City: Chicago, IL

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (312) 742-1168

Address: 201 E. Randolph St.

Description: Built over what used to be a combination of plain ol’ parkland, exposed subterranean rail yards, and parking lots, Millennium Park has arguably become Chicago’s best big investment—we’re talking $475 million of investment, just a wee bit over the originally estimated $150 million. But those cost overruns and 4-year construction delays are all just water under the Frank Gehry–designed BP Bridge now—technically, the bridge passes over Columbus Drive to the Daley Centennial Plaza. Chicagoans and visitors alike flock to Millennium Park for its urban green zone of grass and gardens, and for its interactive public art: Cloud Gate (nicknamed “The Bean”), the pair of water-spouting glass-block towers, the outdoor concert pavilion. Free (some activities incur a fee). Open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.