must-see for you, don't make it your last stop in Chicago. Navy Pier is 50 acres, and you won't get nearly as much enjoyment out of it if you are exhausted from a day of walking the city.
-Wear your walking shoes.
-Make a note to see Navy Pier at night. The Ferris Wheel looks amazing in the dark!

Chicago

I know Chicago like I know the back of my hand! I have family who live in a suburb of Chicago, and we would go there as a family every year! Chicago is a great city, rain or shine, hot or cold! You will never run out of things to do in Chicago!

My first memory of Chicago was eating at the Hard Rock Cafe and going on a horse and carriage ride just after Christmas. Chicago is a bustling city around Christmastime, and the streets are beautifully lit with Christmas lights adorning each tree, and in store fronts for as far as the eye can see.

Chicago in the summer is equally amazing as it is in the winter. The freedom to walk the lakefront, the Magnificent Mile, through Grant and Milennium Parks, and laying in the grass just feet away from Navy Pier is incredible!

Read on as I tell you about each one of these attractions, and more!!

Milwaukee, WI

I can't being to tell you how many times I have been to Milwaukee! I love this city, mainly because it's the home of my all-time favorite baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers! In addition to baseball, Milwaukee is a great city to do most anything!

I have been to many Brewer games in my days, and it started all the way back in the County Stadium era. To many, this ballpark would be boring, mediocre at best, but to a Brewer fan, it was filled with the histories of Robin Yount and Rollie Fingers. As the market kept growing and new fields kept popping up for a lot of teams, the Brewers had to keep up. Enter Miller Park! Miller Park was conceived in 1996 and opened its inaugural season in 2001. It is the best venue to watch baseball, rain or shine. This Park has a fan-shaped retractable roof to fit all sorts of weather. Taking in a Brewer game is inexpensive, and is a wonderful environment for anyone! A must-see in Milwaukee!

Milwaukee is a great long-weekend city. I have been there many times for long weekends, and I would suggest staying a little outside of the city. A great place to stay, from experience, is the Best Western right across from the airport. This would be an extra plus if you fly in, too! Milwaukee is easy to navigate around, and its freeway system is simple, easy to get on and off the major thorough-fares.

I wouldn't call Milwaukee an overwhelming city at all. During our latest trip, we of course planned it around a couple Brewer games, but that wasn't the only thing we did. We drove downtown and enjoyed a dueling piano bar, my first experience that I greatly enjoyed! Other attractions I have seen while I have been there was: the Milwaukee County Zoo, dinner on the river, walking down the Lake Michigan Shore, and seeing downtown by night. There will always be something waiting for me in Milwaukee!

Additional attractions you may want to visit when you are there are: the Harley-Davidson Museum, the Pabst Mansion, Miller Brewing Company, Bradley Sculpture Gardens, and the State Fairgrounds are 5 minutes up I-94!