When we were at the beach yesterday, we met a young mother and her son. She told us about the South Shore Line that picks up at the Beverly Shores station right outside of our campground. It is free for the kids to ride and only costs $8.25 each for us to take the train all the way to downtown Chicago. The station is a 10-minute walk from our campsite but we decided to drive here since we wanted to get an early start and didn’t know if it would be dark or not when we got back.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

The South Shore Line picked us up at 8:30 in the morning. It is the earliest start we have had in a long time. It goes from South Bend all they way into downtown Chicago at the Millennium Station. That is much cheaper and way less hassle than driving in ourselves and having to deal with traffic and paying for parking.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

The ride to Chicago from Beverly Shores takes about 90 minutes. There are people who ride the train everyday to go to work in Chicago.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

We came prepared with all the electronic toys to keep ourselves entertained for the long ride.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

The Millennium Station is right next to Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. The famous bean sculpture is right across the street from the train station and we took the obligatory tourist self portrait in it along with hundreds of other visitors.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

If you stand directly underneath the bean and look up, this is what you will see. We are in the middle of the circle right in the center of the photo.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

If you wanted to really explore Chicago, you can either hop on the L train and visit all of the neighborhoods, or take a boat ride along Chicago river. We opted to just walk around today. Straight up Michigan Ave from Millennium Park is the Magnificent Mile right across the river.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

Having spent many years here, the ‘G.O.A.T’ still has a decent presence here in the windy city. Here is his steak house right on Michigan Ave.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

I had to stop at the Apple store to check out of the new, improved, thinner and taller iPhone 5. It’s nice and I get why millions of people cover it but I think I am sticking with the Android platform for the foreseeable future.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

Just to be fair, the girls got to do a loop through the Disney store.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

Our walk took us through the Northwestern campus which is in the heart of downtown Chicago and along Shoreline drive. We traversed through the campus and headed towards Navy Pier.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

When we were here in 2006, we didn’t really think  Navy Pier was all that interesting. Nothing much has changed except that we now have kids tagging along. They liked everything about Navy Pier. Ava saw this speedboat tour doing donuts in the water just outside of the harbor and inside the breakwaters. She was hoping to see it up close but of course those maneuvers are not allowed near the pier.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

We are definitely a long ways from home. This is the distances as the crow flies. We have traveled around 5,000 miles already in less than 2 months to get here.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

We finally busted out the double stroller we bought during our last trip in Jacksonville, FL. We knew eventually we are going to need it. Instead of Ava and Mila, now Mila is sharing the stroller with Luka.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

As soon as Ava saw the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, she started asking like a broken record about going on it. I didn’t think she would be brave enough to go on such a large one at over 150 feet tall, but I guess our time at Lakeside Amusement Park has gotten her ready for anything.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

The ferris wheel is really slow and you can barely tell that its moving when you are up there. At this size, it takes about 7 minutes to make a whole revolution. That also means you only get to ride it for one loop before you have to get off.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

At $6 a person, it isn’t too bad of a price. The view of the skyline from up there alone is worth it.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

Marlene being afraid of heights, stayed on the ground with Mila and Luka.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

We had probably walked nearly 5 miles before we finally left Navy Pier. I have been waiting for a long time for some Chicagan food so we headed back into the city for some deep dish pizza.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

Gino’s East is the self-proclaimed original deep dish pizza joint in town along with a few other ones. For a long time it was the go-to place along with Numero Uno and Numero Due. Since then, lots of deep dish pizza joints like Giordano’s and Lou Malnati’s have joined ranks in the best deep dish.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

Ava was really intrigued at their policy of allowing patrons to write on the walls. It completely negates everything we have taught her about dinner manners.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

The pizza was good, but it has definitely changed since our last visit. The crust is less flaky and more chewy and it seems to be not as thick as I recall. I think maybe they are starting to cut some corners in the pie to put out more of them.

Day 57: Downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line.

Ava was a real trooper today. She walked everywhere with us and did not complain much. We probably logged closed to 7 miles by foot today as we finally got back to the train station for another 90 minute ride home. It was a long day and she is going to sleep well tonight.

over and out,
dan


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