During my visit to Chicago last Christmas, I couldn't miss a visit to Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. It was December 31, the last day of the year, and we had gone downtown for some last-minute shopping since my return flight was in a couple of days and I couldn't miss visiting Cloud Gate, or The Bean, as the sculpture is popularly known.
My first visit to the city in 2024 had coincided with the restoration of the Bean, so I had only been able to see it through a fence. And although Millennium Park definitely looks much more beautiful in spring, I didn't want to leave the city without having been there. So, on that last morning of 2025, as we left the Metra station, we crossed Michigan Avenue to head to the park.
The view of the buildings from Millennium Park is impressive even on cloudy days.
Can you see the city's huge Christmas tree among the dry trees on this picture?
We headed to AT&T Plaza, home to artist Anish Kapoor's iconic Cloud Gate sculpture. There were lots of people there despite the cold. I guess to visit without the crowds you have to get up early, which would be impossible for me in winter, haha.
Despite the crowd, I had to take the classic photo of my reflection in the Bean.
And stand under the sculpture to photograph our reflections. Can you spot us among the crowd?
Now a wider photo with the reflection of the buildings in the Cloud Gate.
At this time of year, one of the park's attractions is its ice skating rink.
Another view of the buildings from the park area where The Bean is.
Another view of the buildings, in which you can also see another area of the park in the distance, The Crown Fountain, designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Of course, at this time of year, the fountain is not in operation, but from the distance there you could see its two towers of screens projecting the faces of some famous people. In the summer, when the fountain is turned on, it looks as if water is coming out of the mouths of the projected faces. I've never actually seen it turned on, but that's what my son told me.
It was a freezing day, and we didn't intend to explore the whole park. We were short on time and very cold, but we couldn't resist going to see the city's huge Christmas tree closer.
From there, we walked to the Loop to do some shopping and returned to my son's house to prepare our New Year's Eve dinner. I was satisfied and happy since even on a gloomy winter day, Millennium Park is a must-visit in Chicago.
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