Stories My Suitcase Could Tell

  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ
  • Destinations
  • Experiences
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Work With Me

A Long Weekend In The Windy City

May 10, 2013 By Katie MacLeod 1 Comment

The Bean, Millenium Park, ChicagoChicago earned its nickname from its famously long-winded politicians (and maybe the weather); debuted the world’s first skyscraper in 1885; and holds more Michelin stars than any other American city.  From art and architecture to culinary creativity, this Midwest metropolis is making its mark.

We stayed in Wicker Park, and took the ‘L’ – the elevated trains that make up the city’s subway system – east towards downtown Chicago and Lake Michigan.  As we sped through the air to our destination, the city’s skyscrapers seemed to rise up to meet us.

I have a weakness for city skylines, and the architectural towers of Chicago look almost magical reflected in Cloud Gate or, as the locals affectionately call it, ‘The Bean.’  This shiny steel sculpture by British artist Anish Kapoor sits in the North West corner of Millennium Park and it is impossible to resist its pull, spotting yourself in the many mirrored images on its surface and snapping shots with the rest of the enamoured out-of-towners.

Chicago streets and shoreline

Millennium Park makes for a relaxing wander, filled as it is with interesting artwork and more of that impressive architecture (the Jay Pritzker Pavilion being one example).  The Lake is another attraction: Chicago has 29 miles of lake front, and 18 of these are accompanied by a shore path for bikers, runners, and slow-strolling tourists like myself.  Moving from skyscrapers to sand in a few short minutes provides a wonderful contrast.

Couple all this culture with incredibly friendly locals, and it’s easy to see why America’s second city is stealing hearts away from the Big Apple.  It hasn’t stolen my heart from my favourite urban landscape yet, but it certainly made a start.

Waves on Lake Michigan, Chicago

Related

« Smorgasburg: Foodie Fun at the Flea Market
Chicago, Out of the Loop »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

HELLO!

I'm Katie, an expat Scot in the States, and the journalist behind Stories My Suitcase Could Tell, the travel blog which inspires you to explore the world. Read More…

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo

Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Best Travel Blog 2014

As seen in…

Get the latest stories in the newsletter!

Stories My Suitcase Could Tell Newsletter

Your guide to visiting

Outer Hebrides Guide

People are reading…

13 Useful Things To Know Before Visiting The Outer Hebrides
Discovering The Charms of Chestnut Hill
A Day Trip to Mount Rainier National Park
10 Books to Read Before Visiting Scotland's Outer Hebrides

Currently in

Dreaming of

Behind the scenes of…

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress