4th of July in Chicago 2014

Our first Chicago trip since being home in the USA.  We knew Jesus had the 4th of July off of work so what better way to celebrate than get out of town?  As we were searching for hotels all along the North Shore we realized my mom was searching for flights to Chicago.  We made a happy compromise and drove mom to Chicago so she could see family and we could go on a vaca!

We began our trip dropping my mom off with my aunt in Lake Forest, IL.  It was our first time to this city and it is beautiful!  It's on the beach with gorgeous homes and a cute local town with small cafes and little shops called, Lake Bluff, nearby.  We ate sushi at some trendy spot in Lake Forest the first night and then found overpriced lemon bread french toast at a a cafe in Lake Bluff the next morning.  We made a photo stop at the beach on Lake Michigan and played at the park before making our way to downtown Chicago.  We drove along a road called Sheradon to get downtown, which I highly recommend, for a beautiful drive down the coast with amazing homes!

If you can't read Joaquin's lips, he now says "cheese" for photos!

We arrived downtown and stayed at the Hyatt.  I will say this is a great location if you want to stay downtown and be tourists as we did.  It's minutes from Millennium park and Navy Pier.  So....apparently the 4th of July weekend in Chicago is VERY crowded.  Since I have so much family in Chicago, we go once or twice a year, and never have I seen this many people!  Luckily we had been to Navy Pier before because we sure were not able to stop and do anything there this trip.  We fought the crowds just to walk to the end of the pier and there definitely wasn't time to wait in lines for any attractions.  Millennium park however, while crowded, was much easier to navigate probably because of the open layout as opposed to a skinny pier.  The fountains were the biggest hit!  Joaquin had a blast running back and forth and getting soaked amidst the beautiful skyline.  We also managed to get a few photos with the famous bean.  Other highlights included shopping on Michigan Ave. where I bought a jean jacket from H and M and making a stop at the Chicago Cupcake truck parked nearby our hotel.  We saw the Navy Pier fireworks but watched from a street corner closer to our hotel which still managed to be over populated.  We ate bao buns from a fast food bao bun place food court style in the Water Tower Place mall and later ate crab legs from our hotel's fancy restaurant.  It was a really great food vacation in addition to all the entertainment.  Oh I can't forget to mention the seagulls.  We wanted to kill some time before dinner one night and when I saw those seagulls in the park, I knew that was just what my little toddler needed to blow off some steam.  He could chase birds for hours...with no fear...quite the opposite of his mommy.

The fountain sculpture splash pad thing at Millennium park...I don't know what this thing is really called!

Random photo downtown before the fireworks in the jacket bought while shopping the Magnificent Mile.

Joaquin in the original chairs from Wrigley Field that are now used to decorate the city.

Photos with/in the Bean at Millennium Park

                                      

Navy Pier

Finally after being tourists in Chicago, we met back up with some family to pick up my mom and return to MN.  We had a lovely lunch at an Eastern European restaurant in honor of my late Grandpa's birthday with grandma Lee, aunt Joan, uncle Ben and my cousin Benny, my aunt Luli and my mom.  Not only was it great to see everyone but I get nostalgia every time we eat at one of these Eastern European restaurants as I've gone to many with my grandparents when I've come into town.  Before lunch we stopped at the beautiful Bohemian National Cemetery to visit Grandpa and several other relatives.  I am glad I got to share that with my husband and still wish he got to meet my grandpa before he passed. Grandma sure did enjoy seeing little Joaquin and that made me very happy!

Finally on our way home, as we pulled out of a gas station and were already halfway into the street, an old man on a bicycle came out of no where and struck the side of our car.  Thank goodness he wasn't hurt and didn't fall off the bike besides losing his footing.  He assured us he was ok, and repeatedly commented that this is why he wears a helmet.  I hate to sound bad but it really appeared to be a situation of an old man that shouldn't be biking in the city alone.  Our new car took a nice hit but we just finished getting it repaired today and it looks as new again.  A bit of a hassle we had to go through but it's done now.  Other than that, yay for vacation!  Can't wait to write my next post after vacation to WI Dells with my sister in law's giant Mexican familia in another week or so!