Black Friday as we know it today – as a major shopping event – dates back to the 1960s. This refers to the Friday after the American Thanksgiving, which is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. In the USA, Black Friday is a popular bridge day and is the perfect start to a traditional family weekend when the first Christmas shopping is done.
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The Black Friday weekend is always followed by Cyber Monday, the start of Christmas sales in online shops. But who wants to shop online when sprawling malls and shopping arcades like The Magnificient Mile in Chicago, Illinois invite you to shop at discounts?
The Magnificent Mile: Welcome to seventh shopping heaven
One of the most famous shopping streets in the United States has everything a shopper’s heart desires – and much more. In addition to an enormous selection of shops, from luxury brands to trendy boutiques to well-known retail chains, the “Mag Mile” is home to first-class (rooftop) restaurants, accommodations and even museums.
The beating heart of Chicago – Michigan Avenue
All as part of Michigan Avenue; directly on the Chicago River and in the middle of the spectacular skyline of the city. Nearby, on North Michigan Avenue, stands one of Chicago’s oldest buildings. The Old Water Tower, built in 1869, looks more like a castle than a tower and is one of the landmarks of the metropolis on Lake Michigan. Practical: The tourism information is located in the Old Water Tower.
The skyscrapers Wrigley Building and 875 North Michigan Avenue cannot be missed on Michigan Avenue. If you’re not afraid of heights, you should venture to the 94th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue. When the sky is clear, the observatory viewing platform offers a panoramic view of almost 100 kilometers across Chicago and Lake Michigan. If that’s too high for you, just take a boat across the lake. Boat trips on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan are offered at the foot of the Wrigley Building.
Unique shopping experiences for cold winter days
When it’s cold, bad weather or the wind is too strong in the Windy City, the Mag Mile is still a great place to shop. Water Tower Place measures 293 meters or 74 floors, eight of which are shopping malls. There are over 70 fashion and toy stores as well as restaurants and entertainment options such as the interactive Chicago Sports Museum.
Things are a little more upscale in “The 900 North Michigan Shops”:
Shopping my Style
The 900 North Michigan Shops is a luxury shopping center on the Magnificent Mile with a selection of stores to match. There are also offers such as styling sessions, cooking courses and even music lessons. There is also an art exhibition here. The highlight: The huge moving image installations can be viewed from each of the seven floors.
Shopping meets sightseeing
Of course, there are many other fantastic shopping options in Chicago – from the historic State Street shopping street with department stores and retail, to the chic Oak Street with luxury boutiques, to neighborhoods like Lincoln Park with a variety of shops. In keeping with Black Friday, the Chicago Premium Outlets should not go unmentioned: Located just outside, there is a large selection of designer and brand outlets with strong discounts.
After shopping, a little exercise and fresh air is good. There are a few parks to choose from in Chicago. First and foremost is Millenium Park, where, in addition to lots of greenery, attractions such as the world-famous concert shell Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the magnificent Crown Fountain are located on 99,000 square meters. Since it opened in July 2004, this art and video sculpture in the shape of a fountain has projected videos onto two almost 15-meter-high towers.
Sculptures, nature and culture
Also popular is the Cloud Gate, also called “The Bean” because of its shape. British artist Anish Kapoor’s impressive sculpture is also located in Millenium Park and is so highly polished that it’s perfect for quirky selfies.
If you’re passionate about animals, you’ll love Chicago’s Zoo and Aquarium:
Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago Campus
Animal lovers can visit the Lincoln Park Zoo You can look forward to around 200 species of animals on an area of 14 hectares. Many more species – 650 in total – are at home in the John G. Shedd Aquarium. Turtles, sea otters, sharks and many other sea creatures feel right at home here. The aquarium is surrounded by… Museum Campus Chicagowhich, in addition to the aquarium, also includes the Adler Planetarium Naturkundemuseum Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH). Visiting all three exhibitions in one day is not recommended: the FMNH alone is so large that it is impossible to see everything in one day. Outside of shopping, Chicago has at least as many hits in its repertoire as the band of the same name – if you don’t want to miss anything and are too tired to walk after shopping, it’s best to join one of the many Hop-on-Hop-Off-Busse.
