Ahhh, where to begin?
It’d take far too long to go over all the details of our trip, so I’m going to cap myself at ten minutes and see how far that gets us. And, since a picture’s worth a thousand words, I’ll supplement via pics.
The trip:
I was a little apprehensive regarding the Amtrak by the time we made it to the station thanks to a multitude of horror stories from my co-workers about the passengers, the delays, the ride, the stench (yes, I said stench), the air conditioning (or lack thereof) etc. Initially, my fear felt founded as I stared at my fellow-passengers, but all went well and the train was a much more comfortable ride than I’ve ever had by plane. It was not ideal for sleeping though (as I was hoping). We arrived on time to and from Chicago and didn’t experience a single problem (nor stench).
The hotel:
One word: Amazing! It’s located right in the heart of the loop of downtown Chicago, which meant we were able to take the El everywhere. The service was impeccable (they even let us check in five hours early), amenities were bountiful and the entire hotel was beautiful—not to mention full of history.
And, since it’s taking forever to compose this amidst the interruptions, I’ll finish out via photos
The sights:
The Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, 103 stories high above Chicago
These plexiglass ledges made my stomach go crazy, and I'm not even remotely scared of heights.
Picnic Lunch at Millennium Park with DJ Ron Trent
This was one of the best pieces of art I've seen (and is housed in Millennium Park)
Aragon Ballroom & The Script in concert
We were right beside the stage.
Check out my YouTube or FB for some awesome videos before YouTube flags and removes 'em.
Sailing on Lake Michigan
Kiera even helped lift a sail!
Funhouse Maze on Navy Pier
(With the most wicked optical illusion I've EVER experienced)
Rainforest Cafe
Cheesy, but it was kiddo's picked and she totally bought into/loved it!
Shopping at Magnificent Mile
This was the (ten story tall) Macy's where we indulged in a little summer dress shopping
7-11
(Yes, I know, but don't underestimate the value of a 7-11 (and Slurpee) to two girls who lost access upon their move back from California. It was right across from the hotel and we were there constantly!)
Well, that about sums it up. Obviously there are a million other pics (all on Kiera's FB if you're interested), but these are the highlights.
The trip was a blast and we had loads of fun (thanks to all who have inquired).
(++)
B.
