πΊπΈ Chicago Travel Diary β¨
1οΈβ£ Day 1 Checked into Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown Riverwalk π¨. Ordered snacks from Target β the butter peaches were so good! π Dinner: Happy Lamb Hot Pot π²β¨. Went for the mid-tier option β Golden Sour & Spicy broth was amazing! Loved the ribeye and shrimp paste. A real feast! 2οΈβ£ Day 2 Lunch at a Chinese noodle shop π β stir-fried noodles and mini hot pot were delicious. Afternoon: Skydeck on the 103rd floor! Glass ledge photos β 90 seconds, unlimited shots. Scary but so photogenic π πΈ. Dinner:ε η Korean BBQ buffet π₯© β highly recommend! Black pepper beef, snowflake short rib, pineapple πβ¦ though the side dishes were a bit too sweet. Evening: 1hr architecture night cruise π’ β Chicagoβs skyline is breathtaking! Big and small boats sharing the river was magical π. 3οΈβ£ Day 3 Shedd Aquarium π¬ + Adler Planetarium π + Fireworks! Aquarium: 9 exhibit areas. Dolphin show at #8 (morning), sea lions at 1:30 PM. Dolphins were adorable! π Performances can be controversial β up to you. Other tanks had live talks. Got scared by giant fish every time π. Lunch: Fast food on the lowest floor β burger was tasty π. Planetarium: Planet models, telescopes, spacesuits π. Watched a 2:30 PM film on universe origins (a bit abstractβ¦ dozed off π΄). Then caught the 3:30 PM star show about constellations β dome screen was immersive! π Dinner: Golden Bull Restaurant π¦ β no bad dishes! Crab sticky rice was delicious (a bit oily though). Movie: Final Destination 6 at the observatory cinema π¬. 10 PM: Fireworks at Navy Pier! π Walked back through the crowds. 4οΈβ£ Day 4 Morning: Photos at The Bean π€³ β Art Institute (opens at 11) πΌοΈ β had fried chicken π β spent the whole day there β back to hotel for Final Destination: Amusement Park edition π’. 5οΈβ£ Day 5 Drove home π β stopped in Madison for Korean food + famous local beer π»β visited Epic Systems campus β felt like a theme park! π°β evening: double rainbow + fiery sunset ππ₯ β once-in-a-lifetime view! 6οΈβ£ Back Home Watched Night at the Museum and Jurassic World π¦. So cool how NYC and Chicago have such grand museums β canβt imagine how awesome it would be to grow up near them! #Chicago #ChicagoLife #TravelDiary #USATravel #SheddAquarium #Skydeck #Fireworks #FoodieAdventure