Chicago 2014 – Day Twelve

Getting Lewis Out of Bed

Oh, what a mission it was to get young Lewis out of bed this morning! You’d think he was preparing for a battle, not a day out in Chicago. The day started off with a touch of stress, but we soldiered on regardless.

Squeezing into the Car

Despite the morning drama, we managed to leave the house. Mind you, we had six of us crammed into a car designed for five! Talk about cosy. We left the car at Lisle train station, which, at just $3 for the whole day, was an absolute bargain.

The Train to Chicago

The train ride to Union Station was an adventure in itself. Sadly, we didn’t catch the express, but the slower train gave us a charming tour of quaint villages along the way. Plus, it was a double-decker train, which was a bit of a novelty.

The Mighty Willis Tower

Once we arrived, our first stop was the iconic Willis Tower. This is hands down my favourite building, and I couldn’t resist snapping a few more photos. You can see the Skydeck boxes, perched 103 floors up. Just imagine the view from there, we did this on Day Three!

Lunch at McDonald’s

Next up, lunch. Elle insisted on McDonald’s. Not exactly gourmet, but it did the job. With bellies full, we made our way to Navy Pier, taking a little detour to Millennium Park to see Cloud Gate, affectionately known as “the Bean.” Would you believe it cost $43 million? Standing underneath it is like peering through a fly’s eye. Quite the odd experience, but fascinating all the same.

Sailing on the Tall Ship Windy

At Navy Pier, we hopped aboard the ‘Tall Ship Windy’ for a 70-minute sail on Lake Michigan. The views of Chicago from the water were spectacular, and we even got a surprise fly-by from the US Blue Angels. They were practising for the Chicago Air and Water Show on Saturday. Talk about timing!

The Trek to Shedd Aquarium

After our delightful boat trip, I thought it would be a good idea to walk to Shedd Aquarium. I was convinced it was only a mile away. Oh, how wrong I was! It turned out to be a good two miles. The kids – Lewis, Josh, and Elle – were not pleased, to say the least. Julie and Michele were a bit more understanding. Sorry, ladies!

Exploring Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium is absolutely massive – about five times bigger than the Blue Planet Aquarium on the Wirral. The exhibits were top-notch, but the dolphins stole the show for me. Four of them, gliding effortlessly through the water. Unfortunately, my camera battery died, so there aren’t many photos.

Taxi Back to Union Station

By the end of our aquarium adventure, the kids outright refused to walk the 2.5 miles back to Union Station. So, we hailed a taxi, much to everyone’s relief.