Chicago Travel Diary: Visiting the Bean

When I went to Chicago this summer, I made sure to play tourist. I went up 360 Chicago and did some sightseeing. Of course, I had to make sure to see the Bean!! 🙂

If you are heading to Chicago and looking to visit the Bean, you might have a hard time finding it. That’s because the Bean is actually called the Cloud Gate!

The Cloud Gate sculpture is located in Millennium Park. It is definitely one of the top tourist attractions in Chicago!!

The Bean

The Bean was designed by Anish Kapoor and it is made of 168 highly polished stainless steel plates. It actually looks like it’s made of liquid mercury! A pretty cool sight to see!

Since the bean is reflective you can capture the city skyline in your photos!! No wonder it is such a popular tourist spot!

Do’s and Don’ts for seeing the Bean

Do’s

• go during the week. On the weekend it get’s really busy!!
• Explore the area. There is so much more to see just steps away! An ice rink, a fountain and several restaurants are all nearby.
• Go on a clear day – the better to take photos!

Don’ts

• forget your camera!! You will definitely want to take photos!
• Be shy. There are so many people around, don’t be afraid to get someone to take your picture for you. Just make sure to return the favour 🙂

The bean is free to see. So why wouldn’t you stop by?

When in Chicago make sure you take the time to see the local landmarks. The Bean is a definite must-see. I mean, would you go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel tower?!?