Chicago/Ohio Part 2:

After leaving the campground, we made EXCELLENT time getting to Chicago. We had our car parked, luggage stowed with the hotel and were on the metra headed towards Wrigley Field by 10:30 or 11:00 for the 1:20 game.

Waiting for the train - which he loved. Every time we passed by the tracks that were not underground, he wanted to ride the train.

Hanging out before the game on a couch in the hotel lounge

We entered the ballpark with plenty of time to spare and were able to walk around and explore. The boys were a little more impressed than I was, but even I can appreciate how cool it was to be in such an old-school ball field for a day game against our home team. While walking around the guys were thrilled to see Charlie Manuel hanging out by the locker room doors. We also got to watch batting practice/warm ups - at which point one of the players passed a ball up to Jude (which Ryan is STILL floating on clouds over) and then grab some food before taking our seats. One another hot and humid day, we were pleased to find that our seats were nestled nicely under shade, making it slightly more bearable. The game was pretty much awesome, with the Phillies walking away with a 9-1 win, which I'm sure only made the whole experience THAT much better.

Phillies Win

Old school scoreboard... I'm lovin' it.

I'm pretty sure he hit the ball when I took this picture.

yummy.

Before the game - watching warm ups. Jude got a ball.

Welcome to Wrigley field.

After sweating and squeezing onto the busy metra, it was time for hotel check in and showers before dinner. Dinner was another highlight because we were searching out the 'best' Chicago Pizza (Pizzeria Due - also part of Pizzeria Uno). We took the 1mile walk from our hotel to the restaurant and waited patiently for our turn. We were all impressed - and acknowledged that 'Chicago' Style has it's place along side 'New York' Style. Considering the long day, by the time we got back from dinner we all were ready for bed...

On our way TO dinner.

Jude liked it.

Boys liked it.

Now I know why they refer to pizza as a 'pie'

On our way FROM dinner.

Perhaps now would be a good time to mention our Hotel? We were staying at the Congress Plaza Hotel Chicago. I'm not sure what exactly lured us to this particular hotel at the time we booked, but it looked cool. We were trying to avoid chain and go with something local, so it fit. Well, when searching for the address on Google, something came up on the search board about the hotel being haunted. Not being much fro ghost stories, I pretty much ignored it. However, laying in bed that night, with three gentlemen asleep, I decided to look it up. The hotel was once owned by Al Capone, there was talk of under ground tunnels, muder/suicides, 'whispers' in the ball rooms, ghostly shapes of kids running up and down the halls, and a woman haunting room 441 (yes, they specifically said room 441 was THE room that was haunted and received multiple security calls). Anyone want to guess what room we were in? 441. It's a bit of an understatement to say that I hardly slept the two night we were there.

Haunted? Not from our experience.

Please pardon the naked child. Our Room.

The Gold Room

From outside.

Aside from the haunting stories, our stay at the hotel was nice. It was neat to stay in a hotel that was a part of the city's history. It was built in the late 1800's for the World's Fair, houses and amazing Gold Ballroom (which we were shown by the security guard Ryan made friend's with), had some awesome metal work, mosaic tiles in the lobby and much more.

But that's enough about the hotel. Day two in Chicago was much more relaxed, but just as busy. We walked to Millenium Park, some how made our way from there to Lake Michigan after crossing over Lake Shore Drive - and upon seeing NAvy Pier in the distance continued our walk up the coast to the Pier. We took our time eating a nice lunch, took Jude on the Carousel and in general just took in the area.

The watering hole.

He wanted his shoes off - he was much more excited before we got in the water... then he decided he didn't like it.

Eyeing up the other kids

Reflections on 'the cloud'

More of the fountain... the screens changed faces and eventually the mouth would open and 'spit' water out.

Can you see the ferris wheel in the distance? That's Navy Pier.

carousel

Tickets ready.

Out of order - but we were getting closer.

Josh had heard about a place called "Molly's Cupcakes" that he insisted he had a chance to try, so afterwards, we took a cab up quite a ways to the bakery. They were in fact delicious. One of the cupcakes were named after his 'buddy on the radio', so he tried that, while I stayed with a much more simple Vanilla Cupcake.

Afterwards, we navigated our way back to the metra, headed back to the hotel for showers and then grabbed dinner at a yummy cafe right near the hotel called "Artists". It wasn't anything lavish by any stretch of the imagination, but the food was great and being right next door, what more could we ask for?

Afterwards, we made our way to the park that was right across the street from our hotel which was the home of Buckingham Fountain. We got there just in time for one of the big light/water/music shows as the sun was setting. Jude loved it of course (and of course I had left my camera at the hotel so only have some crappy pictures from my phone). After the water show came to a close, we sat on the steps that overlooked Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan before closing out the evening with a stroll through our historic hotel.

I had another semi-restless night with dreams of lady-ghosts and security raiding our room before waking again to take the 13 hour ride back home. We had plans to possibly stop on the way home, but once we reached a certain point, it became clear that our own beds were exactly what we wanted, so we finished out the trip.

It was a trip with ooddles of driving and tons of heat, but it really was great! We did everything from sitting by a camp fire and canoeing to watching a game at Wrigley Field and touring a famous city. The perfect balance of culture and relaxing - in my opinion.