Chicago, Chicago…that toddlin’ town…

Chicago, Chicago…that toddlin’ town that I could not turn round…

I typically try and bypass the big cities, but I’m in the area for a travel conference to be held in Rockford, Illinois. I have friends who live in the area and so it was the perfect opportunity to gather them up for a walking tour of downtown Chicago. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, and, I have to admit, Chicago it a pretty cool city to walk around enjoying all the sights, great architecture, waterfront and so much more.

We met up at Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”), which is a huge sculpture in the center of Millennium Park.  The sculpture got its nickname because of its bean-like shape. Made up of stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. Said to have been inspired by liquid mercury, the sculpture’s surface reflects and distorts the city’s skyline. Its pretty cool.

Steve, Susan, Scott and me just happened to be at Millennium Park while the opera was performing at the Frank Gehry music venue. What a treat it was…not only to witness the performance, but to take-in the amazing architecture of the prolific Frank Gehry.

We then walked to Navy Pier and had lunch.  The area looked much more vibrant than the last time I had visited…some 15 years earlier. After lunch we walked the boardwalk along the water toward the Art Institute. A subway ride later, some ice cream at Ghirardelli, dinner and a drive back to “Lake in the Hills” concluded my time in Chicago.

Tomorrow I’m off to Peoria, IL to visit relatives for a few days, then I’ll head back north to Rockford for the TMS (Travel Media Showcase) conference.

Mike Shubic

Mike Shubic is a seasoned road trip travel video blogger, traversing the byways of the world looking for those hidden gems of the road. From unique destinations, unexpected discoveries, creative cuisine, intriguing inns to exciting attractions…the road is his page. The experiences are his ink. And every 300 miles, a new chapter begins. Whether you live vicariously or by example, Mike will do the exploring so you can have an adventure.
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