Navy Pier is an internationally distinguished tourist attraction that juts out from the teeming city of Chicago into the vast expanse of Lake Michigan. It is situated in the Streeterville Neighbourhood and encompasses more than twenty hectares of entertainment-centric infrastructure attributing to its recognition as the top leisure destination in the entire Midwest region, accounting for nearly ten million visitors on an annual basis.
Navy Pier’s most prominent features are headlined by the looming Ferris wheel that provides for unprecedented views of the sprawling lake and bustling city below. The Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze is a frequented entertainment destination located on the pier as well as the Chicago Children's Museum and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Navy Pier boasts waterfront dining opportunities, retail outlets and thrill rides.
Walking is the easiest way of navigating around Navy Pier. Public transportation is provided by the Chicago Transit Authority and multiple bus lines routing to the popular destination. The nearest metro stations are Union/Ogilvie Station and Millennium Station, both of which provide for transfers to CTA buses and onward to Navy Pier.
Navy Pier was not originally built as a tourist destination but rather a working dock for freights and passenger traffic. After a history of development and extensive redesign, the destination was finally presented to the public as the current mixed-use commercial, entertainment and cultural site of today.