Yesterday, we went to downtown Chicago. We walked the Magnificent Mile. Strolling down the Main Street, we observed new skyscrapers as well as historical buildings with ornate carvings. It was amazing to see how the older buildings stood proudly alongside the tall, sleek skyscrapers; showing how technology has shaped architecture through the ages. Brand name stores and boutiques fill the street and mannequins peer at passer-bys. Awe filled me as a tilted my face towards the sky, gazing upon the grand skyscrapers whose windows glinted sunlight.

We entered the Water Tower Place. Why that name? I looked up but there was no water tower in sight. Inside, the lobby had two sets of escalators. In between the escalators was a series of fountains. Ascending platforms filled with water flowed down. The water fell through a circular hole and shaped the water into smooth cylinders. It looked like glass as light reflected off the water’s surface and shimmered. That was certainly water so my question about the mall’s name was slightly nullified. We shopped around for a bit and continued down the Mile.

We walked to a water fountain play area. Kids splashed around to beat the heat. While we sat down and had a snack, I spotted an oddly shaped building. I checked the map. It was called Lake Point Tower and it was shaped like a fidget spinner. LOL! I love this tower. It’s so amazing.

After marveling at the trendsetting tower, we set off for the Navy Pier. The Navy Pier is a famously awesome boardwalk with rides, a Ferris wheel, and restaurants, not to mention a beautiful beach.

We checked out the bustling pier and found a pizzeria. Not just any pizza, but deep dish pizza, the trademark of Chicago. It was seven o’clock and the restaurant was packed. We made reservations and pre-ordered a pizza. A deep dish pizza takes about an hour to cook, it’s almost the height of a cake. When our table was ready, we took a seat outside. We ordered calamari 😀 and salad :/ The calamari was crispy with a thick marinara dipping sauce. When the pizza came out, it was like a procession for the king. The pizza was majestic. Spread liberally on the surface was a layer of creamy marinara. Underneath that, was a combination of melty mozzarella cheese and silky spinach. When we cut the first slice and lifted it up, strings of gooey cheese stretched up for miles.

After finishing our sumptuous meal, we went to the Ohio Street Beach which is right around the corner from the pizzeria. The sun was setting, leaving pink and orange streaks across the crimson sky. The sand was soft beneath my toes and the water lapped gently against my feet. All in all a relaxing and adventurous day.

-Mackenzie