The good news about Illinois: we loved Chicago. The bad news about Illinois: we hardly saw anything other than Chicago. We hate to neglect those outside the Windy City, but unfortunately, we just didn’t have time to explore more of Abe’s home state.
Being the city slickers that we are, it took us about five minutes to take a liking to Chicago. The lakefront, the skyscrapers, the museums, the shopping, the wind. Ok, maybe not the wind, but we loved most everything else we found in Chicago. I guess this shouldn’t have been a surprise, since even the airport’s departure gate welcomed us directly. Get it?
We strolled the city streets and took in some art at the Chicago Art Institute, including their most famous piece – American Gothic. Looked an awful lot like a farmhouse we visited in Iowa, but that’s another story.
The Navy Pier is a delightful attraction on a beautiful day. Amusement rides, food, colorful street musicians, etc. We joined the natives and took in the sights.
All of the fancy shops can be found along Michigan Avenue, so of course we did some window shopping. Our favorite stop was at a delectable Ghiradelli chocolate outpost. The ice cream sundaes were every bit as tasty as the originals in San Fran.
We tried to ride on Chicago’s famous “El” or elevated train, but we ran into a logistic snag that had us scratching our heads. First, we tried to buy our farecards at the station, but the machine wouldn’t give any change, and we didn’t have enough small bills. That was a problem. The attendant suggested we visit one of the nearby drugstores and purchase an all-day pass that would be cheaper anyway. Good idea — except that the drugstore was all out of the passes. And we were all out of patience with the El, so we hopped in a taxi instead, which worked out just fine anyway, because we made it to our destination and got a scenic drive along the lakeside as a bonus.
Well of course we had to go to a Cubs game, and it was a real treat. The stadium is almost one hundred years old and has plenty of charm, even if the seats are a bit cramped. We loved watching the scoreboard being updated by hand. And we were impressed by the grand stand seats that are actually outside the stadium, located on the top of a few nearby buildings. Location, location, location. We cheered the Cubbies as best we could, but unfortunately, they were clobbered by the Braves.
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We did cover some ground in Illinois, and saw miles of bucolic farmland. We traveled along I – 55, 80, 88, 90, 39 and we even drove on a small stretch of Route 66. Illinois put a nice spin on the rest stops along the highway that welcome weary travelers. Who needs a rest stop when you can visit an:
We made a fun stop along the highway. We sampled a tiny treat at White Castle, one of the first fast food restaurants in the country, opened in 1921. The restaurant chain actually began in Kansas, but has spread throughout the mid-West. The burgers are square, flat, and tiny – about half an inch thick and 2 inches across! The original slider. What they lack in taste, they make up for in cuteness. And considering that you can buy a 30-pack, you can definitely get your fill. We also tried the chicken rings, which some of us found tasty, but I felt were just wrong.
With all due respect to the state’s residents, we were disappointed that our route didn’t take us past any famous street corners, potato museums, buffalo crossings, or anything else moderately interesting. We know these places exist in Illinois; we just couldn’t find them. My friend Ellen has plenty of good things to say about her hometown of Peoria, but unfortunately it was too far south for us. We’ll have to return to Illinois another time to sample its other treasures. In the meantime, we await guidance from the fine people of Illinois, directing us to their state’s more memorable attractions.
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Travel Tip! Be aware of the language you use when discussing tourist sights within earshot of teenagers. Your conversation might follow these lines:
Adult 1: It’ll be a cultural experience!
Adult 2: It’ll be a cultural experience!
Teenager: I hate cultural experiences.
12. Illinois
Wrigley Field, Chicago