“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”
Soren Kirkegaard
I had a recent opportunity to travel to Chicago with my husband, the only problem was, he would be busy essentially the entire time. Nevertheless, I am not one to pass up an opportunity to travel and this gave me a chance to ease into solo travel! Here’s what I did during my first ever trip to Chicago, IL! Note: all of the images have been hyperlinked with their respective websites so all you need to do is click the image to get more information!
With an image like this, you don’t really need a caption or explanation. Cloud Gate, The Bean, call it what you will, it is a truly mesmerizing public sculpture and a great place to start your day. I went first thing in the morning and as you can see, it wasn’t over crowded or hectic yet. In fact, it was quite peaceful to sit on one of their benches and gaze at and around this iconic piece of artwork!
Skydeck Chicago/Willis Tower/Sears Tower. You can take an amazing photo of you jumping to appear flying way up on the 103rd floor above beautiful Chicago! Or you can work yourself up for 30 minutes and face your phobia of heights and (legs trembling) inch your way onto the glass platform and shakily snap a picture for evidence of your feat… Either way, an unforgettable experience and one that you will be happy you didn’t skip!
The Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago. You can (and I did) spend hours here! Whatever you are into they have it all: submarines, coal mines, farming, transportation (trains, ships, etc.), genetics, future technology, outer space, and so much more! I arrived at the museum shortly after it opened, stopped half way through for lunch at their cafe, and then didn’t leave until close!
On my train into town (from the airport) a pleasant older woman apparently picked up on my “tourist vibes” and decided to give her opinion on Chicago’s top attractions. “I wouldn’t waste your time at the art museum though, I mean, unless you like that kind of stuff.” UmmmmmmMmmmmmmmmm, please don’t skip the art museum! Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pollock, Edward Hopper, Dalí, Andy Warhol, Seurat, Picasso, and SO MUCH MORE! How could you pass up an opportunity like that?? It’s all so inspiring I came home and started looking at Online Art Classes!
Check out a Broadway show while in Chicago! For me, it was my first time seeing Hamilton (I know, late bloomer). However, if you’re like the majority of people who have already seen Hamilton, I’m sure you know shows are always changing plus there are multiple theaters so you can try to catch a new show!
The Shedd Aquarium is what it is: an aquarium. Aquariums can be very romantic if with the right person, and fun education if you have children. However, if you’re a solo traveler, it may not be the best fit. If you do end up going, be sure to check their calendar and make sure there aren’t any events or discount promotions running for local families- otherwise you may end up there during the busiest, child-filled time possible which can take away from the experience.
All. Of. The. Food! Top left: Noodles & Co. – Top right: Sushi Sai – Bottom left: Cafe Umbria – Bottom right: Giordano’s
Weather it’s a big meal (Giordano’s Pizza) or a sweet snack (Garrett Popcorn Shops) they’ve got it all! I love to be adventurous while traveling and being open minded to trying new foods. Sushi, espresso, deep dish pizza, caprese sandwich, Korean beef noodles.. Alright, I’m off to go work on my diet now.
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I really enjoyed reading about your solo adventure in Chicago! It sounds like you made the most of your time, even without your husband by your side. Your visit to Cloud Gate and the Skydeck Chicago seemed particularly exciting and inspiring. The Museum of Science & Industry must have been fascinating, especially with such a wide variety of exhibits. What was the most memorable part of your trip for you?
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