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Summary:   If you are looking for shopping tours - tours of the best shopping areas - either by foot, car, or transit - you can't do better than a Chicago shopping tour along the Magnificent Mile!

The Gold Coast, Streeterville and Michigan Avenue are all synonymous with power and wealth in the city of Chicago, so it’s not surprising that some of the most expensive retail stores in the city are steps away from the residents of these wealthy, upper class areas, in an area known as the “Magnificent Mile”. Sure, you’ll find a Gap, the Original Levi’s Store and H & M on the Magnificent Mile, but at the same time, this area is loaded with designer stores like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo as well as Giorgio Armani, AG Adriano Goldschmied, MaxMara and the list goes on and on. With more than 460 major retail stores throughout, the Magnificent Mile is Chicago’s largest and most sophisticated shopping district. Not to mention one of the most architecturally stunning avenues in the city.

If the weather is mild (typically late March through early November) and you’re wearing your comfortable shopping shoes, it’s best to walk the Magnificent Mile, as every single step offers something exciting. The winter months can be extremely cold, snowy and windy along the Magnificent mile which is located steps away from unforgiving Lake Michigan. However, most would agree that wintertime can also be the most beautiful time to shop along the mile as the powdery white snow coupled with the glittering city lights can feel nothing short of magical.

When ever you choose to walk the mile, start at the northernmost end of Michigan Avenue where inner Lake Shore Drive veers off and Michigan Avenue continues straight ahead (Walton Street). One of the first stops along the way is none other than Louis Vuitton located at 919 N. Michigan Avenue. A few steps away is Bloomingdales, located among the elegant 900 N. Michigan shops. This chic and sophisticated six-level shopping center houses Gucci, MaxMara, Mark Shale and Williams-Sonoma Grande Cuisine, to name a few. Even if you don’t have it all, the atmosphere here will certainly make you feel like you do.

As you make your way south along the mile you’ll cross paths with a massive Victoria’s Secret store, a super-sized Borders Books & Music, and Chicago’s famous John Hancock Center, which is the 3rd tallest building in city. What’s next? Water Tower Place of course! Water Tower, located at 835 N. Michigan Avenue, is the mother of all Chicago shopping centers with more than 100 specialty shops, boutiques, stores and restaurants. With an eight-level atrium and a level of energy that’s off the charts, it really doesn’t get any better than this. Just a few of the Water Tower Shops include Bebe, Abercrombie & Fitch, Marshall Field’s, Steve Madden, Sephora, Lord & Taylor, Christian Bernard Paris, Nine West and Banana Republic. And guess what? At this point, you haven’t even walked half of the mile yet!

If you continue walking south just past Chicago Avenue you’ll come across Bottega Veneta at 800 N. Michigan Avenue, Ralph Lauren at 750 N. Michigan Avenue, and Banana Republic at 744 N. Michigan. Walk a few steps further and you’ll end up at Chicago Place, home of world famous Saks Fifth Avenue. Chicago Place is located at 700 N. Michigan Avenue and it also houses more than 45 specialty retail stores including Talbots, Ann Taylor and the Body Shop.

Keep heading south all the way to Wacker Drive until you reach the Tribune Building at 401 N. Michigan Avenue, where you’ll encounter other stores along the way such as Benetton, Burberry, Hugo Boss, the Gap and Nordstrom in the 500 and 600 blocks of North Michigan Avenue. The official address for Nordstrom is 55 East Grand - merely a few steps away from Michigan Avenue. Please note that this Nordstrom’s location is commonly referred to as “Nordstrom Michigan Avenue.”

A word of advice: if you’re walking the Magnificent Mile, it could take a while, so why not fill up on global cuisine first at Foodlife (Water Tower Place) featuring 13 kitchens from around the world in one space? Or how about some seafood, pizza, steak or pasta from the Cheesecake Factory located on the bottom level of the John Hancock Building? You can also take the elevator ride of your life up to the 95th floor of the Hancock Building, to The Signature Room at the Ninety-Fifth Floor. This popular and upscale restaurant features spectacular panoramic views of the city (and a few others) along with gourmet brunch, lunch and dinner entrees ranging from $25-$39 per entree. These are great places to begin your journey and best of all you’ll have plenty of time to “walk it off!” Also worth a try is The Grill on the Alley, 909 N. Michigan Avenue, Bistro 110 (just off Michigan Avenue next to Borders) at 110 E. Pearson and for a more casual environment, try Mike Ditka’s at 100 E. Chestnut, just off Michigan Avenue.

Street parking is highly unlikely anywhere near the Magnificent Mile and parking garages are extremely expensive, but they still tend to fill up rather quickly. It’s best to take one of the several dozen buses servicing the Magnificent Mile, or you can also take the subway (red line) and exit at Chicago Avenue or hail a cab - they are beyond plentiful in this area. Bus and subway fares are around $1.50 for one ride, add $0.30 for two. Taxi meters start at $1.90 and they increase at a rate of $1.60 per mile.

Of course, to completely avoid the parking and transportation issue altogether, consider staying at one of the nearby Chicago Bed and Breakfast Inns, many of which are only a ten-minute walk from the Magnificent Mile!

Happy Shopping!

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