Oak Street, Chicago

Next to Michigan Avenue lies the charming shopping enclave known as "Oak Street". While some may consider it an integral part of the Magnificent Mile, it's worth noting that neighboring streets like Rush and Walton don't quite make the official cut.

The Oak Street area, though compact in size, possesses the ability to outshine the Mile with its array of ultra-chic boutiques. Here, you'll encounter fashion havens such as Prada, Jimmy Choo, and Jil Sander, along with the slightly more accessible Bebe, Juicy Couture, and Mac. If you're flush with cash, it's an enjoyable destination for retail therapy, albeit with a somewhat more subdued atmosphere compared to the bustling Mile. Moreover, Oak Street is home to a number of opulent historic mansions dating back to the 1800s, a testament to Chicago's wealthiest denizens of yesteryear.

In contrast, Rush Street takes an oblique course from Chicago Avenue to Elm Street and is characterized by its array of bars, sidewalk caf茅s, and traditional steakhouses, all of which remain lively around the clock. While many of the establishments here cater to tourists and may come with slightly inflated price tags, there are a handful of exceptions, including the Original Pancake House 鈥� a quaint, old-school breakfast spot with abundant outdoor seating.

Just a single block north of Elm Street, Division Street is the epicenter of exuberant nightlife, attracting hordes of spirited college students and young professionals come weekend nights. In a curious twist, the addition of middle-aged men on the prowl has earned this area the nickname "the Viagra Triangle". Among the Division Street hotspots, Butch McGuire's reigns supreme, drawing in a lively crowd of singles in pursuit of a good time and exuding all the charm one might expect from a college fraternity house.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Oak Street
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois

Create Your Own Walk in Chicago

Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Chicago Old Town Walking Tour

Settled in 1850 by German immigrants, Chicago鈥檚 Old Town neighborhood is a popular destination for locals and visitors who cater to the entertainment venues, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and boutiques 鈥� all of which have turned an area once referred to as the 鈥淐abbage Patch鈥� into an attraction that rivals Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Magnificent Mile.

Start your Old Town walking... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture Tour in Oak Park

Oak Park, located in Cook County, Illinois, just outside Chicago, made history in 1889 when Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America's most renowned architects, and his wife settled there, leaving a profound impact on the area's appearance. This village boasts the highest concentration of Wright-crafted buildings in the world - over a dozen! - making it a pivotal destination for enthusiasts to... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

Chicago Chinatown Walking Tour

Tucked away just south of the Loop, the Chinatown of Chicago was established in 1912 and is considered one of the best examples of American Chinatown. While it may be one of Chicago鈥檚 smallest neighborhoods geographically, it is big on character, colors, sights, sounds, and flavors. Here, you鈥檒l find a wide range of unique boutiques, specialty shops, religious sights, authentic Chinese... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour

The stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile, is regarded as one of the world鈥檚 great avenues 鈥� or Chicago鈥檚 version of Fifth Avenue. Take this self-guided walk to explore its whole stretch and surrounding area, featuring a wide selection of amazing stores/malls, world-known museums, restaurants and spectacular... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

Chicago Introduction Walking Tour

Chicago, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, is a city steeped in history and urban vibrancy. Known by numerous nicknames such as the Windy City and the City of Big Shoulders, it boasts a skyline marked by towering structures. The area of today's Chicago, initially inhabited by Native American tribes, saw its first European-settled reference as "Chicagou" in 1679, a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Millennium and Grant Parks Walking Tour

The city of Chicago is renowned for its outdoor green spaces. One such 鈥渇orever free and open鈥� space, is called Grant Park and was established in 1844. In fact, upon foundation, it was called Lake Park, but was renamed in 1901 after the American Civil War General and United States President, Ulysses S. Grant.

Popularly referred to as 鈥淐hicago's front lawn,鈥� this lakefront park is... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

View all walking tours in Chicago, Illinois

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

Chicago Souvenirs: 15 Distinct Local Products to Bring Home

One of the most fascinating cities in the U.S., if not the whole world, Chicago has no shortage of things closely associated with it, often due to their direct origin (blues, gangstership, etc.), so one might literally be spoiled for choice as to what to choose as a "piece" of Chicago to...