Travel

Wandering the Windy City

This past weekend, I traveled to Chicago, IL to see the popular show Hamilton. Saturday, mid-morning, we boarded a train and made our way to the city. I have been here numerous times, but it’s always exciting to explore a place away from home and discover places new to me. My goal for 2019 is to adventure, and make the most of every moment. With that, here is a break-down of my Chicago adventure.

WHERE WE ATE

– Italian Village: We chose this spot because it was right by the theater and would be a quick walk over once we finished dinner. On a scale of one to ten (1 being Olive Garden, 10 being any restaurant in Rome) I’d have to give this a solid 7.5. A truly generous rating since I speak so highly of the food in Italy. It was a bit pricey, but if you can swing it, it is most certainly worth it.

– Intelligentsia: For our Sunday morning coffee, Bryan and I knew we would want to find a great spot. There is a Starbucks on every corner, but we wanted to find something different. If you’re familiar with the Grand Rapids area, Intelligentsia is very similar to Madcap. Very trendy, upbeat coffee shop. My drink is the Americano, and it was phenomenal.

– Garrett’s Popcorn: These are all over, but we had to make a stop. While wandering the Chicago streets, we checked it out and were not disappointed. We tried the cheddar popcorn and it was spectacular. The positive energy throughout the store was contagious, and we couldn’t help but smile while making our order.

– Portillo’s: This restaurant wouldn’t have been my first choice, since I’m not a real big hot dog person… but I ordered a burger and was impressed. It was a perfect spot for a quick and easy lunch, while being better than any other “fast food” we would’ve found.

WHAT WE SAW

– Hamilton: Wow, I knew this show would be great because of the large amount of attention and the phenomenal soundtrack, but it exceeded expectations. Typically, musicals are not my thing; I’m more of a Shakespearian theatre kind of gal. I’m so grateful I gave this show a chance. The cast was outstanding. If you are able to see this show, I would definitely recommend it.

– Cloud Gate: This one seems like a “duh!” but I had to share, because a lot of my photos are right in this area. This grey Sunday afternoon made this spot perfect for cute pictures. I’ve spent time in Millennium Park on numerous occasions, but I always enjoy getting my obligatory photo with the “bean.” This area also has an outstanding view of the city.

– Museum of Broadcast Communications: Since this was such a short trip, we had to pick just one museum to explore within the city; I’ve been to most of the others so I was excited to explore one I hadn’t seen previously. The attraction to this museum was brought upon by the current exhibit, SNL: The Experience. Here, you can witness a behind the scenes look at the show from the first day to current episodes. This visual exhibit was great for a fast-paced museum experience.

My quick adventure to Chicago was remarkable and unforgettable. Though I have been to this city multiple times, I enjoyed finding new areas I haven’t seen before. Make every moment an adventure by viewing small trips, like this one, a chance to explore. It isn’t a trip across the country, or to a foreign land that constitutes a trip as an adventure; adventure is whatever you make it to be. Where are you headed next?