Honestly, I"m not sure why Navy Pier exists. I suppose it's fashioned after boardwalks, but it's really nothing more than a poorly ventilated indoor mall, with the same fast food you can get everyplace else. There is the Children's Museum and Imax there, a few rides outside, but the only reason I can see for visiting the Pier is if you've done everything else in Chicago and just want to go someplace new. If you're a tourist, you can find the same toursity stuff elsewhere in the city, without having to be in a toursity place. If you want to see boats, you can go to practically any spot along the lake. Save your time and your money and experience the city.
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