Oak Street Beach, just north of the Magnificent Mile, is one of Chicago's most popular spots to see and be seen. Oak Street Beach is a haven to inline skaters, cyclists, volleyball enthusiasts and, of course, sunbathers. The sandy beach is wide and concrete areas at either side are also popular for sunbathing and people-watching. There are concessions and restrooms, but no parking. At the south end of the beach, the beachfront Oak Street Beachstro serves steak, pastas, seafood, salads and sandwiches.

Millennium Park is a current expansion to Grant Park, with the new area bordered by East Monroe Drive, North Michigan Avenue, East Randolph street and North Columbus Drive. Highlights include Jap Pritzker Pavillion, BP Bridge, Chase Promenade, Crown Fountain, Harris Theater, Kapoor Sculpture on SBC Plaza, Lurie Garden, McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink, Wrigley Square Millennium Monument.

Chicago Dining
It's difficult to make dining recommendations in the Chicago area because there are so many to choose from. Be sure to check with your hotel concierge, family, friends and business acquaintances who are likely to know the hot spots. Here are just a few possibilities -- For a romantic dinner for two, try the Signature Room at the 95th located in the Hancock Building, or perhaps Seasons at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. For excellent Italian, choose Coco Pazzo at Hubbard and Franklin Streets, Rosebud on Rush (near Superior Street) or Vinci at Halsted and Willow Streets. For Mexican, we like Frontera Grill on North Clark Street at Hubbard Street or, for an economical excellent choice, Las Mananitas on Halsted Street south of Addison. If your taste buds are asking for seafood, you can't beat Nick's Fishmarket at Clark and Monroe Streets or McCormick's & Schmick's located on Chestnut near Rush Street. Our choices for fine steaks include Gibson's and Tavern on Rush. Chinatown has many fine choices for authentic Chinese cuisine.
Chicago's cosmopolitan makeup is reflected in its plethora of ethnic restaurants. Italian food, ranging from hearty deep-dish pizza (developed in 1953 at Pizzeria Uno ) to delicately crafted creations presented at stylish trattorias, continues to dominate a very dynamic scene. In recent years there's been a surge of popularity for New American cuisine. Thai restaurants still thrive, as do ones with a broad Mediterranean slant, many of which serve tapas; and there are still plenty of opportunities to sample more longstanding Chicago cuisines - Eastern European, German, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, even Burmese and Ethiopian. Of course, a number of establishments serve good old-fashioned barbecue ribs, a legacy of Chicago's days as the nation's meatpacker. And no visit is complete without sampling a messy Italian beef sandwich, or a Chicago-style hot dog, laden with tomatoes, onions, hot peppers and a pickle.

The largest concentration of restaurants is found north and west of the Loop. To the west, Greektown , around Halsted Street at Jackson Boulevard, and Little Italy , on and around Taylor Street, are worth a look. The Near North and River North areas harbor a good number of upscale places. Chinatown, though not pretty, is a predictably good neighborhood for Cantonese and Szechuan food. Many bars and cafés listed in the "Nightlife and Entertainment" section also serve snacks and light meals, and dozens of places in the Loop offer great breakfast and lunch specials.

Excursions into the Unknown, takes you on a tour of some of Chicagoland's most haunted locations from the comfort and safety of a luxury motor coach. Tours are generally offered once a month from April through September, so be sure to check their website for scheduled dates, pricing and additional information.

Shoreline Sightseeing offers Skyline Boat Tours on Lake Michigan, Architecture Cruises on the Chicago River and water taxi service.

Skyline Boat Tours include daytime and evening Lake Michigan tours from Navy Pier, daytime tours from Museum Campus' Shedd Aquarium Dock and evening tours from Buckingham Fountain. You will enjoy the panorama of Chicago's lakefront, an informative narration on Chicago's majestic landmarks and history, and the services of Skyline's courteous, professional crew. For international visitors, Skyline provides printed translations of the tour in 13 languages.

Water Taxi service runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. You can enjoy the convenience of taking a Harbor Taxi between Navy Pier and Museum Campus or a River Taxi between Navy Pier and the Sears Tower/Union Station.

Captain Dix Resort, opened for business September 19, 2002, Open all year round, with cabins, suites, activities and a beautiful full service restaurant you are sure to come back to time and again. Easy to find 4125 Hwy 13 in Wisconsin Dells, a night club with nightly specials and close to the Dells you are assured a great time. So give owners Gary and Dennis a call Toll Free: (866)553-1818 or drop them an e-mail and ask them what's going on at captaindix@captaindixresort.com. You'll be glad you did.