Our Temporary Home in Chicago

We chose to forego a car rental, and selected a hotel near public transportation routes. Chicago has excellent choices in public transportation, so keep this in mind when planning a visit. The Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile sits one block off the famed shopping mecca, so it seemed to be a perfect base. Little did we know that right across the street is a hospital. We were a little shocked the first night, when ambulances would come wailing up. Fortunately, we were able to laugh about this, and it made great a conversation topic. Besides our room and the elevator, we barely used the amenities. We did try out the pool and hot tub one evening, and found it acceptable. We did notice assorted artwork throughout the hotel. The fact that they can make light of the city’s nickname was amusing to us.

The hotel was about one mile from the Navy Pier, so we took off to explore. Along our way we made mental note of some of the nearby restaurants. We have always felt that Kansas City is a great city for foodies. What we were discovering was that Chicago was no slouch in this department. So many great looking eateries, and only a couple of days to try some. This almost seemed like torture. We spent a couple of hours on the pier, before heading back to get ready for dinner.

Our dinner this first evening was at MK Restaurant. We were hoping this would be a top notch start to our dining experiences. The food, atmosphere, and the presentation did not disappoint. This place has earned its stellar reputation, and chef/owner Michael Kornick has set the bar high for other places in town. Even the taxi ride back to our hotel couldn’t scare the delight out of us.

A New day in the Windy City

Our second day began with a light breakfast at Corner Bakery, which was across the street from our hotel. Today we would be tourists, and our goal was to visit the famed Michigan Avenue. This street is a major artery for north-south movement in Chicago. The over-sized sidewalks line the street, and shoppers stroll with packages in tow. Our visit was in early summer, and we took note of the beautiful landscaping. It created a peaceful buffer between pedestrians and motorized vehicles.

As we explored the mile, we noted the way that the old and new buildings intertwined in the skyline. We read that this mile long stretch contains over 450 stores, around 275 restaurants, and about 50 hotels. So many of these are packaged in multi-story skyscrapers, that visitors to the city spend a lot of time craning their necks. Of course, by looking up at times you will see some amazing architectural designs.

Not all of the sights were restricted to outdoors. The architectural design was just as wide once you entered the various shopping areas. Some buildings we entered held a single store. The next door may be the start of an indoor mall. The variety of merchandise was just as wide as the décor. While I can shop most people under the table, (Yeah that saying may not fit there, but oh well.) there came a point that I was ready to head back to the hotel.

A Sporty Dinner

After a short rest, we donned the appropriate attire for a night of dining and sports activities. A short walk back up Michigan Avenue brought us to Water Tower Place. This indoor mall is home to Harry Carey’s 7th Inning Stretch. A relaxed atmosphere, and an upscale bar food menu make this a popular place for sports fans. Especially if they are fans of Chicago sports. After a satisfying meal, guests can spend some time at the Chicago Sports Museum. Admission is waived if you have your dinner receipt, and the attraction is quite enjoyable. By the time we headed back to our home base, we were exhausted. I was sure that all the ambulances in the city wouldn’t disturb my sleep that night.

Another Long Walk

Our final full day began a little later than the previous. West Egg Cafe was a breakfast eatery we had spied on our earlier walk to navy pier. Today seemed like a great chance to try it out. We chose our go-to eggs and bacon breakfast, and washed it down with some fresh made coffee. With our energy levels recharged, we went off to explore a little farther out. We headed over to Lake Shore Drive, and worked our way down to the Chicago Riverwalk area. We crossed the river, and after a bit found ourselves along the bank.

Kansas City has toyed with the idea of a useful river walk area, but has never quite accomplished what other cities have created. In Chicago they have embraced their river area, and even promote water sports. As we strolled along, we saw multiple tour boats plying the waters. We have often seen bikes for rent in various cities we have visited. We couldn’t ever remember seeing kayak rentals in other places. There are a few shaded spots along the walk that offer seating opportunities. We chose one, and just took in all of the walkers, runners, bikers, and kayakers who were using this area.

What Is That?

