This is an old visit, but on a blustery cold day like today, I was reminded of it.  October 2006 I spent a day in Chicago. I went for a business meeting, and had the afternoon to myself at Navy Pier.

Navy Pier is certainly a tourist trap or theme park type venue.  In early October it was cold and looked ready to rain at any second, but the Children’s Museum and stores seemed relatively busy. Many of the rides, restaurants and outdoor activities were closed, but one could tell it had potential to be packed.  The view of Chicago from Navy Pier is quite nice, and the plaza in front of the museum deserves a photo opportunity as well. With a cup of coffee from the Starbucks inside the mall area, I walked around the outer edge of the ‘pier’ looking out at the water.  There were several boats available for hire on warmer days, cruises, rides, a German beer hall, plenty of places to buy gifts and eat. 

If you have some time and money to kill, and don’t mind overpriced parking, try Navy Pier for a few hours. If you have a child or two, it could be especially rewarding as the Children’s Museum and the fast food are conveniently close to each other.