How to Walk the Chicago Loop

The Loop neighborhood in downtown Chicago got its name from the loop in the elevated CTA tracks. The Loop neighborhood extends beyond the looped train tracks to the Chicago River in the north and west, Lake Michigan to the east and Roosevelt Road to the south. The Loop features shopping, architecture, lakefront parks and special events.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Plan your trip. If you just want to walk around the looped train tracks, that doesn't take any preparation. However, if there are particular sites that you would like to see, then plan ahead because there are several days worth of things to see. Either plan to visit the Loop neighborhood on more than one day or prioritize that attractions that interest you and save other ones for a return visit.

2. Get to the Loop. Parking is expensive and hard to find in the area. You can take the orange, green, purple or brown lines to and around the Loop.

3. Walk around the looped CTA tracks. They include, at various points, the orange, green, purple or brown lines. The tracks run along Lake Street, Wabash Avenue, Van Buren Street and Wells Street.

4. Look at the diverse architecture of Chicago. The City Hall County Building dates back to 1911. The Chicago Board of Trade Building is a sample of Art Deco style. The Rookery is a national historic landmark featuring a lobby redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Sears Tower, since 1973 the tallest building in the U.S., is in the southwest part of the Loop neighborhood. The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers tours by foot, bus and boat.

5. Visit your favorite attractions in the area. Art lovers, head toward that Art Institute of Chicago. If you prefer performance, try the Civic Opera House, Goodman Theatre or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Attentive observers will find many outdoor sculptures including Marc Chagall, Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso.

6. Stop by the Loop's waterfront. Grant Park is the home of the landmark Buckingham Fountain. The newer Millennium Park features an outdoor performance area designed by Frank Gehry and other examples of postmodern style. AT&T Plaza features one prominent example: the "Cloud Gate" sculpture by Anish Kapoor.

7. Shop. Visit the famous Macy's location that used to be a Marshall Fields department store. The Loop is also home to the Atrium Mall and numerous smaller shopping options.

Tips & Warnings

• Go a little north of the Loop to visit Navy pier or find some excellent shopping. While shopping, check out the cool fountains inside Water Tower Place.
• Plan ahead for special events that take place near the loop. Taste of Chicago, a culinary festival, draws millions of people to Grant Park for two weeks each summer.

Resources

• Go to Chicago's website for maps of the Loop and other information.
• More about taking an architecture tour of Chicago