Soon we returned to our exploration, and continued our southern expedition. About three blocks farther, and we came to Millenniums Park. This 24 acre green space was a welcome change from all of the asphalt and skyscrapers. We strolled through the walkways, and enjoyed the lush landscaping. This park contains a large playground area, as well as a skating park, and climbing walls. If you continue down Lake Shore, you will come to Buckingham Fountain, and eventually the Field Museum. Here is a great opportunity to see “Sue” the Tyrannosaurus Rex. This area is also home to the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and Soldier Field. Soldier is home to the Chicago Bears football team.

On our return, we wandered back through the green space. The entire area is well maintained, and very popular with walkers and joggers. As we approached the northern end of the park, we spotted the Cloud Gate sculpture. This huge mirrored art piece is often referred to as “The Bean”. The place is very popular with tourists, so be prepared to have guests in your pictures. After a few minutes, we realized we needed to head back to the hotel to get ready for our last evening in Chicago.

Up to the Highest Heights

Before dinner we wanted to experience something else not found in Kansas City. We had spent the last couple days looking at all of the tall buildings, but had not been in any of the Skyscapers. Another exciting taxi ride, and we found ourselves at Willis Tower. Formerly known as the Sears Tower, it is the second tallest building in the United States. The mass of glass and steel rises 1450 feet into the air, but we were only going up 1353 feet. This trip presents guests with the opportunity to experience The Ledge, which are the glass boxes that extend four feet out from the edge of the building. After a stop on the 99th Floor, we finished our ascent, and waited our turn to step out into what felt like thin air.

With this final thrill completed, we turned our attention back to the city. This last evening passed like a blur. Dinner and a couple of drinks, before taking a final stroll down Michigan Avenue. Even after dark, this place has a magical feel to it. Just walking along, checking out all of the window displays, and prolonging the time spent in the Windy City.

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The Natural World

Our schedule only allowed for a short visit, so we planned to dedicate it to the main floor. We hoped that we would be able to get a good feel for the quality of the exhibits. A future visit would obviously be needed to allow a deeper exploration. We began our tour with a visit to the Nature walk area. This is part of a larger section dedicated to animals from a wide variety of habitats. The entire section takes up half of an entire floor of the museum. As we strolled past glass enclosed displays, we were treated to views of animals common and rare.

Looking at all of these exhibits gave us a closer view of the wonderful creatures that inhabit our planet. While many of these we have seen at other museums, some were new to us. This part of the museum is almost maze-like, and we did find ourselves doubling back one time. Toward the end of this section of the Field Museum, we came to a part focused on exploring the anatomy and physiology of animals. Here visitors can experience more hands-on displays. We were even able to find an interactive exhibit that allowed me to fit into a barnacle colony. Not sure this would be a long term goal of mine.

Digging Up The Past at the Field Museum

One of the areas we were hoping to have time to explore was the Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit. This starts with a climb up the outside of a recreated burial chamber, before working your way inside. The premise is that you are in search of the treasures inside, including the highly desired mummy. It’s nice to have a background story to go with the exhibit, as it helps draw the visitors in. Soon you find yourself inside the pyramid, and working your way through the maze of rooms. Each room holds another key to your search. In one area there is a glass panel in the floor, which gives a small glimpse into the treasure held below.

At first we didn’t even realize that we had descended to the lower floor of the museum. We found ourselves so wrapped up in the storyline, that we lost track of our location. Fortunately, this exhibit is pretty well set in a single direction, so it would be hard to double back without realizing. Placards kept us informed on the status of our search, as well as supplying interesting facts on this unique burial method. Soon we came across a sign we had feared all along. Grave robbers had already been here. With our hopes dashed we journeyed on.

Odd Rituals Explained

With no hope of finding our target prize, we were pleasantly surprised when we turned a corner and came upon additional displays. A wide variety of sarcophagi were found on display with various replica statues and even an x-ray of a child’s mummy. Nearby we found treasures and artwork displayed to highlight what was buried with the dead. All of these items had increased our interest level enough that we were eager to know how the mummification process worked.

