Getting Our Choo Choo On…

Thanks to Amtrak, we got a great deal on tickets for our upcoming trip to Chicago. Did you know that “on May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the “golden spike” was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, ceremonially creating the nation’s first transcontinental railroad”? Well I didn’t either but I do now thanks to first-ever National Train Day!

Up until the past six months, most of my trips to Chicago had been for business. I have never driven to the Windy City and only flown once into O’Hare but have taken train from Carbondale every single other time. What a hoot! I like watching the people on board and love seeing the glorious heartland start and end it’s day as well as the other-side-of-the tracks of every little community along the route.

My reasons to visit now are even more exciting. Darling daughter dear now resides in Chicago so we visit every chance we get! So much to do and see and oh those grandbabies to play with…!!

Now with the help of Matt B. at The Chicago Traveler and Tammy Green’s My Aggregated Life, the mini-vacation days for this trip are all planned out!I Everyone in our little group is suggesting places to visit and so the best laid plans of six grownups and three young’uns are soon to be tested for full days of fun in the city!

Here is the plan… maybe I can twitter our adventure as it happens and update to flickr daily some of our most fun experiences. We plan to enjoy Navy Pier’s Children’s Museum, do some Window Shopping on Michigan Avenue, enjoy Cloudgate at sunrise, find some Chinatown treats, and check out Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory.

I sure do want to try the Macaroni and Cheese at Kuma’s Corner this time and find some more bargains while thrift shopping in Roscoe Village. All mapped out with the help of Google Maps directions with public transportation! Whew… sounds like a whirlwind for sure… stay tuned…!!