Day 2 – Urban Hiking in Chicago

Family photo

On foot in the rain

EC and Lego Storm Trooper

Enjoying the view from atop the John Hancock building

Screen capture from our pedestrian route!

Chicago style pizza

Can never have too much cheese

CJ in front of our Airbnb

Youngest to oldest

Here’s more or less how the day went

• Woke up and had a nice, leisurely morning at what we explained to CJ was the “new house” when she kept asking if we are going to “our house”
• We discussed what we should do for the day given the threat of rain
• Drove into town and had a quite a time finding a place to park our van w/ car top carrier. Finally found a garage with high enough clearance but no spaces
• Found a space under NBC Tower and took it
• Walked to Millennium park where we played in the water, visited Cloud Gate, and walked around.
• Made the long trek to Rainforest Cafe for lunch
• While we were there, severe storms swept through Chicago
• Not wanting to wait longer, we set out with umbrellas
• We made a pit stop at the Disney store
• Walked to Water Tower Place where we visited the American Girl Doll Store and Lego Store (where EC spent some of his souvenir money)
• Went across the street to the Hancock Building.  4 of the 6 of us went to the observatory deck. The view was still amazing for a cloudy, dreary day
• After watching my iPhone videos from the observation deck, Mom confirmed that she wouldn’t have done well up there
• Next, we made the final hike back to the car
• Total walking distance, according to my iPhone app: 6 miles
• We left the city and took the long way through Chicago neighborhoods (halfway scary during some of it, but it was daylight)
• After a really long drive, made it to Giardano’s to get our deep dish pizza, then popped in and out of up-scale Trader Joes for on-the-road lunch supplies and breakfast food.
• Finally crashed back at the house for pizza, and a movie.
• Nobody had any trouble getting to sleep!
• We look forward to days of less intensity and better weather!

Videos for your viewing pleasure!