Chicago....My kind of town

Chicago....the word brings up visions of all kinds. We had never been to Chicago so we really didn't know what to expect. I've read about Chicago, mobs, crime, wind etc. and envision run down houses, brownstones and dilapidated apartment houses. Overflowing dumpsters with rats running wild in the streets and sewers. What we found was just the opposite. Beautiful high rises, culture, cleanliness and tons of people. I estimated about 150,000 people were still in the downtown area at 10PM. Amazing!

Enjoy the sampling of pictures that follow. We enjoyed our visit. Now, O'hare, that's a different story. We picked up our granddaughter there and it was a zoo!!!

We arrived in Chicago late afternoon, but traffic was light.

Kids were hungry, so we spotted a MickeyD's downtown and figured we'd stop in and grab a burger.  We looked for a White Castle but saw the McDonalds first.

As with most things Chicago, this McDonalds was different. Two stories high with an escalator to take you upstairs. Plush leather seating including some comfy barstools..great ambiance for sitting, watching the world go by and take advantage of their wi-fi hotspot.

The following photos are simply random pictures taken as we drove/walked through the downtown area.

That's Lake Michigan in the background. This area is undergoing renovation. Adjacent to this area are many exclusive high rises accessible only by invitation or residents.

Downtown offered free concerts under the stars as well as a "Taste of Chicago" with many food vendors hawking their tasty treats. This was a full band and the acoustics for being outside was amazing!

This shows Lake Michigan in the background with the ferris wheel on the Navy Pier on the right.

The 3,300 foot long Navy Pier was built in 1916 and has worn many different faces. Originally built as a cargo terminal, it quickly became a gathering place for entertainment. During the war years it was used as a training center for over 10,000 navy personnel. Once the war ended it again was transformed into an entertainment venue. It's centerpiece is the 150 foot tall ferris wheel containing 40 six passenger gondolas. Other rides include a musical carousel, the Light Tower Ride, and Wave Swinger, an old-fashioned swinging thrill ride almost 40 feet high. There is also an 18-hole miniature golf course and token-operated remote-control boats. Visit Chicago, you won't be disappointed.