Daytrip to Chicago (overdue post)

First we started out on a train into Chicago's Union Station

Then a water-taxi on the Chicago River through the city
(if you ever get a chance to do this, you should! Its a unique experience and offers a different view of the city)


Stopping on Michigan Ave-look what we saw!
(The Farmer and His Wife were also touring Chicago!)


Then walking South to Millenium Park
seeing: The Bean - or the CloudGate, depending on who you talk to (AWESOME for picture taking-TONS of tourists)





The Jay Pritzker Pavilion, coolest outdoor ampitheater
(supposedly there is actually method to the structure! very cool)


This awesome bridge (the BP Bridge)


And the crazy Crown Fountain
(features Chicagoans' faces/ Looks like you are walking on water-pretty neat)



Making our way further South to Grant Park
and it's awesome Buckingham Fountain



(and no, we didn't ride these-but we wanted to! next time maybe...)
Giving us this view of the city

and a peek at Queen's Landing
(where Queen Elizabeth's boat landed when she visited Chicago)


On our way back up through the parks

anyone tired yet? ...too bad.

Because now we walked ALL the way up the Magnificent Mile


Stopping at the end to visit Water Tower Place
(a pretty cool mall that is very tall and narrow)

Then eating lunch (that's right, we did all of the above before lunch!!!) at the Cheesecake Factory-yummy.

...which, just so happened to be on the ground level of the John Hancock Center.



So we travelled up to the Observation Deck,
had fun and listened to some history of Chicago
(for the record-this is wwwwwaaayyyyyy better than the Sears Tower. Just go here, don't go to the Sears Tower. Take a picture of the Sears Tower FROM the Hancock Building. Seriously.)




and of course took some great shots of the city
(these are only a few of many)



hmmm...that beach looks interesting...

lets go look at it


Its so neat to see a real beach in the shadow of skyscrapers


Then we walked Lake Shore Dr...


...until we reached Navy Pier

where we walked around and saw Thomas-of all people, err...trains

went up the Ferris Wheel
(which is not the one from the famous World's Fair, but like the original, you have to get on and off it while it is moving because it doesn't stop!)

giving us even more picture opportunities

(this is personally my favorite way to get pictures of of Chicago)


Ate a quick dinner and for the grand finale:
A show at Chicago's Shakespeare Theater!

Twelfth Night to be exact. One of my favorites!

(you can't take pictures during the performance,
but here is a shot of it's very different and cool stage)

yes-that is water! And they use it during the play frequently-it is SO cool! lol.

Then a great view of Chicago at night




A quick taxi back to Union Station,
a few more Chicago-at-night pics


and the train awaits


Well, we got home very late and it was a Very Long Day. But loads of fun. If you ever want to do any of what we did-let me know and I can tell you prices. But all in all, it was pretty affordable!

I had a great time with Emily and Stephanie-thanks for coming!!

whew. that may have been the longest post ever. EVER.