Travel: Chicago, Part 3

After surviving the sky ledge, we hit up Chick-fil-A for lunch & then did some site-seeing until our architectural river cruise on the Chicago's First Lady.

We did not pre-purchase tickets for our cruise, but for those considering this cruise, it might be a good idea to do so.  Our hotel concierge was able to get us tickets to what we were told was a “sold out” tour, so that made us feel special, anyways :)

The cruise itself is highly recommended & well worth the $40. The 90 minute cruise was filled with history, not only about the sky scrapers that line the river, but also about Chicago & we learned how to differentiate between architectural styles.  Also, the river cruise is great way to see the city!

We knew we couldn't leave Chicago without authentic deep dish pizza, so after a recommendation given to us by our waiter at RPM the night before, we headed to Gino’s East.  We did not have reservations, so we were a bit concerned about the wait times, but again, our lovely hotel concierge got us priority seating!  Upon arrival at Gino’s, we walked by the line outside & got seated right away!

Gino's has such a cool atmosphere - a must visit if you're in Chicago!

After we chowed down until our hearts were content, we caught a cab & high-tailed it down to Navy Pier to ride the Ferris Wheel. 

It wasn't running when we were there the day before, due to the weather, so we were desperate to get a ride before we left (and we heard a rumor that it’s going to be taken down soon – if that’s actually true or not, I have no idea).  Just as we were starting our upswing, a beautiful fireworks display started.  You guys – it was magical!!

Picture this – it’s night time – you have the Chicago skyline on your right, and on your left, a lovely fireworks show over Lake Michigan.  It was the perfect finale to close our weekend in Chicago.

We ended the evening at Buckingham Fountain.  We went for the light & music show but since they had an event going on at Grant Park, there was no show.  Oh well, you can’t win them all!































We had such a lovely girl's weekend in Chicago; I hope I've inspired you to spend some time in windy city.  You won't regret it!


Read about Day 1, here.
Read about Day 2 {part 1} here. 

Travel: Chicago, Part 2

{Day 2 we did ALOT -- so I'm breaking this up into two posts}

We woke early, to rain, to start our second day in Chicago.

We dined again at the hotel for (free) breakfast, and then took our time to walk the city to our first reservation – The Sky Deck @ the Willis Tower.

And then the rain cleared for a bit -- yay!

So, the Willis Tower is North America’s tallest building; its interior office spaces are home to popular companies, and it’s an iconic landmark in Chicago.  

The experience from the Sky Ledge is both terrifying & exhilarating to say the least...

The Sky Deck is at the 103rd floor & offers views for miles on a clear day.  Within the Sky Deck sits a few Sky Ledges – which are solid glass boxes which protrude out from the building about 4 feet & individuals are able to literally walk on what seems like air – crazy!!

About 2 weeks prior to our trip we pre-purchased the Fast Track pass – we learned from our experience in NYC & the Empire State Building that is it SO WORTH the extra money not to have to wait in any lines... (when you only have a couple days in a city, it’s painful to have to wait in a 2-3 hour line).

More to come, stay tuned!

If you missed my recap of Day 1,  click here

Girl's Day: Door County

Because my mom is impossible to buy for (when she wants something, she just goes & buys it), we often times opt to spend the day with her versus buying her gifts for special occasions.  As was the case for this past Mother's Day.  We wrote in her card for Mother's Day to keep Saturday, June 6th open & to wear comfy shoes... that her present was a surprise (she's hates surprises...)

We picked mom up & headed north, to Door County.  There's a plethora of things to do in Door County, and we really didn't have an agenda.  We first stopped in Sturgeon Bay, at the farmer's market, to sample some Renard's cheeses & peruse the handmade goods from the street vendors.  Then we walked through the shops that line Third Avenue, viewing unique clothing, gifts, & art, while taking in the aromas of coffee & candy shops.

We couldn't walk by without sampling some fudge -- the butter-finger was amazing!

Next, we went to Egg Harbor for lunch at The Bistro Bar & Grille & had ginormous club sandwiches the size of our heads.  It was a beautiful day in Door County -- not too hot, not too cold, with a little breeze, so we were able to sit outside while we enjoyed our lunch & drinks.


P.S.  Their strawberry-lemonade is SO good!



















































After strolling around Egg Harbor for a bit, we went further north & stopped in Fish Creek for an obligatory photo on the oversized purple adirondack chair at Julie's Park Cafe & Hotel.

*cell phone photo

We got a couple crazy looks when we all hopped up there & busted out my selfie stick, but we just laughed & had a wonderful time!

Our next stop was Ephraim.  One of my favorite spots in Ephraim is The Hardy Gallery building.  To be honest, I've never actually gone inside, because I can't get past how cool the outside looks.  It's fun to photograph & makes a wonderful backdrop, if you're lucky enough to get there without crowds.  I love reading all the names & messages that people have painted in the past.  We counted at least 4 wedding proposals & I'm sure there are a lot more!

*cell phone photo

We couldn't leave Ephraim without ice cream from Wilson's.  None of us were hungry, but like I said, you can't go all the way up to Ephraim without stopping at Wilson's!

We each got 1 scoop, which FYI, is really like 4 scoops, so consider sharing.  I had butter pecan, my sister & mom got Mackinac Island Fudge.   We sat on the bench across the street that overlooks the bay & watched tourists paddle board & kayak.

To end the day, we stopped at the Wood Orchard Market on our way back down the peninsula, and we were so glad that we did.  They have the cutest mix of gifts & local eats & treats for a reasonable price.  I definitely recommend stopping there if you're in the area, especially if you have kids.  They have some fun outdoor play activities for the kiddos to play with & doodle on while you shop.

It was a wonderful girl's day -- we made memories that I will treasure forever & it was better than any tangible gift that we could have given her.  Happy Mother's Day to the best mom & friend... you are so loved!

You can read about our last girl's day here.