Chicago Trip!

My girls and I returned from our trip to Chicago for Sunshine’s 14th birthday a little over a week ago. We had way too much fun. We had been looking forward to this trip for quite a while and I can’t believe that it has already come and gone.

We took the train.

It was our first time on an Amtrak train and we actually enjoyed the 5.5 hour ride from St. Louis.

The train station in St. Louis was VERY tiny, but Union Station in Chicago was huge and beautiful!! One thing that surprised me…..nothing, no luggage, no person NOTHING was scanned thru any kind of security.

There was a snack car on board, where you could get drinks, snacks even a sandwich or pizza. The snack car has tables, so occasionally we would sit in there and play cards.

Each seat on the train had a power outlet, that was nice for plugging in a computer, DVD player, or even charging your phone.

Like airline travel, purchasing your train tickets in advance is cheaper, and train tickets are much cheaper than airfare. An adult ticket round trip from St. Louis to Chicago was only $56!

We shopped the Magnificent Mile

Enjoyed GREAT food!!

Our favorites were Ed Debevics, Carson’s Ribs and Bubba Gumps. Fantastic food and service at all of them!

Carson’s Ribs is where we ate for Sunshine’s birthday dinner, and she said it was her favorite part of the whole trip!!! The girls both had ribs and I had chicken…..all of it was incredible!

Shedd Aquarium did not disappoint!

Lot’s of photo ops

We went up in the Sears/Willis Tower and Sky Deck, we took a Fireworks/Architectural cruise and we went to Navy Pier and took the water taxi over to Shedd Aquarium.
We LOVED Chicago

And I think the girls had a fabulous time!!

I can’t believe it is over.

If you want to see all of the pictures I took (most have not been edited) but they’re all in a flickr album here

Back to reality and house work!………because

BRIDGET is coming to visit on Thursday!!!

pop over and read this NEW article about Bridget here!

SOOOO……How about you?
Have you taken a vacation this summer?
Any fun visitors?
What has been the best part of your summer?