The Magnificent Mile – the Champs-Elysees of the United States

The Magnificent Mile is arterial thoroughfare of Chicago's retail district running a loop from the Chicago River and back again in the Near North Side – the address of the city's glitterati. For the rich, it is the ultimate place to divest themselves of their money bags, and for the Average Joe and Jane it is a place to unabashedly stare at, mouth-agape and clutch protectively at the credit cards trying to leap out of their wallets.

What is today the trendiest and the wealthiest stretch of real-estate in Chicago was ironically spawned by the combined misfortunes of the Great Depression, which facilitated the rapid buy-out of the Near North properties by Arthur Rubloff and William Zeckendorf who would later go on to develop, christen and trademark the "Mag Mile", and the post-war economic boom of World War II. Today, some of the tallest edifices in the United States pierce the skies on either side of this street, interspersed with beloved historic monuments such as the Water Tower (a symbol of the city's resilience and strength ever since it survived the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871), the timeless grace of Drake Hotel and the sky-scrapers of the Roaring Twenties in the form of the eccentric Tribune Tower, upon whose walls are inlaid stones from the most famous monuments in the world and the gleaming white Wrigley Tower. The observatory decks of the Sears Tower and the Hancock Center vies for the best bird's eye view of the cityscape.

If it's a celebrity on the international market, then you can find it on the Mag Mile. From the vintage diamonds of Cartier and Harry Winston to the futuristic Apple Store, from the child's candy-land of the Disney Store to the likes of Giorgio Armani and MaxMara, the most sought-after brands converge around the nucleus of Michigan Avenue. Regardless of the proliferation of luxury boutique stores, it's not just a place for the rich and spend-thrift. Countering the presence Nordstrom's, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's is chain stores such as The Gap, Crate and Barrel and Banana Republic. Small wonder then, that the Mag Mile featured among the National Geographic's "Ten Best Shopping Avenues in the World".

Hardly is the street limited to being a retail experience. The largest banks in the nation and the city also claim this address. The street is also characterized by its concentration of media organizations and art galleries, among them the Chicago Tribune and the incomparable Art Institute of Chicago.

If "where shall we eat?" is one of life's abiding conundrums for you, then the Mag Mile will find you completely bewildered. From the family-run bistros of Little Italy and Greektown, to the exotic French-Asian cuisine at NoMI, served with a matchless view from the top of the Water Tower, to the elite Tru restaurant, the Mag Mile is a foodie's fantasy come true. Unbelievably, these exotic, expensive palette-enticers are led by the simple charms of the Billy Goat Tavern and its "cheezborgers" – a celebrated haunt of journalists.

We'll let you discover the many and varied allures of the streetscape for yourself – the Mag Mile is an attraction which can only be experienced to be believed. It is especially recommended that seekers of <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/2756424']);" href="http://www.chicagohotelseye.com/" target="_blank">Chicago hotels</a>  make a pit-stop at Chicagohotelseye.com in order to get great deals offered by <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/2756424']);" href="http://www.chicagohotelseye.com/" target="_blank">Chicago hotels</a> and scope out the best <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/2756424']);" href="http://www.chicagohotelseye.com/" target="_blank">discount Chicago hotels</a>  and city vantage points.

However, don't forget to wind up at the Buckingham Fountain at nightfall to toast a day of shopping and culinary exploits by soaking up the sight of the fountain's soaring waters illumined by thousands of city lights. A truly magnificent experience.