McCormick Tribune Plaza - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Cloud Gate, is an iconic sculpture by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor. The stainless steel bean-like structure was created to be a modernist revelry to Chicago's skyline and has become beloved among locals and tourists alike. Its 110 ton form rises 12 metres from the ground and is 33 metres wide making it the largest public sculpture in the world. Visitors can walk around, touch and take pictures with the sculpture as it captures reflections of the cityscape surrounding it.

Millennium Park, a stunning landscape spanning 24.5 acres opened in 2004 to commemorate the turn of the millennium, this spectacular public park features stunningly designed gardens and sculptures, inspiring architecture, and an array of interactive exhibits and landscapes. From the mesmerizing reflective Crown Fountain and the underground BP Pedestrian Bridge to the stirring Lurie Garden and serene Pritzker Pavilion known for its impressive acoustics and world-renowned performances.

The Chicago Cultural Center, is a public artistic and cultural attraction dating back to 1897. It features diverse, ever-changing displays of artwork, music, theater performances and lectures that represent the city’s vibrant culture. From its grandiose lobby to its two stunning stained glass domes, local visitors and tourists alike stop in for tours to marvel at the breathtaking architecture. The nearby Buckingham Fountain on Lake Michigan provides some of the best views in town.

The Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Grant Park is a world-renown artwork created by Spanish-Mexican artist Jaume Plensa. The fountain consists of two 50-foot glass brick towers that are covered with LED screens and light up at night to create a mesmerizing experience for visitors. On the heads of the towers, water streams from the mouths, cascading down into a reflecting pool below. During the day, images of local citizens are projected onto the LED screens accompanied by music.

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is an impressive outdoor concert venue and one of the main attractions of the renowned Millennium Park. Originally designed by Frank Gehry, it boasts a stunning steel exoskeleton canopy, which gently shelters its enormous grass seating bowl. With 4,000 fixed seats and the capacity to accommodate over 11,000 people on its expansive lawns, It also allows for a wide variety of performances from classic orchestras to spectacular festivals throughout the year.

Lurie Garden is a magnificent 5 acre public garden, which boasts a wide array of perennial and annual plants, shrubs, trees, and grasses that bloom throughout the Spring and Summer months. The garden allows visitors to view native plants while appreciating the beauty of the prairie landscape. Natural sand dunes are featured throughout the garden – creating a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The Garden also houses several art pieces that compliment nature’s scenery.