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MILLENNIUM PARK In a city park in the heart of downtown Chicago, this award-winning expanse of art, music, architecture and landscape design feels like a museum.

The centrepiece is Anish Kapoor’s spectacular Cloud Gate sculpture, affectionately known as The Bean by locals.

Inspired by liquid mercury, the stainless steel sculpture distorts the city’s skyline as you walk around and under its 12ft arch. Join a free walking tour, run by knowledgable volunteers, from Chicago’s Cultural Centre (where you can also marvel at the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome) and get an insight into the park’s history (cityofchicago.org).

Set back from The Bean sits the Frank Gehry-designed outdoor concert venue, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.