Rounding out April with a trip to Chicago was the perfect way to kick off a busy month of travel. I had never been there and given the planner that I am, enjoyed the research and planning for our trip. Luckily, I had the perfect tour guide in Jonathan, who went to grad school at the University of Chicago and whose birthday we celebrated there. But first, I planned a surprise birthday party here for him in DC, which was a lot of fun due to Sean, Ben & Mirelle saving us a spot at my favorite bar and the site of our first date- The Black Squirrel. (Thanks, guys!)
In Chicago, we were welcomed by very gracious hosts in the South Loop- Jonathan’s friends John and Terri. Their welcoming nature set the tone for the trip and allowed us the perfect launchpad for exploring the city. Our first full day, 24 April, was packed with Chicago sights!
First up: A walk through Millennium Park to see Cloud Gate. The day was cloudy and gray, but I think this gives the photos a more gritty edge. Well, the ones that weren’t taken with my iPhone!
Sights of Chicago
My coworker, Paul, recommended that we take an Architecture River Cruise. The boat tour itself was wonderful and our volunteer guide from the Chicago Architecture Foundation was entertaining. However, we picked a very cold day for an open deck boat cruise and lasted all of 2 minutes before my teeth were chattering and we had to head below into the cabin. Once warmed up with some hot chocolate and Bailey’s, I resumed my photo-taking from the warmth of the cabin. The photos are surprisingly clear, given that they were taken through the window glass.
After a stop at Lou Malnati’s for some authentic Chicago deep-dish pizza, we stopped by the Picasso statue in the Daley Plaza and headed to the Art Institute of Chicago to see the Picasso exhibit.
After a quick trip across town for the Chicago History Museum and a corner of Lincoln Park, we wound down in the Logan Square neighborhood at “one of Chicago’s best bars”- Scofflaw. Whew! Luckily, the pace of Vacation: Chicago, Part 2 was a bit more leisurely!
To see all Chicago photos, visit: http://www.karasmedley.com/Landscapes/Chicago/
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