Have you
ever gone to a place you love so much that the simple act of reviewing photos
of past trips simultaneously bringing you joy and the angst to return? I get
these pangs from time to time and they come from a handful of places. Chicago
is at the very top of that list.
I love
Chicago. It is that simple. I have said as much at the very beginning of my
first blog about The Second City (http://bit.ly/2lqL7ds).
This love has only grown stronger since my most recent visit about a year ago.
That weekend was extra special because I was showing my brother around a place
I love as we jointly celebrated our December birthdays.
On my
birthday a vacation is always my first inclination as a way to celebrate, it
the gift that keeps on giving. When returning to a place I love there is a
whole other level of happiness as I revisit the places I love to eat at,
streets I yearn to roam, and this time to show my sibling how easy Chicago is
to fall in love with.
For this
brief trip I did something quite unusual, I did not make one single plan. Okay
actually that is a lie. I made one dinner reservation but that was my only
planned activity. More about that next time. I knew vaguely where I wanted to
go but when and in what order I would find out. I was taking this relaxed
approach and it turned out to be one of the very best weekends and trips of my
life. You know how I said I wanted to revisit a place I love? Well I would like
to revisit this particular weekend moment by moment. Blogging is the best way I
know how too.
As far as
activities go, after checking in to our hotel, and having a bite to eat, we hit
up a bit of Michigan Avenue. The Magnificent Mile was in walking distance and I
was eager to see the sights in their Christmas best. I love looking up at the
skyline and seeing the John Hancock building, The Water Tower, and other
Chicago-centric views.
From
there it was off to a site I had never been to and one that had an expiration
date, HARPO Studios, former site of the Oprah Winfrey Show. The building had
been sold and the company moved out of that building but for that moment it was
like stepping into television history. A few snapshots are all that remain.
Sadly I hear that location is now a McDonald’s.
My second
to last activity on that first day was a return to the Willis Tower a.k.a. the
former Sears Tower. This was my fourth trip to Chicago since 2007 and I hadn’t
been to the Willis Tower since my first time in town. The Willis Tower is the
eighth tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, towering 1,450 feet above
ground.
Since the
time of my first visit the Tower they created a new attraction on the
observation tower where clear glass extends out onto the air where you can
stand and take photos if you dare. Officially it is called The Ledge, standing
out at 1,353 feet above ground, on the Skydeck way up on the one hundred and
third floor.
It was
approaching nighttime and the sun was setting. The views were incredible. As
our visit was nearing an end I decided I would brave The Ledge and take a step
out there. However the line was impossibly long and after waiting a few minutes
I was over it. We had a long day including traveling and I was too beat to
stand there and wait for something I was half interested in and half terrified
of. That experience will have to wait for another time.
Just
recently the Willis Tower announced a massive renovation including office,
tenant, and outdoor spaces. It seems that once this transformation is complete
the Willis Tower will be the most desirable piece of property in Chicago, or so
goes the hope.
My last
activity after this sightseeing marvel wasn’t anything Chicago specific but it
was a first for me. After some happy hour drinks and snacks we saw a movie in a
theater that had plush leather seats and food you could order and have
delivered right to your seat. It was a much-needed break from my busy day and a
great way to relax watching a movie that was funny and certainly out of my
normal realm, as was this pitch perfect day one.
On the
morning of my second day we hit the Starbucks up on the corner and off we went
to hit up the other half of Michigan Avenue, my favorite part of the city! The
weather this December weekend was absolutely gorgeous especially for the
Mid-West. It was about fifty degrees and sunny. I was in heaven and so was my
migraine brain.
By far my
favorite part of Chicago is the area right near the Magnificent Mile Bridge
close to the Chicago Tribune building. I love the architecture and the way I
feel, like I am right in the center of town when I stand there. I can look out
over the Chicago River endlessly. On this trip I got to see how my favorite
section was getting all dolled up for the holidays.
From here
we walked until we hit Millennium Park, stopping at any shops that struck our
fancy. Once we reached the park there was an adorable shed where Santa was
waiting to hear the wishes of children and an ice-skating ring where many where
out enjoying the gorgeous weather. It all took this original park where art
comes alive to a whole other level.
While
this walk was pleasurable the main event of the day was also our last, The
Field Museum. Actually aside from sibling birthday related quality time this
was the reason I was so thrilled to be in Chicago. Ever since I read the book,
“Rex Appeal” by Peter Larson, the man who was head of the team that found Sue
the T-Rex, I knew I had to see this legendary dinosaur up close. Sue was found
by Peter Larson’s team from his South Dakota Black Hills Institute and she is
to date the largest, most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found. The story of how
she ended up in Chicago is a sad story that involves science, law, and personal
sacrifice. The story is much more than I can explain here but it is one that
has long stayed with me.
Seeing
Sue up close brought such strong and opposing feelings. On the one hand I was
thrilled she was in a city I could so easily visit but on the other hand I knew
she didn’t belong here, she was stolen. That will never leave my mind. But she
was the reason I was making my first pilgrimage to The Field Museum.
Sue is
the first thing that comes into your line of sight while you are online
purchasing your entry ticket. This proximity only made me increasingly antsy.
As I rushed in to get to her side I was in awe the closer I got. This famous
fossil seemed to have made a human connection with me.
The
sheer size and near completion of the skeleton makes you want to look over each
and every part. The skeleton on display has all original parts except for the
skull. The real skull weighs over six hundred pounds and the risk of damage
means that the real skull is in an exhibit on the second floor in a glass case,
while the one on display is a replica.
While
Sue was the reason for the visit I also managed to hit up the rest of the
dinosaur exhibits. I can never resist seeing the remnants of those exotic
creatures (http://bit.ly/2klY1ck) whenever
I am in a museum that has them.
After a
Sue related film it was time for us to head out. I didn’t get to spend nearly
enough time exploring all that The Field Museum has to offer but that was okay
because Sue was my main goal for this initial visit. However I have big plans
to go back to see the many things I missed such as the Terracotta Warriors. I
saw them when they were on display in New York City (http://bit.ly/2lK75UT) but the fact that these
two thousand warriors, of which no two are identical, were found under a farm
in China so many years after their creation boggles my mind. I value any
additional chances I get to see them.
I feel
like every time I am watching “Mysteries at the Museum” on the Travel Channel
they provide me with another reason to return to The Field Museum and Chicago
in general.
On my
final day in Chicago the fun continued. We hopped the very cute and very free
trolley that stops all over the city, which ultimately leads to the Navy Pier.
It is a place for food, shopping, entertainment, and the best views of Lake
Michigan. It is also a great place to hop on a boat and get a tour of the city
from the sea. Oh those tropical looking blue waves of Lake Michigan seem like a
work of fiction if you have never seen them up close. Despite taking several of
these tours I will never ever tire of the views they provide.
At the
time of this last visit the infamous Ferris Wheel had been taken down for
repairs and upgrades but I am happy to report it is since been restored and
once again available for a ride which is a must!
All of
this activity created quite an appetite so next I will tackle the foods you
must have, or at least what I had to have, this most recent time I was back in
Chicago.
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