Windy City Nights

We booked the Combined Lake and River tour with Wendella Boat Cruises, and would highly recommend not only the company but the specific selection - a nice blend of river architecture and history, and scenic city skyline from out on the lake. We also chose the evening cruise, to better enjoy sunset and the city lights, and were rewarded with a calm and perfect night. A scenic stroll back to the hotel completed the day nicely.

We spent our last day exploring the Field Museum - part of the troika of inviting venues within walking distance of each other at Museum Park on the lakeshore, along with the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. It was also July 4th, so there were plenty of Independence Day celebrations to enjoy in various public parks around the downtown to kill a few hours.

We used our trolley pass (again!) to get to within a few blocks of Union Station, and arrived early enough to enjoy a few drinks in the station lounge before boarding our 6pm train. After all, we weren't driving! Made some new friends on the ride back, enjoyed a Chicago beef sandwich (bought at the station), and I counted eighteen deer across the rural interior of the Michigan peninsula before daylight failed.

Amtrak dropped us off in Dearborn a little after midnight, having lost an hour as we crossed back into Eastern Standard Time. After the obligatory stop for duty free beer, and an uneventful border crossing, we pulled in the driveway at home around 2am, where we quickly counted furry heads and tottered off to bed.

Drinks along Chicago Riverwalk before the boat cruise

Waiting for the Wendella to shove off from the dock

A different kind of "rail" travel

Trump Tower and the Wrigley Building

Heading out into Lake Michigan under moonlight

Navy Pier by Night

City Lights, oh so Bright

Moving boat and low light leads to some cool effects!

Artistic License = skyline watercolour!

Field Museum

The evolution of a mini-vacation!

Museum Humour