Cloud Gate aka The Bean & Millennium Park are some of my favorite things to do and see in Chicago. I try to swing by on each visit. There's just something so timeless and incredible about the sculpture by Anish Kapoor. The stainless steel structure is over 100 tons. It's a beauty and as you can imagine an extremely popular tourist attraction much like the park itself. Millennium Park is 25 acres and it includes other noteworthy sights: Crown Fountain-Created by Jaume Pensa. It's a water feature with two glass towers that projects faces of folks. Very cool thing to see. Lurie Garden-I love this space. It's close to 4 acres of flowers, shrubs, trees, and plants. An amazingly peaceful get away in the heart of a thriving metropolis. Pritzker Pavilion-This is one of my favorite Frank Gehry creations. It's magnificent. The design is impeccable. They have an incredible sound system so if you're there for a live music performance you're able to hear it from across the lawn. Great place to catch a movie in the park or a band. All-in-all it's a spectacular place to visit & wander whether a local or a tourist. read more

Obviously a must see when in Chicago! It's a beautiful park to walk around and of course the home to the iconic Cloud Gate. When we were there a lot of areas were blocked off for what looked like construction, but it was also pretty cold so we were not spending a ton of time there. The other thing I found a little unsettling was having to go through a security checkpoint to enter and then in the part there was security everywhere. I definitely understand it is a crowded destination but was quite surprising since I'd never seen so much security at a park. Cloud Gate was crowded but very cool to see even with all of the people and the view of the city is stunning from here! read more

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I'm on tour right now and I was the only one who hadn't seen the bean in all our camp. I'm glad they all were okay with going back, I had a wonderful time. Also we got some good pictures, they'll be up on @menorahcult on Instagram at some point soon. Show tonight here in Chicago. Beautiful. read more

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Tons of great history here. Nice way to feel and see some greenery and things other than tall buildings. Short walk from going underground to the first city. But let's be honest... it's a tourist trap. Doesn't mean you can't appreciate it but be ready for people selling you things, dodging people, and just overall just higher energy and noise. Nice thing about it is that they have theatres, plays, shows, concerts and festivals in the amphitheater as well as places surrounding the area. It makes for a very dope atmosphere and backdrop for photos. There's also a video installation there with water so children can jump in or if you get a nice breeze you can cool yourself down. read more

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This was my first time doing a solo trip and my first time in Chicago. I initially was coming to Millennium Park just to take a picture with the bean which I did. side note: if you're coming for the bean picture and you think it won't be crowded that is not the case lol. I also found out that they were having a free Chicago jazz festival, which was absolutely amazing. I ended up staying for a few hours. Everyone looks so pleasant., and to be as crowded as it was, it was exceptionally clean there, including the bathrooms at the time that I went. Highly recommend if you are ever visiting Chicago. read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's a classic Chicago sight you gotta see at least once! In the summer time, they also do a full line up of fitness events here. I had a blast participating in Zumba in the park - soooo fun and a great workout! read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The park has a few things to see around here. The water wall, the bean (cloud gate), and the huge lawn for concerts. I didn't go inside the shop on the bottom but it looked like it was a nice place to hang out. read more

