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A little while ago, I realized that I never take vacation. Now, this isn’t that major a revelation, especially considering the fact that I have only be working “officially” full-time at my job for a year (internships and assistantships bump that up to nearly three), but people would continually tell me to take vacation and I just wouldn’t. I like my job enough that I don’t see any reason not to show up every day. I’m kind of like Cal Ripken that way (and that’s the only way, believe me). But with the end of the fiscal year approaching and the end of “Beauty and the Beast” in sight, I decided that I needed to take some “me” time. Therein was the genesis of my trip last week to Chicago. Now, I could bore you with a slideshow of my vacation pictures (which I already have, sort of) or devote a post to each day (which I considered doing from the road but was too tired at the end of each day to pull the trigger), but I’ve found that the best way to have some fun while informing you about my vacation is to tell you what I learned while in Chicago.
I learned that…
- Chicago is a weird weather town. You can be walking along Lake Michigan and it’s 74 degrees out, then wander two block into the downtown area and have it be 20 degrees cooler. Whatever the origin of the “Windy City” moniker, they’re right.
- Walking along Lake Michigan and listening to Sufjan Stevens’ “Illinois” is sublime, especially when your iPod starts playing “Chicago” just as you approach the water and turn around to look at the city.
- You must – MUST – stay in The Loop area if you are visiting Chicago. My hotel was on Michigan Avenue near Balbo Drive, and it was like the epicenter of the Chicago Transit Authority. Need to get to Hyde Park? The 6 bus picks you up a block away. Taking in a ballgame? There’s a Red Line stop within a stone’s throw. Which reminds me…
- The CTA is far superior to SEPTA. But we already knew this.
- There are far too many great neighborhoods in Chicago to visit. I went to Hyde Park, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, and stayed downtown, and I still feel like I missed out on something.
- Chicago-style pizza is good, but overrated.
- Goose Island IPA is delicious.
- Wrigley Field is the ultimate place to see a ballgame. Even if it’s 40 degrees both days you go to the park. Which leads me to…
- $2 hot chocolate at a freezing Wrigley is the absolute best deal in any stadium ever.
- It doesn’t really look like it, but Chicago is an extraordinarily walkable city. You need the El to get places, but walking around town is really an enjoyable experience.
I spent a weekend there last year and thought it was great. I’d go back in a heartbeat.