As we proceeded our curiosity would be satisfied. In a large chamber we found a series of miniature dioramas. These highlighted the steps taken during mummification. It was amazing the detail that each showed. It would be easy to determine exactly what was happening at each stage, even without the informative cards. With this knowledge in tow, we headed through the pyramid doorway into the last area.

Here we found a replica of the building that would have been found during the era of mummies in ancient Egypt. There were other symbolic artifacts in this area, including this statue of a seated lioness. Evidently felines were held in high regard in Egypt.

That’s a Big Bug

Since we were already on the lower floor, we decided we had time for one more section. The Field Museum has general admission exhibits, as well as specially ticked areas. Underground Adventure is one of the exhibits that carries an additional charge. The premise of this exhibit is to show the underground world in an oversized scenario. This was quite apparent when we spotted a replica of a penny that was about five feet tall. It looked like we were in for some extra-large fun.

Studying science in school was nothing like this in our days. Most of us know the basics of germination and root development. It’s a little different when you see it on such an excessive scale. It’s not hard to imagine yourself the size of an ant, as you walk past the various dioramas. The bugs were familiar ones that we see in our own yards. We had just never imagined them at quite this size. Our time was drawing to a close, so we had to hurry through this area. We are sure that this will certainly be a kid favorite.

We made our way back to the main floor, and off to the museum store to peruse the souvenir options. Here we found a wide variety of the items at most museum shops. One theme resonated here, as well as other areas of the Field Museum. Dinosaurs are king at this museum, and it is quite apparent as soon as you enter the building. In the main hall you will see Sue, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Sue measures over 40 feet long, and they have her displayed in a fashion that shows it off to the max. This most complete T-Rex skeleton in existence is almost complete. Of course, they keep her real skull in another exhibit. That is because it weighs so much it would be unsafe to attempt to attach it to this display. Of course visitors can visit the skull exhibit and actually see it from every angle.

Our time had come to an end, and we bid farewell to the Field Museum. Our hope is to return for another, even longer visit. Even with all we saw, we still missed half of the main level, and the entire upper level. If you add in all of the traveling exhibits, we may just need to block off two days on our next trip. Tickets for general admission are $36.00 for adults, and $31.00 for seniors and students (I.D. required). Children 3 to 11 get a reduction to $25.00. These prices may seem steep, but if you plan appropriately you can get a full day of entertainment for your money.

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Towers of Steel and Glass

Now if you ask just about any Chicago resident, many will tell you that the first Chicago skyscraper was built in their town. Once the first one was completed they must have just kept right on going. We were awestruck with the number of times the sun was blocked at midday by the enormous buildings. Now the entire city is not just a bunch of high rises, as there are many areas that could easily be mistaken for just about any other Midwest city. When you get closer to the downtown sections is where you find the highest concentration.

Dominated Skyline

When you visit one of these skyscrapers you get a view that adds a new perspective to the height. Standing in their shadow you must crane your head to see the upper floors. All around, the towers climb toward the clouds. The buildings seem to race skyward competing to see which can go farthest. The skyline is dominated by them, as we discovered on our walk to the Navy Pier.

We had the opportunity to visit the Willis Tower, which used to be known as the Sears Tower. The observation deck is on the 100th floor, and from here everything seems diminutive. From the upper floors you are able to look out and see a sight not found in most Midwest cities. Even nearby buildings, that tower dozens of stories over the nearby streets, look small from this angle.

Sky-high View

The Sky-deck, at Willis Tower, is an area that allows visitors to step out into a glass box, which is suspended about 1350 feet above the sidewalk below. While it can be a little unsettling to prepare yourself for the experience, the pace created by the never ending crowd limits the amount of time you have to think about what you are doing. In the end you feel victorious for participating, but realize that you didn’t really spend much time in a precarious position.

Chicago Skyscraper Jackpot

By the end of our visit we discovered that one of the most beautiful things about the Chicago skyscraper experience was the night skyline. The buildings fill the sky, twinkling like mountains covered in light. In the valleys created by these gigantic structures life went on as normal. Crowds scurrying from location to location, without a second thought about the architectural amazement surrounding them. Of course there are still us tourists just caught in amazement.

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