Navy Pier

Generally, the only Chicagoans you'll run into at Navy Pier are the employees but out-of-towners and suburbanites love the downtown pier that extends into Lake Michigan. Once used by the military, it's now Chicago's largest tourist attraction. You can just walk up and down the pier, taking in skyline and lake views. Or you can visit the excellent Chicago Children's Museum or ride the Centennial Wheel, a 200-foot-high Ferris wheel with enclosed gondolas. There are plenty of boat ride options, too, from the zippy Seadog to a more stately Odyssey. In summer, you can watch a free fireworks show synchronized to music on Wednesday and Saturday nights. An "old Chicago" style IT'SUGAR store offers a "Taste of Chicago Box" featuring products that originated here including Tootsie Rolls®, Baby Ruth®, Juicy Fruit®, Charleston Chew®, Chuckles®, Sugar Daddy®, and others.