Mark has been Madison's School District's Energy Manager for about a year and a half now.
He loves it and is learning lots of ways to save energy and cut utility costs.
Another perk of the job is the national conferences held a few times a year in different places around the nation.
This last conference was held in Chicago, so I decided to tag along.
Just Mark and I.
NO. LITTLE. GIRLS. ALLOWED!!!
It was fantastic!
We decided to go a few days before the conference started so that Mark and I could enjoy some "Chicago" stuff together, since he would be in meetings all day once the conference started.
We flew in early Saturday afternoon, in hopes to catch the Chicago Cubs game that afternoon.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of our control (crowds and traffic), we got there near the end of the game, so we decided not to pay to see only a few innings. I was SUPER BUMMED!!!
Mark humored me enough to drive up and down the road a few times so I could experience a little of the excitement.... and to get a good (moving) picture of the Stadium.
If we EVER get the chance to go back, we will definitely try again.
So after that dream was smashed, we decided to head on downtown to Navy Pier.
I really wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel with Mark.
It was crowded and hot but we got to do it!
This Ferris Wheel stands 15 stories tall and is patterned after the original one that was built for the Worlds Fair.
If you can imagine the real one was 10 times bigger than this one and took an hour and a half to complete.
After the Ferris Wheel ride we continued up and down the pier, finally stopping to eat dinner.
Can I just say SO GOOD!!!!
We were pretty beat after dinner, having started out the day at 2 AM, so we decided to make our way back to the hotel. Needless to say, we slept pretty darn good that night.
The next day was Sunday so we found a local LDS ward to attend. They were so welcoming and friendly!
We ditched after Sacrament meeting and headed to see the Chicago Temple.
It was beautiful! But I wouldn't have expected anything less.
After seeing the temple we got this idea to head on up to Wisconsin. We were pretty close to the border and neither of us had ever been there before. We asked a local guy if there was a road close to the lake that would take us up there. He told us which one and we started our journey. Both Mark and I were thinking it was going to be a drive along the lake where we could see waterfront and beaches, but we must have hit it once it turned residential because we didn't see much of the lake. However, we did see some pretty amazing and absolutely gorgeous houses/mansions.
After a few hours of winding through the suburbs of north Chicago we finally made it to Wisconsin. It was a pretty ghetto little town, but hey it's one more state that both of us can check off! (And that's what's important right!?)
We only took a few steps into Wisconsin and then turned around a headed right back!
It was a fun Sunday afternoon activity!
That night Mark's brother and his family met up with us and cooked us dinner. Thanks again guys!
They were nice enough to schedule their family vacation around ours so that I could have some buddies to hang out with during the day while Mark was at his meetings.
The next day the conference began for Mark, so we left him behind and headed downtown again.
Our game plan for the day was to visit the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum.
Both were Spectacular. (We were pretty tired by the time we got to the museum that I'm sure we didn't do it justice!)
The Shedd Aquarium
As the name suggests, the aquarium was FULL of some awesome aquatic creatures.
All sorts of animals and fish from all parts of the world.
There are some seriously beautiful fish out there.....and then some not so beautiful fish.
They had beluga whales putting on a show.
And a billion starfish for you to touch. And no I did not touch them. Icky!
And that only covers 3 different exhibits.
This place was HUGE and I would definitely recommend going if you're planning on visiting Chicago anytime soon!
Next was the Field Museum
Another HUGE museum with way too much to see and read in one day!
But we learned some interesting things and got to see Sue the T-Rex. Totally worth it!
And I just got to say, Chicago has some serious team spirit.
The Stanley cup finals between Chicago and Boston were going on while we were there.
You could see Blackhawk paraphernalia literally EVERYWHERE!!!!
After the two museums we went back to the hotel picked up Mark and headed out for some "authentic" Chicago style deep dish pizza! Cheesy and delicious!!!
Then went back to the hotel and rested our weary feet and went to bed.
The next day was filled with just as much excitement so we need some beauty sleep.
Tuesday morning, we left Mark again, and visited the Sears Tower (technically the Willis Tower, but no one cares) and did the thrilling SKYDECK Chicago. They built a glass platform 103 stories up so that you can hang over the edge and look down! Just ignore my big belly!
103 stories high and still smiling. (If only you could hear my heart beating!)
Next we headed to Navy Pier again.
Rebecca found a 2 for 1 coupon for a boat tour so we took advantage!
It was an awesome architectural tour that took us through the middle of Chicago and taught us about the history of a few of the buildings. It's hard to choose but this could have been my favorite part of the trip!
So glad we did it!
The view of Navy Pier by boat!
The infamous Trump Tower
And just to give you an idea on how high we were in the Sears Tower.
You see those glass windows hanging out clear up at the top! That's where we were!
Totally Crazy!
After the boat tour Mark called and said he had had enough of meetings and decided to ditch the rest
and meet us down at Navy Pier. Hooray!
We rode the Ferris Wheel and walked the pier again and then headed home for dinner and games.
We flew back home early the next morning!
It was an absolute fun-filled vacation I will never forget.
And I want to thank....
Mark for letting me tag along!
Mike and Becca for coming up and sharing it with me!