Well, of course, it's Millenium Park. I remember when Cloud Gate dropped, but everyone just called it the Bean. It's shiny and reflective, much like most of the other architectural elements of the park. If you haven't seen the Bean, and want a nice Bean pic, go early. Otherwise, the tourist crowds will get you. The ice skating rink is set just west of the Bean, but if you don't mind walking, you can also try out the ice skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park, over yonder, which snakes around some rock climbing walls. Just take the Dragon Pedestrian Bridge eastwards towards the lake. The bridge is shiny too, like most of the other architectural elements of the park. And if you're at just the right angle, sunlight reflecting off the metallic panels can hit your eye. But the good news is, you get to cross Columbus Drive, and near the mid-point / top, there are some nice views. But to get there from the Bean, you'll likely mosey 'round the Great Lawn and that cool looking pavilion thing, the one where they show movies on certain nights during the summer. If you wanna see one of those movies, bring a blanket or a lawn chair and chill on the lawn. And yes, the design of the pavillion consists of large curved shiny metallic beams overhead. And lots of metallic backing the stage of the pavillion itself. Very shiny. If you want to play with some water, there are those interactive screens south of the Bean. The Crown Fountain. The screens play faces through a variety of emotions, and at some points, water exits through a tube aligned with a person's mouth. Also, there is a relatively recent development of the bridge walkway entrance to the Art Institute. It's on the south end of the park, and it brings you over Monroe (while providing a nice view of both lake and city skyline) and up to the second level (third level?) of the Art Institute (where if you enter, you'll have to take the escalators down past the smiley face wall). As for what's under Millenium Park? There are two parking garages: the Grant Park North Garage (with vehicle entrances on Michigan Ave, pedestrian exits on the west side Michigan Ave) and Millenium Park Garage (with vehicle entraces on Columbus, and pedestrian exits at the north and south perimeter of the park). They are managed by Millennium Parking. A couple of the Metra commuter rails also pass underneath the park too. And, if you're attending a conference at the McCormick Place, there's the McCormick Place Busway for buses (for shuttling to/from certain hotels and the conference center). But if you're looking for the bathrooms, make sure you head over the pavillion area, to the left the stage, and walk down a very and wide concrete corridor, to where you'll find, well bathrooms. There may be other bathroom options around in the park, but they happened to be closed when we were there; security does patrol around the bathroom corridors. read more

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If you want a good lighting go around 2 or 3! Lol we got the best photos around thus time. read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a nice little park to walk around if you're in downtown Chicago! It's home to the cloud gate statue so of course you have to come see this while you're in town, but it's also nice just to walk. Lots of folks were walking their dogs while we were walking around on a Tuesday evening. It's also pretty close to navy pier, so you could make a whole afternoon/evening out of a visit to the park and the pier (or walking along the magnificent mile nearby). read more

Very cool park especially during the Winter and Xmas time due to the ice skating rink and a giant Christmas Tree. Also home of Cloud Gate a/k/a "Da Bean," the ultimate Chicagoan tourist trap. There is also this disturbing art piece featuring giant faces periodically projected on obelisks nearby. Very nice! read more

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Sightseeing in Chicago and this park is a must. Where The Bean lies and just a cool place to walk around, we went on a snowy Sunday morning and couldn't believe how many people were there. Surrounded by lots to see and stores and restaurants. Great photo op place for sure. At least the bean was as big as I had thought it would be. We had a Funtime taking pics and soaking in the snow ! Great people watching place too. read more

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such a magically place full of life and the entertainment. I love the vibes and I love how Magestic it is. the skyline is visible and so much history can be felt from every inch of this place. read more

The BEST public park in the US by far. Millennium Park is gigantic with a ton of features and special events that is beyond impressive. It's so expansive it can even host the Lollapalooza music festival. Sign up for community email to stay in the know or check out their website for calendar and events, there's so much to enjoy! Features: - Cloud Gate "the Bean" - McDonald's Cycle Center - Free Park Summer Workouts bring own mat - Summer music series - Chicago Jazz Festival - Outdoor Public Art Walking Tour sign up on site - Private events & weddings read more

Millennium Park - Map - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Millennium Park is an impressive urban escape that captures the character of Chicago in one place. The public art gives the grounds plenty of personality, and the architecture creates an interesting contrast with the landscaped areas. Cloud Gate is a must-see, especially for the unusual reflections and creative photo opportunities, but the surrounding attractions are just as worthwhile. I enjoyed how much there was to discover simply by wandering around and taking in the surroundings. The park feels vibrant without losing its appeal as a place to slow down and enjoy the outdoors. I'd highly recommend adding it to any Chicago itinerary. read more

People everywhere in the frosty Chicago elements braving the wind for a moment alongside or under "The Bean" for a photo OP! read more

