It is not fly-over country-Visiting Chicago
Warning: Post contains graphic images of water! Residents of the western US and other drought-stricken areas may want to avoid these graphic images. Californians especially are forewarned that viewing such images may cause a strong urge to water the lawn and flush toilets.
I’m from Ottawa, Illinois, a small-ish town 90 miles southwest of Chicago. Of course you are aware that it sits at the convergence of the Fox and Illinois rivers, it is home to one of the richest deposits of silica sand which is/was used in glass production and Bakelite products, it was home to the founder of the Boy Scouts, was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate and was a station on the Underground Railroad. Of course you knew that!
Even though I lived there until I was 18, I didn’t visit Chicago often. But if I did, it was usually to see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field. Of all The Most Unlikely Places for my outdoor-adventurer son to live, he ended up in Chicago with his sweetie. They live in the Streeterville area, one of the most delightful areas of Chicago, located between Lake Michigan and the Magnificent Mile. And that gave me the chance to see Chicago as a tourist!
Streeterville abounds with vibrant culture, bars, restaurants, hotels and residential high rises. My son and his fiance live in the tower that adjoins the hotel we stayed at. This is the son that climbs mountains solo, does all sorts of crazy outdoor stuff. It’s bizarre that he lives in a high rise in Chicago!
My husband and I were working at warp speed while we visited, trying to see as much as we could. Our son and his girlfriend were excellent hosts, providing us with an array of choices for each day of our stay. Downtown Chicago is filled with young, spirited people. The city hugs Lake Michigan, providing a beautiful setting.
And the restaurants-wow. We found wonderful Mediterranean, deep dish pizza, Italian, Farm-to-Table and The Weber Grill where your food is cooked on giant Webers! Chicago felt much fresher to me than most large cities…in the summer anyway! It is friendly, clean, diverse and dynamic. Of course not all of Chicago is that way, but Streeterville certainly is.
One of the best things to do is take an architectural tour on the Chicago River. There is so much to learn about Chicago’s history and architecture. Of course Chicago does have its share of colorful history, grin. We took the twilight cruise which ended as the sun was setting.
The Chicago River has a fascinating history. In the late 1800’s Lake Michigan became heavily polluted. A torrential rain caused huge amounts of raw sewage to pour into the lake, resulting in an outbreak of water borne illnesses that killed 12% of the city’s population in 1885.
The city’s solution was to reverse the flow of the river so that water flowed from the lake into the Chicago River and eventually the Mississippi. The reversal of the flow of the Chicago River is the largest municipal earth-moving project ever completed. Cool huh?
It is lovely to cruise the river-it is very clean and is surrounded by massive buildings on each side. The Riverwalk is populated by eateries, bars and all sorts of interesting shops.
You have to be A Certain Age to recognize this as the building that Bob Newhart lived in-remember this?
Everywhere there were beautiful, colorful plantings-what a delight!
Random photo-I like unscripted shots like this. Really, what do you think he’s contemplating?
Ah, saving the water photos for last. This was remarkable to me-nowhere in the hotel we stayed at were there signs posted asking you to conserve water. Weird.
Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park is huge, one of the largest in the world.
Here is a close up shot, just to satiate the water lust of Californians.
We’re not done. The Centennial Fountain goes off into the Chicago River every hour for ten minutes. It celebrates the cleanup of the Chicago River. At this time I believe such behavior receives the death penalty in California.
While I’m on the subject of water, I was lucky enough to witness a raucous, dramatic thunderstorm. I love thunderstorms. I grabbed my popcorn and sat right at the window of our 24th story room overlooking the lake and watched it roll in and take hold. Watching thunderstorms fills my soul.
And then poof, it rolled out and left us clear for our final day! It was a nice break for Hubby and I to visit our son and enjoy Chicago.
Thanks for the scenic tour! Love the Trump tower picture. Lots of inspiration for Concrete and Grasslands??
Good thinking Roxanne! I actually have my Grasslands/Concrete piece all done and blocked on my design wall-may be the first time ever that I am done that early. I may see more inspiration for other pieces from that trip though.
Loved the travel log! What a great mix of fun you had. xo
It was a fabulous trip! Miss you.
I LOVED the tour. Never wanted to visit Chicago before this, and now I do. Plus I totally enjoyed your clever banter about the CA drought and other stuff :)
Thanks Debby-it was striking-there was water everywhere! All the thirsty plantings were lush and green. If you haven’t visited there you may not realize that Lake Michigan is huge. If you didn’t know it was a lake you might think you were on the coast. It’s very green there, tall, lush trees, lots and lots of turf. It is so upbeat and vibrant! You read about all the really bad stuff in Chicago, but it’s not this area.
We passed each other on the streets! Daughter visited the School for the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) while you and yours were sightseeing. SAIC is impressive!
Well why didn’t you wave Carla, giggle? I want to see the art side of town too-maybe next time. My son’s girlfriend says the AIC is fantastic. Lucky you!
You lucky duck. Looked like a wonderful trip.
Yes Susan, it’s kind of nice when a son moves to a fun place to visit. I get to visit Tucson and Chicago!
I went to Chicago some years back when Marvin was still here on Earth and he was going to a big international book conference…so I took all the architectural tours I could find. He was able to sneak away and take the canal tour with me. It was a magical few days, so I thank you for reminding me of that wonderful time with Marvin. The water pics are delightful too….My brother and nephew both live in California with their families. I think I’ll send him the link to your blog. :D :D :D
Oh I’m so glad that it brought back wonderful memories of time with Marvin! It was an almost magical trip. Thanks for the comment.
OMG! I just got back from a trip out west and we spent the night in Ottawa – nice little town. We saw Chicago as well – from the expressways. Not nearly as nice as your experiences.
NO! You spent the night in Ottawa? I hope you liked it. It was a lovely place to grow up.
Yup. We even went to Starved Rock State Park to see some waterfalls.
Love Starved Rock-spent so much time there growing up!
I have never had an interest in Chicago, until now. Thanks for the scenic tour. As I am living in drought stricken Washington state (and have run out of water once this summer, so am very mindful of my current usage), I am quite envious of Chicago’s abundance! :)
Nice comment Laura-thank you. Chicago is beautiful-set on huge Lake Michigan, so much intriguing architecture, good deal of parks and public art, very friendly, fabulous food, lots to do. Western cities are by definition younger and the architecture is less interesting IMHO. Not that I’m an architecture junkie, it’s just that there is more history in older cities. I actually had never been as a tourist, so it was a “first” in a way for me.
First of all you look pretty standing with your husband.
I smiled with the Bob Newhart reference.
We almost moved to Chicago a few years back, went on business for a month to check out the surrounding towns.
Your comment on my blog about being more travel sewing organized made me laugh. I admire your achievements and blog so much.
LeeAnna at not afraid of color
Aw thank you LeeAnna! I guess this is a Mutual Admiration Society because I really do admire your sewing travel kit. Enjoy!
Being from the same area, I can relate to everything you are saying about Chicago. I love it there, but like you, didn’t visit much. It’s a great place to be a tourist!
It was such a wondErful visit Kathy! I want to go back soon.
What a great trip! My sister and her family live in Chicago but we haven’t been out there in years. The last time I was there in the summer my kids were too little to enjoy Big People Adventures like what you got to do — but I did love the Chicago Art Institute and its adjoining garden!
Lucky you-I didn’t get tot the CAI and the garden-maybe next time. You must visit again too!