Chicago/Michigan Trip

Here is a summary of our trip to Chicago/Michigan!

Day One:

We got up REALLY early for a 6:30 AM flight to Chicago's Midway Airport, allowing us to spend most of the day at the Brookfield Zoo. Patty picked us up at the airport and off we went! Highlights of the zoo:

Baby orangutan and baby gibbon at Tropical World

Dinosaurs Alive

Dolphins and seals at Seven Seas

We spent a lot of time in Tropical World, watching the monkeys and apes.

Oh NO!

(Model Dinosaur in "Dinosaurs Alive" Exhibit - they moved and roared!

Day Two:

Patty and Dominic's house is just a few blocks from the "L" (Chicago's subway system), so it was incredibly easy to hop on and head downtown for a quick 20 minute ride to the city. We were so obviously "tourists" that the CTA employees regularly took pity on us, helping us put money on our transit cards using an automated machine and navigate the system in general. We found the people in Chicago to be amazingly helpful and friendly. It wasn't uncommon for us to stand at a busy intersection, wondering which way to go...not once did we ask directions. Within seconds, someone always approached us, asking if we needed help!

Since learning about "Sue" (the most complete T Rex skeleton ever found), Zan has been wanting to go to Chicago to see her in person. She stands in the huge lobby of the Field Museum.

Zan finally sees Sue in person.

Zan spent a lot of time with this docent, talking about Sue and holding one of Sue's teeth.

Life size pirates models were everywhere in the museum as part of an exhibit.

Zoe encounters a "pirate" along Lake Michigan.

From the Field Museum, we walked along the lakeshore to Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park.

Nicknamed the "Bean," this stainless steel sculpture is made of 168 plates welded together with no visible seams. It is 33 feet by 66 feet by 42 feet and weighs 110 tons.

Reflection in the "Bean."

We had tucked swimsuits in the backpack upon hearing about the fountains in Grant Park. We were glad that we had since it was a hot day and playing in the water was a nice way to take a break and cool off.

Our final stop of the day was Garrett's Popcorn for the legendary mix of cheese and caramel popcorn. We bought a jumbo bag and divided it into four smaller bags for the trip back to Patty and Dominic's house. We sat on the "L," our fingers and faces covered in a yellow/orange film, devouring the popcorn!

Day Three:

Again we took the "L" downtown. First stop was the lego store, where they had AMAZING lego models of a city block, R2D2 and a dinosaur. It's hard to tell, but in this picture Zoe and Zan are sitting next to a person made completely of legos.

Second stop was Navy Pier, where the St. Louis Budweiser Clydesdales were visiting. The horses were SO calm, despite the flurry of city activity around them. Zoe enjoyed talking with the grooms about the Clydesdales.

Zan admires the view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline from Navy Pier.
While on Navy Pier we went to see Cirque Shanghai, which Zoe described as, "Cirque du Soleil in training." They had beautiful costumes and performed amazing physical tricks and stunts. After the show some of the performers were available for a "meet and greet." Zoe and Zan got many of their autographs and were amazed and intrigued by the chinese writing.

Day Four:

We left Chicago mid morning in Dominic's car (thank you Patricia and Dominic!) for a quick drive to Michigan and a visit with Dad and Sal. Dominic's car is a standard, which I hadn't driven in at least ten years, but just like riding a bike...it came back to me, and I managed to get through Chicago traffic without stalling.

Zan had a great time playing with Grandpa's trains, which he had set up in the garage.
We played a lot of croquet!

Zan loved riding on the tractor with Grandpa and Zoe loved driving the tractor!

Day Five:

We had lunch at the Red Dock, a funky restaurant on the water that has yummy sandwiches, followed by a party on the Kalamazoo River at Buzzy and Denny's house for dinner. It was Venetian Weekend in Saugatuck so there was a steady stream of boat traffic on the river. Zan spent most of his time on the dock waving to all the boats.

Day Six:

Although the weather didn't look promising at first, it turned out to be a beautiful day. We went for a boat ride down the Kalamazoo River out to the basin where the kids went swimming. Unfortunately Lake Michigan was too rough for the pontoon boat.

Daddy and Zan at the wheel.

Grandpa at the wheel.

Zoe and Zan loved hanging out on the upper deck!

Day Seven:

After checking out of our hotel we drove back to Chicago and spent a quiet afternoon with Patricia and Dominic. We wandered down the main street of Forest Park and had a yummy Italian dinner.

Day Eight:

Flight home was delayed by a few hours, but it was still faster than driving!