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Ah yes, Millennium Park, home of The Bean (which I've reviewed separately). I was initially going to ding them for not having an abundance of benches. However, after some thought, I realized: "it's not that kind of park." I had in my mind a vision of something like Central Park in NYC, but again, this is not that kind of park. Okay, so what kind of park is it? It is a park with CULTURE. Here you'll find some of Chicago's greatest gems: The Bean: This is perhaps more iconic Chicago than deep-dish pizza! The Crown Fountain: Offering a place for children to cool down and splash around, it's also a public art installation containing projections of Chicagoans' faces. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Great Lawn: Not only an area with awesome architecture, but also a place to catch a concert during the warmer months. For some events, tickets get you a seat up front, but laying on the lawn is free! Lurie Gardens: A small botanical garden right downtown, perfect for smelling the flowers (but please don't touch the grass - ha!). Millennium Monument: Beautiful by day and by night, this monument celebrates those who made this phenomenal park possible. Beyond these cultural treasures, the park is safe with plenty of "eyes on the street" and a heavy security presence (complete with metal detectors) during peak tourist season. The park is also kept very clean, and public restrooms are available The only thing I can quip about is the aforementioned lack of abundant seating. Don't get me wrong, it's not scarce, just what I would call "ample." Final Verdict: Millennium Park is not the kind of park where one can stroll for hours and take a seat whenever one pleases. It is, however, a place with many of Chicago's gems and should not be missed! read more

This is Chicago's showpiece a trove of free artsy sights. Pritzker Pavilion, Frank Gehry's swooping silver band sheet hosts free weekly concerts. The bean or Cloud Gate and the Crown Fountain are all here. There is new construction and lots of beautiful plantings, flowers were everywhere. It was a beautiful evening and everybody was out and about. read more

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All decked out for the Holidays. Hike/walk, skate, eat/drink and enjoy the the many things to see and do. Visit the Art Instute of Chicago read more

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Ended up going to Millennium Park over the summer for Movies in the Park series. Loves of space and honestly further back offered better views and less heads in the way. Definitely bring a picnic spread to enjoy with your movie read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A touristy spot to check off on your visit to Chicago. Very crowded, but great for pictures! read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great time. I saw my trees in different fall colors and skaters at the ice rink. I took lots of photos at The Bean on a great winter day and caught a view of Chicago's nice architectural skyline. You can also catch a glimpse of the El , which is a typical part of Chicago scenery. read more

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One of the most drawn attractions to downtown Chicago is the Bean. The Bean is here at Millennium Park. I find it so impressive that the Bean garners thousands of people daily to view its massive display. While being there, some people may come up to you requesting to take a photo in exchange for a "tip". Don't be surprised but this is a money grab tactic that's targeted on tourists. Outside of that the view of the Bean is amazing! No matter what time of the year you decide to come. read more

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Came to the park to checkout the bean but looks like plenty of other stuff goes down here. Very clean park that seems to be well maintained. Tons of cicadas chirping around on the trees. read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place to chill but parking underground minimum of $36.00 be sure to take out a loan or prepare to walk far. read more

Millennium Park - Frijol cromado - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a tourist attraction. There were a ton of people here, especially around the "Bean." They have a nice fountain area where the faces change on the structures. A lot of kids were in the water area. There are multiple areas and it's a pretty big area. It is a nice area to walk around and there are plenty of businesses that are in walking distance. Admissions is completely free. read more

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Great park to explore--more than just the bean to see. There's even great play structures for the kiddos. It's a great place to people and bird watch. Gorgeous grounds to roam. Surprisingly of all the places to take my kiddos in Chicago, millennium park was my favorite spot. read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nice spot to walk around, people watch, and take in the sights! Visited the various landmarks located here and had a good time. I came around 930AM so it wasn't too crowded and I was able to get nice pictures and see things more intimately. Would definitely recommend visiting! read more

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Chicago staple, and I am so so glad that I went to experience this. Great for pictures, great for being with friends, meeting people near the area, getting some work done with some scenery, etc. Just an overall good spot to come to to experience. read more

I've been a couple times now and this place is pretty cool. Maybe a little overhyped but the bean is an interesting work of art. I first went in 2017 and got there first thing when it opened at 7am so I actually got to walk around and take some pics all by myself which was neat. The second time I went in 2024 the park was closed unfortunately but people were still climbing fences and trying to get pictures anyway! read more

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Millennium Park has changed a lot since the last time I've been a few years ago! Lots more restaurants and bars for folks to dine at! read more

