Chicago Easter

This Easter, we took a family fun trip to Chicago with the Hoyles and Beatons. We left Thursday evening and drove to a motel in Battle Creek, Michigan, then drove the rest of the way Friday morning. Pat was happy to be back in the land of Jimmy John's sandwiches. 

The whole family stayed at a hostel in the Wicker Park neighbourhood, just a few stops on the subway from downtown. The hostel had a common room that Jasper could roam around in and plenty of stairs for him to climb. 

Reunited with Aunt Kate and Uncle Andrew

After a BYOB Mexican seafood feast, I took Jasper home to bed and the rest of the family headed to the Willis (Sears) tower. The wait to go up the elevator was more than 2 hours, but it was worth it as Mike and Charlotte got engaged at the Skydeck on top. Back at the hostel, we had celebratory champagne in plastic hostel cups.

Skydeck proposal

Saturday was a day to explore the Chicago waterfront and downtown. We took the El to Grant park and then split up to the Field Museum and Planetarium.

 

The Field Museum is like the ROM, with dinosaurs and lots of historical artifacts.  Jasper really enjoyed playing in the kids section of the museum. His favourite spot was the book shelf, so really we should just take him to the library.

Napping by the Chicago skyline

After the museums, we rode the Hop on Hop off tour for an overview of downtown Chicago. I'd never done a bus tour like that before, and I think next time I'd just walk or ride transit. It was nice to have the whole family together, and I'm sure Charlotte appreciated not having to walk with her broken foot.

Family selfie at the "bean"

We finished the bus tour near Millennium Park and went to check out the famous Cloud Gate sculpture. There were hundreds of people all taking the same photo in front of the "bean". 

With Uncle Scott at the Cloud Gate

Uncle Scott carried Jasper to our restaurant reservation for deep dish pizza at Giordano's. We lost some family members on the walk over, but we were reunited at dinner.

Everyone loved the super cheesy deep dish pizza, especially Jasper. After dinner a group went straight to Howl at the Moon to get a seat for the dueling piano show. I took Jasper home to bed and then met up with the group later. It was an impressive show at Howl at the Moon.

Astronaut Jasper

On Sunday we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. Again, Jasper loved the kids section, especially the stream that carried balls around the room. He was too young for most of it, but enjoyed watching the older kids play.

Sunday evening we went to the Chicago Diner, a vegetarian restaurant that serves comfort foods like chicken wings, shepherd's pie, burgers and shakes- all meat-free. Pat and I have been there twice before and I even have their cook book. We went early enough to get a table for 14 and the food did not disappoint.

It was a successful family fun weekend and great that we were able to meet up with Kate while she is unable to leave the US.