Our family is lucky that we live close to a big city with a lot to offer. However, we rarely go into Chicago. During our Spring Break, I wanted to take my daughters downtown on the train, but I didn’t feel like braving the Spring Break crowds at the various museums. So instead, we did something I haven’t done since I was a child. When you live by the city that has the world’s tallest skyscraper, you go to the top. Of course, the Sears Tower has been surpassed since I was little, but it’s still pretty darn tall. And it’s not called the Sears Tower any more; it is now Willis Tower, which is a shame. I used to love it when my second grade students called it the “Serious Tower.”
So on a Wednesday morning at 9:51, my sister, the girls and me boarded the Metra heading to Union Station. The train station is only a block away from Willis Tower, which was fortunate for us because the wind was whipping off the Chicago River and it was COLD!
We had to wait in line to go through security first, just like at the airport. I wasn’t expecting that, but it makes sense. After we bought our tickets, we took the minute ride elevator to the 103rd floor. It may have been cold outside, but the sun was shining and we had a beautiful view! A new feature of the 103rd floor are the ledges; four glass platforms that extend out of the west side of the building.
Lily was enthralled with looking by looking out at the Chicago skyline, and she didn’t want to take the elevator ride down to ground level. But eventually, we had to leave. By that time, we were all starving. Just down the street from Willis Tower is Giordano’s. When you are in Chicago, you have to have a Chicago stuffed pizza! My sister lives in California, so we made sure to feed her a lot of Chicago-style food during her visit.
Where would you go or what would you do if you had a “stay-cation?” Link up your blog post below or tell us in the comments! Please visit my co-host, Gretchen, and see where she would go on a stay-cation. She live in a much warmer place, so I’m sure it’s going to be good!
Don’t forget to stop by Second Blooming or here on Monday for next week’s prompt!
