Water Tower Place takes its name from the nearby Water Tower that survived the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. It is billed as the most beautiful shopping mall in the world. With fountains and greenery cascading down the front entryway, plantings and white marble throughout, and sparkling chrome and glass elevators whooshing through the spectacular eight-level atrium, it works hard at deserving that reputation. Water Tower Place is anchored by Marshall Field’s and Lord & Taylor, but there are more than 100 stores, specialty boutiques, and restaurants, plus Drury Lane Theater and a Georgette Klinger day spa. Whether you’re drawn to high-end couture and unique jewelry or to the Chicago Cubs Clubhouse Shop and Number One Blue Engine, a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed toy store, you can probably find somewhere to unload money. Familiar names – such as Banana Republic, Lacoste, Godiva, and Sharper Image – are interspersed among intriguing boutiques and shops unique to Chicago, including Accent Chicago, the perfect place to pick up a memento of the Windy City. Dining is as varied as the shopping, from snacks and sweets to excellent restaurants. Mity Nice Grill is a standout for sit-down dining, but for sheer fun, it’s hard to beat foodlife, where you get a card that lets you circulate among a dozen food islands featuring cuisine from around the world.