Chicago Fireworks
 

Can anyone suggest the best place for viewing the fireworks on July 3 . We are staying at Swissotel Water Tower.

A boat... :-D

if not possible then Grant Park or the museum campus just to the south of the park. Due to the Tasted of Chicago, concerts, etc... the area will be extremely crowded.

Most of the tour boats offer special firework cruises from downtown Chicago or Navy Pier. There still may be time to make reservations.

Have a great trip to one of the best US cities.

This question makes me miss our boat!(now sold) We sailed Lake Michigan every weekend for 8 seasons and every July 3 would find us anchored in Chicago for fireworks! I don't know the answer to your question but I do know that people start showing up on shore in the afternoon to rope off their territory. They bring grills, etc and settle in. It is very crowded. I would ask your hotel, they might have a patio designated for viewing.

You may be able to see the fireworks from your hotel. If not, you can walk two blocks south to Grant Park or Millennium Park. The deeper you to into the park, the more dense the crowds will be.

I usually watch from Randolph or Michigan Avenue and can see very well. I am able to make it to the train before most of the crowd empties from the parks.

<i>You may be able to see the fireworks from your hotel.</i>,

I'm not a big fan of fireworks but come 4th and I'm there. IMHO, if one really wants to experience the fireworks, one needs to be outside and fairly close to the show.

Even if the OP would get a high floor room with a decent view of Grant Park, it would be a shame if s/he didn't try to get closer. The hotel is about 1/2 to 3/4 miles away from "ground zero". The rooms have soundproof windows.

What makes the fireworks show exciting is the noise, the spectacular colors all around you, and the live music that will be played throughout the park.

If you're sitting in the comfort of your hotel room, you won't hear the booms, the spectacular gigantic array of colors will seem like little colorful dots far, far away. You might as well watch it on TV.

Again, that's just my opinion. Few years back I had the privilege to be at a private party in one of the Hancock high floor apartments for the show and I wasn't impressed. It seemed like a TV with no sound. Most of the partyers started to lose interest within minutes.

Just my opinion.