Chicago Trip–Spring Break

Tuesday –
Rainy day in high 40s
We set off around 8:30am to head to Chicago. We got to check in early at Best Western River North Hotel. We all walked over to American Girl and Rachel and mom had lunch and shopped at American Girl.
Lunch was a very special experience with Cinnamon Roll Appetizer, Fruit Tic-Tack-Toe Pepperoni Pizza. There were probably about 10 girls celebrating their birthdays and we had to hear the staff sing many times. Dessert was fun getting a special sugar flower cookie, an angel food cake with icing and a flower pot of chocolate mouse and a cute daisy sticking out of the top of it. Marisol, Rachel’s doll got to have a seat with us and a cup & saucer as if she was part of our group!

Rachel decided upon the Hawaii Outfit for her and her doll. Mark and the kids went swimming at Best Western Hotel Pool-it was too cold for Mom! Our room was ok, except for the fitted sheets would not stay on the beds! HAAA We gave it a C. We took cab to Gino’s East, there was one around the corner from us but we went to another one. The pizza is awsome! It was not really the one that we wanted to go to, so we spent $13 each way to take a cab… but I guess you learn!

When we got back to the hotel we watched “I Am Legend Movie”…very good movie!

Wednesday –
Sunny day in the 50s
We ate lunch at The Rainforest Café – VERY COOL PLACE!
The Rainforest Café was right across from our hotel and just like the name says-it’s like a Rainforest! There was a shop, two-story waterfall and salt-water aquariums everywhere, along with Jungle Animals everywhere! Went to Shedd Aquarium and I think we saw every fish known to man. We all liked the saw mouth-looking shark! The very unique sea horses were so fancy; I have never seen anything like them! We checked into Essex Hotel that is right next to Grant Park. It was ok, except for the short beds!

Walked over to Sears Tower and went up to sky deck and we were glad we did we could see for miles-no fog! Ate at the restaurant at Essex Hotel called the Savoy and everyone had different types of food: Mark-Greek, Zac-Chicago-Style Footlong, Rachel-Italian Chicken Parmesan, Tracey-Mexican Chicken Fahita. Went back to our room and Tracey took the kids swimming while Mark went to sleep. The pool was neat with flags hanging from the window-top roof! It was already dark so we couldn’t really see a view. We watched a program on unique McDonald’s in North America on the Travel Channel before bed.

Thursday –
Rainy low 50s
Today we checked out of the hotel and went to the big McDonald’s next to Best Western River North. This McDonald’s is two stories and glass all around, next to the Hard Rock and The Rainforest Café. They had windows back into the past like 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s… it was neat to look into the past. Went to the Museum of Science & Industry. This was a nice place to see how Industry has grown, automation, learned about refining petroleum, farming, electricity, the U505 German Submarine we captured in 1944 WWII. Our feet were so tired, so we left around 3:30 and went on the Skyway back to Indiana. We attempted to stop at a BP Gas station and get drinks but you could not even go into the store. You had to go to a window and ask for what you wanted. Of course there was a guy ordering all kind of snacks ahead of Mark so we just left. –He didn’t get the right Doritos that he asked for LOL HAAAA!
We headed “Back Home Again in Indiana!” - It’s good to be home. We like Chicago and it’s a great place to visit, but it’s expensive having to pay to park everywhere you go! We sure couldn’t live with so many people…we like our more relaxed home in the suburbs of Indiana!