Shopping
Lakeshore East is steps from the city’s main shopping district, the Magnificent Mile, an eight-block stretch of Michigan Avenue with over four hundred stores that range from major international brands to local favorites. Mag Mile shopping encompasses four indoor shopping centers, dozens of stand-alone stores, several restaurants, movie theaters, and street side gardens.
For pure luxury, head straight to Oak Street, an international style center with high-end stores such as Hermes, Prada, Yves St. Laurent and Barney’s, located at the north end of Michigan Avenue. Nearby, art and antiques collectors can search for unique treasures in the sixty-plus galleries of nearby River North Gallery District (home to the greatest concentration of contemporary galleries outside Manhattan). In the Loop, shoppers will find the landmark State Street Historic Retail District, including the legendary former Marshall Fields.
While all these fabulous shopping opportunities are located a short walk from Lakeshore East, there are plenty of equally exclusive options a little further afield. Chicago’s various neighborhoods make for excellent shopping destinations on their own, with trendy clothing, accessories, furniture, and much more in up and coming areas as the West Loop, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park/Bucktown.
At first, the sheer number of experiences Chicago offers can seem overwhelming – it is difficult to know where to begin. From the city’s iconic architecture to its legendary sports teams to the vibrant neighborhoods that each have a flavor all their own, Chicago delights, excites, and inspires.
Chicago’s newest attraction is the internationally acclaimed Millennium Park, adjacent to Lakeshore East, which offers outdoor concerts and contemporary art in a stunning setting next to Lake Michigan, just south of the Lakeshore East community. The park is home to the famous Cloud Gate sculpture (“The Bean”) designed by renowned artist Anish Kapoor. Enjoy ice skating in the winter, splashing around in the interactive Crown Fountain during summer, and alfresco dining at the Park Grille from spring to fall.
A short walk to the north, Navy Pier is a fun destination for the entire family, with its one hundred fifty foot Ferris wheel, boat and Segway tours, and countless dining or shopping options. Enjoy and learn the history, creativity, and expertise behind the city’s architecture by taking a guided walking or boat tour through the Chicago Architecture Foundation, or get a birds-eye view from the 103rd floor Willis Tower Sky deck and the 94th floor Hancock Observatory.
One of Chicago’s many free attractions is the Lincoln Park Zoo, with more than one thousand mammals, reptiles, and birds call home. Nature buffs can enjoy the peaceful gardens under glass at Garfield Park Conservatory, in the Garfield Park neighborhood and Lincoln Park Conservatory, adjacent to the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Last but most certainly not least, Chicago’s internationally renowned museums and their world class exhibits lend the city global prestige. The Museum Campus, situated just south of Lakeshore East near Soldier Field, is home to the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium, which is the world’s largest indoor aquarium with more than eight thousand aquatic animals representing more than seven hundred species from all parts of the world. A little further south lies the Museum of Science & Industry, where visitors can satisfy their curiosity with interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and films. Art aficionados will enjoy the Art Institute of Chicago, with its new Modern Wing, and the Museum of Contemporary Art as well as the many smaller galleries that showcase masterpieces from around the world.
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