Just returned from Chicago; one word, "WOW!"

[tc]

I was raised mostly in Wyoming, and lived in Colorado most of my adult life, we don't have cities like Chicago here. I was there for an arts conference at a suburban church called Willow Creek. We only had Monday to really sight-see, but it was great. We saw the Navy Pier, Sears Tower, shopped Michigan Ave., ate at the Weber Grill, saw a Cubs game (they lost to the Marlins 9-1) and just gawked a lot!!! We were on Michigan Ave. at midnight and were given a brief tour of the Tribune Building by the security guard who saw us looking through the windows. He was very nice. I saw a draw bridge (I've never seen one before, we don't have them here), it was very cool! I have seen Chicago on television and movies, but it doesn't compare to real life. The history, life, dazzle, excitement was far more than my imagination! I want to go to NYC now.

Anyway, we had a great time, both at Willow and downtown. I'd never want to live there, too much traffic/people, not very many open spaces, but it's a wonderful place to visit.

For those Disers that wanted to meet with us, I'm sorry we were unable to do it. We were not there on our own dime, and had 9 people in our group. We had no time to ourselves. But, we will be back. There is so much to see and do there, we want to come back for a few more days to see what we missed.

Just wanted to share!

 

[SherryNC]

Anyway, we had a great time, both at Willow and downtown. I'd never want to live there, too much traffic/people, not very many open spaces, but it's a wonderful place to visit.

Enjoy going back to visit with family, but not the place for us to live.

 

[babar]

well thanks! born and raised here and i love it!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I was raised mostly in Wyoming, and lived in Colorado most of my adult life, we don't have cities like Chicago here. I was there for an arts conference at a suburban church called Willow Creek. We only had Monday to really sight-see, but it was great. We saw the Navy Pier, Sears Tower, shopped Michigan Ave., ate at the Weber Grill, saw a Cubs game (they lost to the Marlins 9-1) and just gawked a lot!!! We were on Michigan Ave. at midnight and were given a brief tour of the Tribune Building by the security guard who saw us looking through the windows. He was very nice. I saw a draw bridge (I've never seen one before, we don't have them here), it was very cool! I have seen Chicago on television and movies, but it doesn't compare to real life. The history, life, dazzle, excitement was far more than my imagination! I want to go to NYC now.

Anyway, we had a great time, both at Willow and downtown. I'd never want to live there, too much traffic/people, not very many open spaces, but it's a wonderful place to visit.

For those Disers that wanted to meet with us, I'm sorry we were unable to do it. We were not there on our own dime, and had 9 people in our group. We had no time to ourselves. But, we will be back. There is so much to see and do there, we want to come back for a few more days to see what we missed.

Just wanted to share!

I love Chicago also.

We want to take DD to Shedd Aquarium next year. DD and DH could look at marine life all day!

 

[newmousecateer2]

Glad you enjoyed it! I work downtown so I don't come for pleasure very often, but when I do I love it! Next week I will be off and coming down one day for Taste of Chicago..yum!!

 

[tmq2766]

So glad to hear you had a good time I live very close to Willow Creek so I have to best of both worlds, close enough to the city that I can go when i want but still come home to open spaces and less traffic. Born and raised here and can't imagine living anywhere else....except Orlando that is. hehe

 

[tc]

We saw signs and preparations for Taste of Chicago while we were there. It looked very good. One thing for sure, you'll never go hungry there. I had a deep-fried hot dog (never heard of that before) and it was very yummy. Ginos pizza was also good.

 

[KarenC]

We saw signs and preparations for Taste of Chicago while we were there. It looked very good. One thing for sure, you'll never go hungry there. I had a deep-fried hot dog (never heard of that before) and it was very yummy. Ginos pizza was also good.

I've lived in Chicago my whole life and I've never heard of a deep-fried hot dog either!

 

[dlbwright]

I love Chicago! Went there the first time last September when I visited my friend in Michigan. We are going again this September and can't wait. I am a country girl, but it is so fun to go to a big city like that. I was just glad my friend was with me. I would have gotten so lost!

On a side note, Ireland is getting so big! That picture of her is too cute!

