Chicago!!! July 2010

We left very early the next morning for Sc hamburg, IL. We passed right through Chicago, but oohed and awed over the buildings. We go to the LEGO Discovery Center!!! It ended up being really neat, kind of on the expensive side but we felt at this point of the kids life it was important and as close to a Lego Land as we are getting right now! We had fun and go to see a lot of neat creations and even a factory tour that was kind of neat. There is a cafe and with the children's meal you get a mini figure which is VERY coveted at our house!

After we left Lego Land we headed back to the city. There are about 5 Expressways or tollways going every which way around Chicago it is kind of confusing.  We passed a McDonald's that is smack in the middle of the toll road you can just drive through and get going again!  It was really weird.  We also saw what is called an Oasis, they have there every now and then on the tollways.  It is a huge bridge over the tollways, there is parking on either side that you get to from the tollway, once you get inside it is like a small mall food court.  There is all kids of eating places, a few shops, a playground and gas stations.  It is the coolest thing!  Of course we stopped for a snack!

We got into town without much trouble and to our hotel, it was right on Grand which leads straight to Navy Pier and two blocks off of THE MAGNIFICENT MILE.  We got settled in and left right away for sightseeing.  We took off walking.... forever. We got to Millennium Park and saw the sphere, the lawn, the Boeing walk ways, Chase fountain and tons of other stuff along the way!  We crossed over the river and there were buskers (street performers) everywhere!  There were people everywhere and pedestrians, taxis, honking... it was awesome and exactly as imagined!

We saw the Wrigley building, the 4th Presbyterian church- which is beautiful, The Chicago tribune building and so many other beautiful, beautiful building. You walk along and cannot believe HOW beautiful the architecture is! We only saw the Sears Tower in passing, but it is beautiful! Matt bough a replica Lego set of it.

We got back to the hotel just in time for out reservations at The Weber Grill.  Everything they cook is on a grill... it was on the Food Network.  The food was pretty good, service took forever though!  It was a neat experience though. 

After dinner we headed out to Navy Pier, we hopped on a trolley that would get us there. As soon as we got off the trolley we were at the front entrance of the Pier and it was amazing!  So many people and across the lawn we saw a HUGE macaroni noodle- who could pass up a picture by huge macaroni!

We walked all the way to the end of the Pier, got a few cool shots... we got to see the Stained Glass museum which was really cool.  There was so many and it was free!  We ended up at the rides and Kaitlin, me and Emily went on the Ferris wheel.  We regretted it the whole time but in the end we DID it and I am proud of us!  Emily rode the swings and carousel.  We left to get a snack and souvenir and than started the LONG trek back to the hotel!  The trolleys stop at 8:00!  We figure that we did about 6 miles of walking in the 12 that we were actually in the city touring!  yikes!

Emily enjoyed the first three art works and then she was like um... the rides MOM!

The next morning we set off for some more shopping!  The Lego store- because you never have enough Lego's! The American Girl store-- bigger than Dallas, very cool!  Bloomingdale's- everyone needs a Little Brown Bag once in their life- of course I only got one buying someone else a present!  We saw The DRAKE, which was cool... the flags in front are so classic!  We also went to the Hershey store which was neat and delicious.  We shared a smore treat and a frozen cocoa drink and of course picked up some chocolate!

this fountain had cool balls that shot straight up.. it was one of the coolest fountains I have ever seen!!!

this would be my daughter using the 300.00 dollar- on sale- scarves at Bloomingdale's to cover her cold Bitty Baby American Girl Doll!  Hmmmmm......

We saw The John Hancock building!

We didn't get to Frank Loyd Wrights house- the flooding that caused the dam break in Iowa had left parts of Chicago with some flooded streets and we opted to stay away from the west side of town.  We also did not get pic of Buckingham Fountain, we did drive by and see it though!  It was so beautiful!  I couldn't believe HOW beautiful it was! 

After our shopping we had to experience Chicago Pie so we went to eat pizza, the deep dish variety!  Yummo!

 Then we checked out and headed for home... I was sad to leave after so little time but I was so happy that I got to see all that I did!  Just have to plan to go back!