Chicago

I understand why it's called the Windy City! Just returned from two days in Chicago and I'm glad I had my down coat with a hood to protect me.

We stayed in a cozy basement apt we found on VRBO that was in a terrific location in Lincoln Park. The hosts provided a bottle of wine and some snacks for us when we arrived. Too bad we couldn’t enjoy them on the patio!

The Chicago Architecture Foundation hosts 90 different tours of Chicago. We booked an evening trolley tour of the city lights. Check out the message on the Blue Cross Blue Shield building!

The tour was terrific and gave us a great overview of some of the significant buildings in the downtown area. I have grown to appreciate a walking tour or podcast to help orient me to a new city. It is most useful early in my stay since I quickly think I know my way around so I try to book (and pay) for it in advance so I don’t back out!

I mentioned the wind, but did I also say it was cold and snowing? It was, which made us appreciate the Art Institute of Chicago even more and provided a beautiful backdrop for all the holiday lights on the Magnificent Mile.

Our VRBO hosts made several recommendations for us that were excellent. We had drinks at the Drake Hotel, dinner at Bin 36 and a delicious local meal at Perennial Virant in the Lincoln Hotel. Just before heading to the airport I walked to a donut shop called Glazed and Infused that made me glad I was in a place where no one I knew would see me cramming my face with their excellent creme brulee donut!