 

[tc]

I had the hot dog at a food court on the Navy Pier, smothered in cheese and onions, it was very good.

I definately would have gotten lost if we weren't with others who had been there before. I should restate that, I would have gotten lost more often, because we did get lost a few times, one time trying to find Wrigley Field, but we found it, eventually.

Ireland is getting big, she's 7 months now. They move to Lawton, OK (Ft Sill) next Tuesday. I'll be lamenting here, that's for sure.

 

[scrump]

I grew up in downtown Chicago, and still consider it my "hometown" though now I live in NYC. I love Chicago, though ironically I never liked the food. Deep fried hot dogs?!?!?!? YIKES.

Glad you had fun, I'll have to make my way down there one of these days. I'd love to go "home"!

 

[debloco]

That's great! I'm glad you enjoyed Chicago, we love living here. I really think it's the greatest large city in the U.S.! AND we are participating Members at Willow, so it's great to hear that you came for the Arts Conference!

 

[tc]

debloco, Willow was amazing. I thought I attended a large church with average attendance around 3,500 a weekend. That's just a drop in the bucket compared to Willow. We learned a ton, saw a number of great concerts and speakers, and are ready to kick-start our drama team back here in Colorado. We walked in the lobby and joked that we didn't see bell hops, it looked just like a hotel. It was a great experience, and I really hope to return someday.

 

[geffric]

Glad you enjoyed it! I work downtown so I don't come for pleasure very often, but when I do, I love it!

BTW also live near Willow Creek church.. so you were just around the corner from so many of the DISers. Glad you had fun and I was born and raised here and never even heard of a deep fried hot dog

 

[Beth76]

I'm so glad you had a great time. We were just there in May and also had a wonderful time. My dad is from Chicago and we still have family there. I've been there many many times, but we don't usually get to spend too much time downtown.

We stayed downtown and took the boys to the Aquarium and then took a water taxi to Navy Pier. They were predicting rain, but the weather turned out to be gorgeous. It was a really great day.

Walking aournd on Navy Pier I said to my husband, "This is so nice, we should really live here." About an hour later we were stuck in rush-hour traffic driving out to my aunt's house in the suburbs. I quickly retracted my earlier statement.

 

[scarlett873]

We were in Chicago over Memorial Day Weekend...it's so busy there! But I love Chicago...could never live there...but really enjoy visiting there!

If you go back anytime soon, try to get tickets to see the production of Wicked!! That's why we went...AMAZING show!!!

 

[tc]

Brandie: We were there with a bunch of drama people, and really wanted to see Wicked, but just didn't have enough time. I've heard it's really great!

 

[OhMari]

Hi TC

I like the way you praise Chicago and now want to see NYC.

I guess living that close to a large city is something we take for granted. I guess the traffic just scares everyone off-so you just avoid it at all costs. I was just there in March with some of my kids and we did the Field Museum. We all said, why don't we come down to Chicago more often, it has so much to offer. The Field Museum closed at 4:00 p.m. and it took us 2 hours to get out of the city.

We are pulling our camper/trailer thru the area next Monday nite. We avoid the toll booths and take the loop to downtown, now that is a very beautiful site at nite.

Did you fly into the city or drive?

 

[Rajah]

Wasn't Chicago neat? I went for the first time last Oct for my best friends' wedding, and was surprised at how much I enjoyed Chicago. I'm not a "big city" person, I really really really don't like Houston, the big city aspect of LA and such I really don't like. But I really enjoyed Chicago. Not enough to live there, but I sure wouldn't mind going back and visiting again.

Glad you enjoyed your trip!

 

[Cruise04]

So glad to hear you had a good time. I'm an hour away (about) from Willow Creek. One of my staff members attends there and got married there - beautiful place is an understatement.

You want open space - come out to see me - I'm an hour and 15 minutes from the city and love it. We can go in easily and enjoy the day or stay for the weekend. I love Chicago. And the Taste of Chicago is awesome.

Now as far as the deep fried hot dog - out here we call them Corn Dogs. Is it like a corn dog? That's how they make corn dogs, put them in a breading and deep fry them. Just curious if it's the same type of breading or if it's something different.