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featuredexcursion
Seeing the dead in a scientific light!
by shellakers
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Recently, we took my mom to see the amazing Bod...
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With more than 50 distinct neighborhoods and a bevy of outdoor art and architecture, one of the best ways to see Chicago is on foot. With children, however, walking can get tiring and overwhelming, so here’s a way to see an interesting part of the Loop without completely exhausting yourself. This excursion mixes major attractions with a little shopping, people-watching and outdoor art.
Sear’s Tower
Start at the Sear’s Tower at 233 S. Wacker Drive, the corner of Wacker and Jackson.. An ear-popping ride to the top is just the start of the fun. A short History Channel film introduces you the development of one of the world’s tallest buildings You’ll get some of the best views of the lake and city in all directions from the Skydeck. You’ll see the lake and harbors to the east; skyline to the north and south, and the great, vast flatness of Illinois to the west. The walls on the interior of the skydeck provide a cultural history of both the building and the city.
For more, see my review on the
Sears Tower.
When you exit the Sears Tower on Jackson, head east.
Outdoor Art
Calder’s Flamingo
You can walk from the Sear’s Tower to State Street and along the way view a few of Chicago’s most famous outdoor sculptures. At Dearborn and Jackson turn left and you’ll walk right by the Federal Center Plaza where there is a large, red steel sculpture. This 53-foot high sculpture is “The Flamingo” by Calder. It is striking for its color and height.
Marc Chagall’s Four Season’s
Continue north on Dearborn to Monroe where you’ll find Marc Chagall’s famous “Four Seasons,” a huge rectangular mosaic. The mosaic is located at First National Plaza. The mosaic was built in 1974 and given as a gift to Chicago. It features swirling images of characters, flowers and trees. The mosaic is 70 feet long by 14 feet high by 10 feet wide and is made up of glass and tiles from Europe and Israel. It’s been nicknamed the boxcar because when you see NASA images of it, it resembles a boxcar.
Picasso
Continue north on Dearborn again to the Daley Center at Dearborn and Washington. Here you’ll see one of Chicago’s most famous – and untitled -- sculpture by Picasso. The sculpture is located in Daley Center Plaza and almost always has kids running around it at the base. Another gift to the city, the sculpture was erected in 1967. As an untitled piece, many people have different reactions to it. Some have said it looks like the head of a baboon; others that it looks like a cubist rendition of a dog. Whatever you think, it’s a great sight to see and good subject for discussion with your kids!
Millennium Park
If you continue east on Washington to Michigan Avenue, you will reach Millennium Park, where the newest and most futuristic Chicago sculpture lives – Cloud Gate – also known locally as “the Bean.” This piece by Anish Kapoor. It is made of 110 tons of seamless steel that beautifully reflects the city’s skyline and serves as a wonderful place for kids to run around and under!
Also, see my review of Millennium Park.
points of interest
details
| category: | major attractions | |
| recommended for: | pre-school,elementary,tweens | |
| time commitment: | 1-3 hours | |
| keywords: | the bean, sears tower, marc chagall, millennium park, chicago, picasso, calder | |
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comments
comments about this excursion
this sounds AWESOME. i cannot wait until maeve's a little older and we can do the rounds. now the challenge will be getting my in-laws out of the suburbs of elgin and into the city....hrm. :)
posted by: anastasia on August 02, 2007.
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we'll go with you, anastasia! we have relatives in the 'burbs, too. :)
posted by: mizfran on August 07, 2007.
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