Visiting Chicago, Illinois

Last summer around this time, we spent a long weekend in Chicago. I was there for the BlogHer '09 conference, but made time for sightseeing with my daughters.

We flew out of National Airport at 5 am on a warm Wednesday morning, and arrived in Chicago very early. I could've just hailed a cab, but I thought I would make an adventure out of it (and save a couple of bucks) so the girls and I took the subway into the city. The El, as the train is called, is only about a 10 minute walk from the terminal. At a flat rate of $2.25, and with the girls riding free, it was a bargain!

Rock N Roll McDonald’s

Our first stop once we stepped out of the subway station was - and I'm somewhat ashamed to admit - McDonald's. It wasn't just any McDonald's, however. This was the Rock N Roll McDonald’s, probably one of the most famous McDonald's locations in the world.

It's much nicer than any of our local McD's, plasma TVs around the restaurant, escalators that take you upstairs, to the second floor and a small McDonald's museum, and a Rock & Roll exhibit in a building next door. The prices here were over the top, though. Not much value in an $8.00 Value Meal, right? The girls loved it, however, and that's all that matters. It was a great start to our long weekend.

Chicago’s Magnificent Mile

The first night we stayed at a hotel just off the Magnificent Mile, a part of Michigan Avenue and Chicago's largest shopping district. I was able to do quite a bit of window shopping. Burberry, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Ferragamo…we don’t have those stores around here!

Millenium Park was lovely. It features a huge variety of public art, such as the huge Cloud Gate sculpture. It’s more commonly known as “The Bean” because of its distinct shape. The way it reflects the city, the sky, and the people walking by is just beautiful!

Willis Tower

The highlight of the trip for my daughters, to my surprise, was the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower). It's North America’s tallest building, and gives you the best view of Chicago. The Skydeck on the 103rd floor, at 1,353 feet (412 meters), is the highest observatory in the city. You can see 40 to 50 miles out on a clear day.

The Ledge, opened last year, is the newest attraction on the Skydeck. It's comprised of glass boxes that extend out 4.3 feet from the side of the skyscraper, providing never-before-seen views of the city. Those that are afraid of heights (like me!) might want to avoid this attraction. I get chills just looking at the photos.

Chicago style pizza

We couldn't leave Chicago without having a slice of their famous pizza, so on our last day there, we stood in line at the famous Gino’s East and came back with a delicious deep dish pizza. It didn't disappoint! The crust was crispy and buttery, the sauce thick and chunky, the cheese plentiful… and the sausage was in the form of a patty, covering every inch of the pizza.

I'd love to go back to Chicago in a couple of years. Other attractions we wanted to check out, but didn't have time for, included the Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Institute, Hancock Observatory, the Water Tower, and Lincoln Park Zoo. There's so much more to see! Have you ever been there?

Mariana Perez blogs about life as a stay-at-home mom to two beautiful little girls over at Riding With No Hands. Follow her daily adventures on Twitter @ohMariana.