Ogrmac Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 On May 7th, 2009 I awoke to a screaming alarm clock at 4am. After getting ready, I hopped in my car and headed to my brother's house to pick up my niece Chloe, my sister in law Cathy, and my brother Matt. Shortly after 6am we boarded one of the 2 busses carrying TAG (Talented and Gifted) students and their assorted family members. During the 7 hour bus ride to Chicago we watched Wall-E (Which I highly recommend!) High School Musical 3 (Which I don't) and Kit Kittridge (Which I dozed through, so I don't know) We FINALLY arrived in Chicago and headed toward Shedd Aquarium. From this point on, I'll let the photos (and one video) do most of the talking, since that's probably why you clicked on this thread, isn't it? Chloe at some random rest stop in Indiana, just after asking me how much longer it would be until we were there: Lake Michigan as seen from my seat on the bus: In the Revolving door going into Shedd Aquarium: Not sure why these fishes' heads look like this... Sea Dragon: The Sears Tower (I know it's Willis Tower now, but nothing in or on the building reflected this change as of our visit so I refuse to call it that.) seen from outside Shedd Aquarium: The Oceanarium was closed for renovation so we didn't get to see the really cool stuff like whales or dolphins. Oh well, on to the Field Museum of Natural History! Sue, the T-Rex (has a big head and little arms!) Sue's real skull is not on the actual structure because it is too heavy for the supports (600 pounds!) so they keep it in this box: Stay tuned for the next post where I am squished in an elevator with waaaaay too many people! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogrmac Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 On the way over to Sears Tower it began to rain, so I dug my dollar store umbrella out of my bag. Some helpful advice for any of you planning a trip to Chicago... Chicago is known as the Windy City for a reason. Dollar Store umbrellas turn inside out as soon as you open them. Regrettably, I did not get a picture of this. Go ahead and imagine it though, it's pretty funny. Once inside the Sears Tower, we were packed into an elevator. I am not a fan of heights, and I get a little claustrophobic. Good times!! Actually, this particular elevator took us down one floor to the ticket and entrance area for the Skydeck so I didn't have much time to panic. One group photo and another even more packed elevator ride later, we arrived on the 99th floor. If you aren't tall enough to see over the sign, climb under it! We were told on the bus that this building is called "The Wedding Ring Building" because the top looks like a central diamond with smaller ones surrounding it. Me and Chicago! From the bottom up: Next Stop... Navy Pier: Apparently most of the stores in Navy Pier close at 8pm so we didn't get to see or do much while there. I was even gonna suck it up and ride the giant Ferris Wheel so I could get some pictures for you guys, but it was closed too, So we went out front to wait on the busses. Sammy Sosa lived in the ENTIRE 55th floor of this building: After Navy Pier, we finally headed to our hotel for some much needed rest! Next post: A big shiny thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogrmac Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 5:30 Friday morning came WAY too quickly, but with 4 people in 1 room to shower and eat breakfast, it was a rush to board the bus at 8. First stop: Millennium Park My goofy brother in front of the Jay Pritzker Pavillion, an outdoor ampitheatre that has a state of the art sound system so the people on the lawn hear the concert just the same as the people in the front row. Note the overhead structure with mounted speakers. Heeeeey, a giant shiny bean! Although the official name of this sculpture is Cloud Gate, Chicagoians have dubbed it "The Bean" My reflection and the skyline in the bean: Underneath the sculpture... Very cool! One last photo before we move on: The Crown Fountain, Two 50 foot towers made of glass block with LED screens featuring pictures of Chicago citizens. And they spit water! I have a video of the Crown fountain in action, but I am unsure as how to post it, so it may be added later. After Millennium Park, we went to the Museum of Science and Industry and then to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch before making the LONG drive home. Of course my camera battery died before I could photograph anything at those 2 locations. Finally at 12:30 am, I pulled back into my driveway! Though I was very tired, there was no time for sleep!! I needed to shower and pack for Ride Warriors before leaving at 3:30am!! My final thoughts on Chicago: While we did get to see and do A LOT, it was a bit rushed. We only got to spend about an hour each place we visited, and many of the children left disappointed because they didn't have enough time to explore various exhibits. However, it was a great taste of the variety Chicago has to offer and left many of us talking about a longer, more relaxed vacation there. All in all, it was a pretty good trip, but I have to say... Ride Warriors was better, LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoeter Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Ogrmac- nice PTR, glad to see you had a good time. I've been to Chicago before. My grandfather took me up to Wrigley Field to a Cubs game in 1999 shortly before he passed. I'll have to head back up there to check out Sears Tower, the "bean", and that fountain. I like how the water squirts out when the mouth is open! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ki Man Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I need to go there =( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgentSoB Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Great pics... I know Chicago is a very beautiful place. I've never been, but I'd like to try to visit some day. I'm terrified of planes, so a car ride will be my most likely form of travel. Although I thought, a flight to Chicago would be quick. It might be a great way to break the ice for me. Also, thanks again for Robin and you keeping me company during the coaster weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dvo Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 After living here for 2 years now (although I'm in the suburbs), you get a whole different perspective of Chicago. It really is an amazing city, and relative to Cincinnati it's just enormous. The traffic is unbearable though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Ogrmac nice pictures and it sounded like you had some fun seeing Chicago not only through your eyes but as well as through gifted childrens eyes too. I love Chicago and enjoy visiting there but we have not been there since Miss Rae was born, I think we may need to consider going up there soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTCO Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Chicago really is big. My uncle lives in the city, and he loves it. I love that big tower that squirts water, in the summer they let kids go up and get drenched by it. Glad to hear you had a good time and nice photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogrmac Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 Andrew- Thanks! Sears Tower and Millennium Park are must-visits for me if I ever go back! KIMan- You definitely need to go there! There is so much to do and see, I think one could spend several days there! AgentSoB- It's very beautiful in the spring, though from what I have heard, the winter is not so pleasant. A plane ride is out of the question for me, so don't feel bad! I imagine that it would be a pretty short flight, but the only way I leave the ground is as long as something attached to my person is attached to the ground. I flew to Atlanta, GA once. I don't think I'll willingly board a plane again, LOL. Oh, and you're welcome! Dvo- I don't know how anyone that lives there can stand the traffic. I was sick of it about an hour after we arrived! It would be a whole new experience to live there, I am sure! Avatar- Thanks! I did have fun but that was mostly due to the kids. They have a totally different way of looking at things that just leaves me awestruck. There are tons of things that I am sure Miss Rae would love, she is at a great age to really have some fun there! HTCO- If it were warmer, I would have been running around in the fountain along with the kids! The funniest thing was that some of them didn't know that it squirted water and they got soaked accidentally because they were standing too close, LOL! Also, Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go Browns Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Great PTR I love Chicago. Nothing makes me feel more American then sitting in Wrigley Field drinking an Old Style and watching the Cubies lose. I hope that when you were at the Sears Tower you did the thing from Ferris Bueller's Day Off where you lean forward with your forhead on the glass. Did you see what they are planning to add like a glass balcony you can walk out on and look straight down? That looks awesome! Great pics... I know Chicago is a very beautiful place. I've never been, but I'd like to try to visit some day. I'm terrified of planes, so a car ride will be my most likely form of travel. Although I thought, a flight to Chicago would be quick. It might be a great way to break the ice for me. Also, thanks again for Robin and you keeping me company during the coaster weekend. There are plenty of ways to get to Chicago have you ever heard of Mega Bus? Its super cheap and only takes about 5 hrs from Cinci. Also you can take the Amtrak from Cinci to Chicago which I've never done but I bet its a cool experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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