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The wife and I visited "The Bean" and the surrounding area for a bit. The mirrored bean is cool and drew a hefty crowd on this Saturday afternoon. It is pretty massive and iconic for this city. I captured some fun "funhouse" type reflection images of us in it. This area with the river makes for a nice walk and visual architecture splendor on full display. There were some huge mural water fountain art displays nearby. During the summertime water runs vertically down them. read more

Millennium Park is the symbol of Chicago and home of the iconic attraction, Cloud Gate aka The Bean. Beautiful outdoor space in the heart of downtown. read more

Millennium Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Millennium Park is more than just The Bean, which is actually a Cloud (Learned that on a recent boat tour!). And by "more", I mean a lot more...Of course, the iconic Cloud Gate--better known as "The Bean" is certainly the centerpiece of Millennium Park, and it in itself never disappoints. It's even more breathtaking in person, and the reflective surface makes for a fantastic photo op from all angles. Beyond the Bean...The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a marvelous venue and a hub for live music. If music or shows are not your thing, head over to Lurie Garden is a gorgeous garden, especially during season. Off season it can be a bit drab, but that is Chicago weather. The Crown Fountain, Wrigley Square and the BP Pedestrian Bridge are also great spots to swing by on your stroll through the park. While we did not experience during our trip, we heard that the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in the winter is phenomenal. If we get brave enough to head back to Chicago in the winter, we will certainly scoot around the ice! Overall, Millennium Park is a solid spot and honestly a must-see when in Chicago. The combination of art, green spaces, and events options makes it a perfect place to relax, explore, and experience the city's culture all in one spot! read more

Millennium Park - Cloud Gate, AKA The Bean! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beautiful park with loads of bountiful flowers. The Bean was I'd always imagined. I must investigate as to why it is so popular. Families abound under and around the Bean taking pictures and enjoying the coolness under the shade of the Bean. Will definitely be back to enjoy the tranquility and maybe catch an outdoor concert one day. read more

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I finally got to visit the famous good-ol Bean! Upon visiting, I didn't know there was more to Millenium Park than the Bean, but there were so many other intriguing areas, like the Pavilion, the BP Bridge, Nichols Bridge, Millenium Monument, and Lurie Garden. Unfortunately, the garden was not in bloom in September, so there wasn't too much to look at! I'm a big garden person, so taking pictures would've been cool. The BP bridge is a long metal bridge to walk from a specific part of the park, and there was a significant reflection from the sun. My favorite part of the park was the pavilion; the architecture above is unique and stretches throughout the grass area. The Bean or Cloud Gate wasn't too crowded in the morning; we could take pictures of ourselves and the clean reflections from the buildings on the Bean! It's underwhelming, but honestly, I had to see it once in my lifetime. read more

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Excellent part of Chicago. Beautiful sites and plenty of places to take pictures. There are public restrooms here so don't worry. Admission is free but there is a nice souvenir shop and Art Institute of Chicago right next door. Worth visiting and experiencing. 5 stars! read more

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One of the best places to check out when you're visiting Chicago to do some site seeing. It's located near the downtown area a few blocks north from Grant Park. You can check out The Bean (Cloud Gate), Crown Fountain, Wrigley Square, and the pavilion just to name a few. Throughout the year they have lots of different events going on posted around the park. The location of the park makes it easy to just walk over and also checkout Grant Park like I mentioned earlier or hop on a Divvy bike and take a quick ride over to Navy Pier or up north towards the Millennium Mile area where a lot of the restaurants and shopping areas are located. read more

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So much more than just the bean! While of course the bean is super cool and worth the visit, the park has some other great sights and features that shouldn't be missed. Our favorite areas aside from the bean were the Lurie Garden and Crown Fountain. The garden was so beautiful with all the wild flowers and towering skyscrapers in the background. The fountain, which was 50 feet tall and spraying water all over the kids and camps visiting, showcases the faces of local Chicagoans and changes the faces throughout the day. We had a nice time strolling through the park and enjoying the shady spots throughout. read more

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Millennium park is amazing. We visited during the day this time, but I love it even more at dusk or in the evening. The fountains and outdoor concert area are lit up beautifully then. While you're here don't forget visit the art museum that is just steps away. read more

Millennium Park - Celebrity Yelper Jeffrey R and his incredibly hot husband in front of the Bean! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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