The Bean at Millennium Park

One of my must-visit on this trip was the famous Millennium Park in the Loop neighborhood of Chicago. It is known as the "front lawn" of downtown Chicago, with four huge highlights-- like Jay Pritzker Pavillion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, and the Lurie Garden. The Park is also used as a public art venue, displaying pieces of art from various artists. 

We stayed at the InterContinental Hotel on the Magnificent Mile and it was located a few blocks (across the bridge) so we were able to access the area easily. The only problem was-- right when we stepped outside, it started pouring! Good thing we brought umbrellas, bring it on rain (but not really)! It was nice because since it was raining, there were less people wondering around the park. It also has the nice fresh nature smell- which I love! 

The Cloud Gate was my most anticipated sight within Millennium Park and it is a public sculpture in a shape of a bean (hence it's nickname "The Bean") that is made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together. It was huge and so pretty! We were able to walk around and under the 12-foot high arch and take a selfie on its unique reflective properties. Aside from Millennium Park being a landmark and most visited tourist destination in Chicago, The Bean is one of the main attractions.