Chicago

Last weekend, Ross and I decided to take a trip to Chicago.  Neither of us had ever been there and we really just needed to get away so we made a weekend of it.  Turns out it was a great idea.  We had a wonderful time.  We drove up Friday afternoon and got to the city around 7:30 PM.  We stayed at the Ritz Carlton and it was so beautiful.  Ross has a connection that got a fabulous deal (or else we wouldn't have been able to stay there).  It was raining and already dark so we didn't want to get out too much Friday night but the John Hancock Observatory was right across the street from our hotel so we walked over there.  It might have been my favorite thing we did the whole weekend.  The view at night was amazing.  The size of Chicago really blew my mind.  I think I could have sat up there and just looked at the city all night long.

Saturday morning, we got up and went downstairs for breakfast at Deca.  It was pretty expensive but the pancakes and bacon were delicious so I guess it was worth it :)

After breakfast, we decided to take a cab to Willis Tower where the skydeck is.  First, let me say that it is such a strange feeling putting your life in the hands of a non-English speaking cab driver who isn't very friendly and is driving like a maniac in a city that you are very unfamiliar with.  But, it was definitely an exciting trek across town to see everything.  LOL  

 This is the view down from the skydeck at the top of Willis Tower.  Ross is terrified of heights so I'm really impressed that he took this picture on his phone looking down at the Chicago River from that high up!

We bought the professional picture because we both thought it was a really cool pic and it was so good of both of us! We have to grab those opportunities when we get them. haha

After the Willis Tower, we headed back across town (in another cab) to the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium.  I liked the Field Museum because of the T Rex skeleton in the lobby.  I love dinosaurs so "Sue" was probably my favorite part of the whole museum.  We did watch a 3-D movie on Egypt which was pretty cool since my parents are moving there.  

Here we each are on the steps to the Field Museum.

This was Buckingham Fountain that we passed on the way to the museum and aquarium from Willis Tower.

Saturday night for dinner we really wanted to try some authentic Chicago deep dish pizza.  We got several recommendations to try Gino's East and it was just a few blocks from our hotel so we walked down there for dinner.  We knew it must be good if people started lining up for dinner outside and wrapped around the side of the building at 5:00 PM.  We only had to wait about 30 minutes to get in and it was well worth the wait! We thought it was delicious!

Sunday morning, we checked out of the hotel and drove to Ikea in Bolingbrook on the way home.  We had never been to Ikea so it was quite the experience.  We were both exhausted but I managed to find a few little things to buy and picked out some bedroom furniture that we will most likely go back and get.  

All in all, it was a great trip.  We had so much fun and we're already looking forward to going back sometime.  Hopefully, next time we can make it to a baseball game at Wrigley Field.