Saturday in the Windy City

Saturday was our day to run around the city.

Or, should I say...ride around? Hop around?

We bought tickets to experience Chicago via the Hop on Hop off Sightseeing Tour . We were so excited to see the city on a tour bus...especially a double decker bus! Neither of us had ever been on the top of one, and this was our goal: ride around Chicago on the top of the bus.

And we did!

It was AWESOME.

The weather was perfect (no rain! yippee!), the ride added breezes to keep us cool, and it was a perspective of the city we could not have had any other way.

J didn't really like to have to sit in our laps the whole time...but once it got going he enjoyed the tour.
Check it out:



Seriously?

I cannot imagine a better way to see the sites & get to know the city. Our tour guide was GREAT--she was talking the entire time, telling us tidbits of history and pop culture that coordinated with the buildings and areas of town.

See that little peacock sign behind us?
While we were busy taking pictures and fascinated by the skyscrapers, J was watching for his two favorites these days:

"quack quacks"

and "woof woofs"

"Quack Quacks" were originally ducks, but are now any flying thing...so we saw lots of QQ Pigeons along the way, which made his day!

And, I'm sure you know what "woof woofs" are--right?
The city was sprawling, beautiful, breathtaking, metallic, historic, and filled with energy.
I love the old mixed in with the new...reminds me of Europe.
Here is the famous Sears Tower that is now officially called "Willis Tower".
The top very touristy part of the tower is now called "The Skydeck". We bought tickets along with our Hopping Tour, you could save money buying them together--
--although had we known what was in store, we might not have done that part of the tour. For one thing, kids over 1 (one year. 12 months. yes. 1 year olds) are required a $10 ticket, which is just ridiculous.

Like I said, we already had the tickets so we got in line. The line starts outside, so you wait to get inside. Once you are inside you are in line to get to the elevators. Once in the elevator (like a bunch of SARDINES IN A CAN), you then exit to the basement where you will stand in yet another line (longer than all the ones before, I might add). This line is leading you to security. Once you make it through security (and there is a false sense of accomplishment), you are divided into TWO lines. One line for the ticket-holders (us! yay!) and one much-longer line for the people needing to purchase tickets.

*breathe*

Then you get in a line to go into a theatre, watch a little film about the tower & skydeck...then you get in line once again.

This time, you are in line to get on the elevator again...and this time you are actually going UP.

They do have lots of fun, interesting things to read on the walls to try to distract you from the fact that you are STILL standing in lines...

Once you are in the line for the elevator UP, you've made it. 103 floors later (in only 60 seconds--chew gum it helps), you are AT THE TOP.

By that time (I think for us it was an hour & half) your 1 year old (for whom you so obediently purchased a ticket) will probably be asleep:
But, the view is incredible:
And they have 3 little plexiglass boxes hanging off the side of the top of the building...for those of you interested in a thrill.

Those are definitely not my feet in there.

Trevor said "it was pretty cool".
While we enjoyed walking around on the top, and the views were spectacular--we soon made our way back down. It was definitely a "cool" experience to stamp in our life-sights-passport, but we wouldn't do it again.

And, if you have read everything I've typed here...consider yourself sufficiently warned about the LINES and WAITING.

(Although we did go on a Saturday in the middle of the summer. So, you might have a different experiences if you go on a weekday not in the summer...)

Our happy family & the Tower:
Next we hopped back on our bus...you have to make sure your timing is right at the end of the afternoon, otherwise you'll be stuck where you 'hopped off' without another bus to 'hop on'.

J was a great sport, here he is chillin':
The views on our last leg of the tour:
J saw another "Quack Quack"--great time for a pic since he was smiling!

Thus ended our adventure in Chicago.

It was incredible. We loved the smells, sights, sounds, and vibrant energy of the city. Friday night was a blast and Saturday was perfect. We learned so much about the history and quirks of the city on our Hop On Hop Off Tour--I highly recommend it.

Our first trip to Chicago was a hit, we can't wait to go back!