Scrapbooking Chicago dAY 1

My impromptu trip to Chicago was one of the best I've ever made, and I wanted to remember it by scrapbooking. That way all of my thoughts, photos, and drawings were easily accessible and presentable in a cohesive story. That story begins with my flight there, and my first day in the city, visiting Lincoln Park Zoo and Navy Pier.

The flight out of LAX was a bit difficult. The late flight meant that I would arrive in Chicago around midnight, and still have to taxi from O'Hare to downtown. Every delay made me a bit more anxious, as I could see the arrival time getting pushed later and later. Several delays, boarding, more delays, and a reboarding later, I was finally on my way to Chicago.

Lincoln Park sits at the north side of Chicago, looking south to downtown. The park itself was beautiful, even during the winter. The weather was very nice for mid-March, not too chilly, not too windy, so I spent a lot of time just wandering around, taking in the new sights and environment. A lake runs through the middle of the park, but it was, for the most part frozen over. The bridge crosses the lake gave a wide, uninterrupted view of the Chicago skyline. 

Since the zoo was open to the public, 365 days/year, free of charge, I wasn't too sure on what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the large size and diversity of animals available. There were feedings and shows for a lot of the larger exhibits, and educational facts posted everywhere. 

The trip from Lincoln Park to Navy Pier usually involves taking the bus south and transferring downtown. When I got off the bus, however, the massive skyscrapers and Chicago River tempted me to skip the second bus and opt for a walk along the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk trailed along the north shore of the Chicago River, all the way until the river merged with the lake. Since St. Patrick's Day weekend had just passed, so the river was actually dyed green, which was a dark murky color after a day of diffusion. I actually didn't even realize that until it was pointed out to me that it's pretty hard to miss a green river (oops!). 

Jutting out into the lake, Navy Pier gave an incredible view of the water, and parts of the skyline. The pier was lined with indoor shops and restaurants, including Garrett's (the popcorn is so addicting!). A small garden was upstairs of the shops, complete with fountains that jump water over walkways. Outdoors was actually more beautiful after sunset. At dusk, the Ferris Wheel was a stunning contrast to the low sun, and at night, it lit up the pier. 

By the end of the first day, I knew i was really going to enjoy my trip to Chicago. I'm a bit picky when traveling to new places, but the ease of access, lovely weather, and multitude of things to do and see convinced me that the next few days were going to be amazing.

Smile c:
~michelle