With a whirlwind rush of department stores, restaurants, and luxurious hotels, there's no better place to abuse your budget than the Near North and its celebrated '''Magnificent Mile'''.
The Near North includes the neighborhoods of '''River North''', full of art galleries, commercial lofts, and some tourist restaurants, nightclubs and bars; '''Streeterville''' and the Gold Coast, with expensive living for rich folks and many of the city's most impressive hotels; and the most prestigious shopping district in Chicago, the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue, which includes one of Chicago's most beloved landmarks, the '''Water Tower'''.
This area has been a part of Chicago from the beginning, when Fort Dearborn was built on the other side of the river in 1803 (and burned to the ground nine years later, establishing an unfortunate civic trend). But ever since the early 1920s, when bridges were built to draw shoppers away from State Street in the Loop, there has been too much to sell, too much awe to inspire, and not a minute to spare. That's why the Near North can be such a delight at a tourist's pace. The locals are in a hurry, but if you're not, the serene image of the old Water Tower or the resolutely quiet riverwalk can take on the feel of a private discovery, even with all of these people around.
That's not to say you can't have fun getting caught up in the hustle and bustle, of course. The sheer amount of shopping on Michigan Avenue cannot be overstated. The world's most elite fashion designers are all represented here, and the rest wish they were. River North has many of the city's busiest (if not best) clubs, with a dense row on Rush Street. In the Near North, you'll find a few significant members of the Chicago skyline, including the '''John Hancock Center''' and '''Lake Point Tower''', which stands alone to the east at the end of a new, steel-and-glass future-scape in south Streeterville; it makes for an impressive view from Lake Shore Drive, and serves as an entryway to one of the city's most popular tourist spots, '''Navy Pier''', a great place for entertaining children and catching the breeze from Lake Michigan with an evening stroll or a turn on the 150-foot tall '''Ferris Wheel'''.
The CTA '''Red Line''' has stops near the entertainment in River North (Clark/Division) and the Magnificent Mile (Chicago, Grand).
The CTA '''Brown Line''' and '''Purple Line''' stop in the midst of the River North galleries (Chicago), and the Merchandise Mart has the next stop all to itself.
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A few Chicago restaurants have branches here [http://www.navypier.com/din_shop/dining.html]. There's also a food court, and vendors along the dock during the summer. You're much better off making the short walk to one of the nearby restaurants off the pier, though — you'll save money and likely eat better. There's no cost for re-entry to Navy Pier, after all.
Among the restaurants, '''The Billy Goat''' and '''Charlie's Ale House''' serve beers that are brewed in-house. Try the dark beer from the Billy Goat or head down to the The Beer Garden to sample Chicago brewers Goose Island.
Shopping [http://www.navypier.com/din_shop/shopping.html] is in plentiful supply, although it's pretty much limited to tourist-souvenir Chicago kitsch type stuff.
'''Horse-drawn carriages''' ply routes along the Magnificent Mile and through Streeterville, usually beginning around the Water Tower. (You might see police officers on horses as well.) While there are too many cars to establish the kind of atmosphere you might expect in, say, Central Park, you'll probably know whether the night calls for a carriage ride, and choose accordingly. Expect to pay about $35 for a half-hour tour. College students also roam the area with small yellow cabs attached to the backs of bicycles for a low-cost, low-point alternative.
Again, this is expensive territory — nearly every tourist stays here, and the rates reflect that. If price is a concern, remember that this area is well-served by public transportation from every direction, including places where you can sleep a bit cheaper. On the other hand, if part of the vision for your vacation is a memorable hotel, this is definitely the place to be.