Navy Pier - Chicago

One could easily spend a half, or even a full day on Navy Pier. Known as Chicago's playground, Navy Pier offers many family oriented attractions, shops, restaurants, gardens, and entertainment.

The entertainment includes fireworks, theatrical productions, an IMAX Theater, Cirque acrobats, and live staged shows featuring jugglers, magicians, and marching bands. One can enjoy shopping with possible purchases such as apparel, souvenirs, collectibles, and toys. Navy Pier has a wide variety of restaurants ranging from casual to family-oriented to candle-lit dining. After you work up an appetite, your senses will sure be pleased.

A big hilight of Navy Pier can be see from a-far, and that is the giant Ferris Wheel in the middle of the Pier. I did not get a chance to go on it, but I can tell you that I have never seen a bigger Ferris Wheel anywhere, and I'm sure it will be well worth the ride!

Tips on Navy Pier:
-If Navy Pier is a must-see for you, don't make it your last stop in Chicago. Navy Pier is 50 acres, and you won't get nearly as much enjoyment out of it if you are exhausted from a day of walking the city.
-Wear your walking shoes.
-Make a note to see Navy Pier at night. The Ferris Wheel looks amazing in the dark!

Millennium Park - Chicago

Millennium Park is cool for many reasons. It's right across from Lake Michigan, and it has the Bean! A great thing about Chicago is that much of the waterfront is adorned by grass and parks, not concrete buildings. Millennium Park is a beautiful park to to do many things. There is a big pavillion to see bands and concerts, many great areas to have picnics, and the Bean!

The Bean is by far the coolest thing to see in Millennium Park, personally. The Bean is a reflective object (shaped like a bean of course), showing skewed images of whoever or whatever is looking into it! The Bean is a major attraction in Chicago both day and night, summer or winter.

I have been to the Bean in both summer and winter, and both day and night. During the day, you can see the Chicago skyline as it reflects off the Bean, and at night you can see the night skyline through the Bean. Trust me, it's a big difference!

Another cool aspect about the Bean is that you can walk into the center of it, which is the picture I have headlining this post. The center of the Bean reminded me of the House of Mirrors you would find at an amusement park. Very cool!

If you visit the Bean in the winter-time, there is an ice-skating rink just below where you can take in the season, or participate in yourself!

Sears Tower - Chicago

The Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower, is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Formerly the tallest structure ever, the Sears Tower offers fantastic views of Chicago, Lake Michigan, and on clear days, Milwaukee!

I have been up to the observation deck twice in my life. My most recent trip, however, was more memorable. The line to go up isn't the shortest, but they offer the history of the Sears Tower via television and that makes the wait a little more bearable. Once you reach the elevator, the time from the ground to the deck is about 8 seconds, the fastest ride up I have ever experienced! Getting off the elevator, you will immediately see spectacular 360 dregee views of Chicago. To the North, you will see the famed John Hancock Building, among other skyscrapers. To the East is the beautiful Lake Michigan, and Grant and Milennium Parks! Looking South is Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears NFL franchise, and more skyscrapers, and to the West is residential areas, and yes, more buildings. If you don't know what you are looking at, the deck has plaques which offer information on what specific buildings are. On the inside wall of the deck is a mural of the Chicago history, from culture to sports to the arts.

The Sears Tower is one of the most popular attractions in Chicago, and it is a must-see for anyone who visits! I know when I visit next, I want to be first in line!

Tips on up in the Sears Tower:
-Go on a sunny day to ensure clear and lenghty visibility.
-If you are afraid of heights, don't be afraid of going up! My fiance is afraid to even go on Ferris Wheel's, and he had no problem seeing the views from the top!

Chicago

I know Chicago like I know the back of my hand! I have family who live in a suburb of Chicago, and we would go there as a family every year! Chicago is a great city, rain or shine, hot or cold! You will never run out of things to do in Chicago!

My first memory of Chicago was eating at the Hard Rock Cafe and going on a horse and carriage ride just after Christmas. Chicago is a bustling city around Christmastime, and the streets are beautifully lit with Christmas lights adorning each tree, and in store fronts for as far as the eye can see.

Chicago in the summer is equally amazing as it is in the winter. The freedom to walk the lakefront, the Magnificent Mile, through Grant and Milennium Parks, and laying in the grass just feet away from Navy Pier is incredible!

Read on as I tell you about each one of these attractions, and more!!

