Chicago

The Windy City

Chicago is one of those cities that you can visit several times and you will always find something new to do.  I especially love that it is only a 45 minute flight away.  For the more adventurous traveler, I recommend looking into the Amtrak schedule.  We took a relaxing 8 hour train ride that took us right into downtown Chicago.  There is a nice mix of history and modern to keep your interests peaked.

Navy Pier

Navy Pier
In the spring and summer months you should walk down to Navy Pier.  Boat cruises along the lake are available from here as well as some fun shopping and amusement rides.  The best part of Navy Pier is the view of Chicago from the end of the pier!

Field Museum

Field Museum
For those of you interested in all things science, you must walk from Navy Pier, along Lake Michigan, to the Field Museum.  You could almost spend a whole day in there taking in all of the exhibits.  I recommend visiting the dinosaur exhibit.


Millennium Park

Cloud Gate, aka "The Bean"

Like Central Park is to New York City, I feel Millennium Park is the same to Chicago.  It's nice to get away from the skyscrapers and traffic for just an afternoon and find some green-space.  There are several art displays throughout the park that really grab your attention and make you stop and think.  My favorite is "the Bean".  This is a large, cloud-shaped statue that has a mirror-like surface.  You can get a fun view of yourself and the city behind you.

Theater District
Chicago has some amazing theaters!  Even more amazing are the productions hosted there.  I've seen "Jersey Boys" and "Wicked" while in Chicago and both were fabulous.  Get to the show a little early to walk around the theater and awe at the architecture.