Chicago...all by myself!

Back in July, I got to go to Chicago for a conference for work. I had never been to Chicago before and got to spend a good bit of time doing lots of walking and sightseeing (read: eating). I did get to travel with a co-worker but I was by myself in the sense that I had no husband or child with me. It was the longest I had ever been away from Katie and I was thrilled to see her when I got home. But I did have a good time in Chicago (thanks in part to tips from my Chicago-loving friends, Curtis and Elizabeth).

Here's the John Hancock building on Michigan Avenue. My hotel was very near this building so I used it as a frame of reference most of the time since it was the tallest building around.

 

4th Presbyterian Church - I flew in on a Sunday and had missed church to make my flight. They had a 5pm Jazz service so I went to that. The music was good but it made me miss my home church for sure! The building, however, was absolutely gorgeous!

 

6 floors of Bloomingdales? Yes, please! Don't worry, Doug - I didn't actually buy anything. I was afraid to touch most things there, let alone try anything on!

 

This is more my travel style! I like to spend my money on food! On several people's recommendations, I went to Giordano's Pizza for dinner. The wait was over an hour and by the time we got a table, it was 8pm (9pm my time) and the sole of my shoe would've tasted good at that point. But the pizza was delicious. However - we couldn't finish it. I kept trying to give myself a pep talk and eat more not knowing when/if I'd ever get back to Chicago! But I just couldn't. My 25 year old self is extremely disappointed.

 

We took a boat tour of the skyline. Well worth it. The skyline just goes on and on. Nothing like it.

 

A wrong turn down one street on my way back to the hotel one night let me stumble upon this "artwork." It was quite the tourist attraction, for sure!

 

The Chicago River - at night...Just beautiful!

 

We had lunch at The Signature Room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building the day before we left. After lunch, I headed down one flight to the observatory and spent some time looking at the city from above. This is a picture of my hotel. It's in the center of the picture - close to the green patch of trees. I had a great location - just a minute walk from the Lakefront Path and a minute walk from all the shopping too.

 

Proof that I was actually up there. I've never been a fan of "self-portraits" but I also wasn't a fan of asking random people to take a picture of me by myself since my work friend didn't go to the observatory floor.

 

A much longer walk from our hotel was Grant Park and Millennium Park and this other fun piece of art. This "reflective kidney bean" is a magnet for tourists!

 

One final picture...My hotel...The Drake! All lit up at night with the John Hancock Building in the background!

 

It was a great trip and only reminded me of my love for travel. I must've walked 20 miles in the 3 days I was there! I was determined to see as much of the city as possible! I had started reading Devil in the White City before I left to give me some history of Chicago. The book is about the World's Fair in the late 1800s that grew the city into more prominence but also set the stage for a serial killer. It's a true story and I was wrapped up in the history the whole time I was there. I was about 3/4 of the way through the book and was determined to finish it on the plane ride home. But guess who left it in the pocket of her seat on the first leg of the flight. I wish I could blame someone else but I can't. I need to go pick up another copy and finish it!