Milwaukee, WI

I can't being to tell you how many times I have been to Milwaukee! I love this city, mainly because it's the home of my all-time favorite baseball team, the Milwaukee Brewers! In addition to baseball, Milwaukee is a great city to do most anything!

I have been to many Brewer games in my days, and it started all the way back in the County Stadium era. To many, this ballpark would be boring, mediocre at best, but to a Brewer fan, it was filled with the histories of Robin Yount and Rollie Fingers. As the market kept growing and new fields kept popping up for a lot of teams, the Brewers had to keep up. Enter Miller Park! Miller Park was conceived in 1996 and opened its inaugural season in 2001. It is the best venue to watch baseball, rain or shine. This Park has a fan-shaped retractable roof to fit all sorts of weather. Taking in a Brewer game is inexpensive, and is a wonderful environment for anyone! A must-see in Milwaukee!

Milwaukee is a great long-weekend city. I have been there many times for long weekends, and I would suggest staying a little outside of the city. A great place to stay, from experience, is the Best Western right across from the airport. This would be an extra plus if you fly in, too! Milwaukee is easy to navigate around, and its freeway system is simple, easy to get on and off the major thorough-fares.

I wouldn't call Milwaukee an overwhelming city at all. During our latest trip, we of course planned it around a couple Brewer games, but that wasn't the only thing we did. We drove downtown and enjoyed a dueling piano bar, my first experience that I greatly enjoyed! Other attractions I have seen while I have been there was: the Milwaukee County Zoo, dinner on the river, walking down the Lake Michigan Shore, and seeing downtown by night. There will always be something waiting for me in Milwaukee!

Additional attractions you may want to visit when you are there are: the Harley-Davidson Museum, the Pabst Mansion, Miller Brewing Company, Bradley Sculpture Gardens, and the State Fairgrounds are 5 minutes up I-94!

Hoover Dam

On our second trip to Vegas, we rented a car making it easier to get out of the city. My fiance and I thought it would be a great idea to make use of the car and head to Hoover Dam. With Hoover Dam being just 30 miles Southeast of Vegas, it's a quick roadtrip to see something extraordinary!

Getting to Hoover Dam was a real treat. One minute you are in the complete desert, and the next, you are winding down hilly ravines with not much to the side of you as far as guard rails go. My knuckles were a little white when we got there, and to be completely honest, we drove right over Hoover Dam and I didn't even notice! Ha!

I couldn't believe how huge it was! All that concrete made into one giant slab to allow power to much of the west! It really is a megastructure! Walking across it was cool, too. When you start the venture across, you are in the Pacific Time Zone, and when you get to the other side, you are in the Mountain Time Zone! I hadn't realized that until we got there! A bridge is also being built to the west of Hoover Dam, and after completion, it will be the only inlet to the Dam, eleviating congestion on the Dam itself.

There are a lot of photo opts at the Dam, and I couldn't take enough of the Dam itself. We went there in the morning, so the sun was casting a cool shadow on the Dam, so I was keeping an eye on that. The Colorado River was a spectacle in itself. The water was as blue as the sky, and the landscape was amazing! I still can't get past the thought of the Dam being man-made!

The drive back offers a look-out point on the banks of Lake Mead. Lake Mead is a gorgeous man-made (wouldn't you know it) lake with waters tempting enough to jump right in. I also saw this lake from the plane, and it really is a sight to see! Our half-day trip was definitely worth a couple hours out of the spectacle that is Las Vegas!

Tips on going to Hoover Dam:
-When driving, DON'T LOOK DOWN! Also, if someone in the car is afraid of heights, don't let them drive.
-Don't take the tour. It is over-priced, long, and boring.
-Go into the bathrooms while crossing the Dam. It offers a unique look at it.

The Nation's Capitol

Visiting Washington D.C. was by far one of my most memorable trips to date, for many reasons, and I will get into those later. I was there for 4 days, and tried to see everything, which was nearly impossible. In those 4 days, my then-boyfriend and I did a lot, so sit back, relax, and enjoy!

As a reader, you may get overwhelmed by all the stuff we did in just 4 days, so maybe grab a glass of water and read on!

Here are some tips on D.C.:
-If you are sightseeing strictly in D.C., fly into Ronald Regan (DCA). It is the closest to the city, about 4 miles. The other 2 airports that serve the city (Dulles International and Baltimore) are 30+ miles away.
-White House Tours can be taken, but sign up for those online 3 months beforehand. If you don't do this, you won't be admitted.
-Dress for the weather, and bring lots of water with you. You may not think it, but there is a lot of walking to be done in D.C., so be prepared.