I walked forever today. Or at least it felt like it. It was really about 7 or 8 miles. The only two places I went were the Lincoln Park Conservatory and Zoo. The rest of the day was spent walking/wandering. I avoided the foot of my bed at all costs last night, so no stubbed toes affected my ability to walk today.
I started out by taking the L to a favorite breakfast spot from my last visit to Chicago: Batter and Berries. Famous for its French toast, how could I order anything but a flight? I had one triangular slice each of blueberry, strawberry, caramel, and lemon. Obviously, I had no trouble finishing them all.
After my filling breakfast, I set off to wander around the Lincoln Park and Mid-North neighborhoods. Filled with tree-lined streets, brick row houses, and quaint shops and restaurants, I spent almost an hour making my way to the park itself.
Once there, I walked around North Pond and then headed to the conservatory. It was there that I discovered a new favorite scent: sweet almond bush, which has an intoxicating smell similar to lilac. I made two loops around the conservatory, stopping for pictures of the more colorful flowers, and then walked over to the zoo. Since both the conservatory and zoo are free, I didn’t feel I needed to devote a ton of time to either place to get my money’s worth. I saw gorillas, polar bears, monkeys, giraffes, and the usual reptiles and birds. There were also TONS of blooming hibiscus of varying colors around the zoo.
I walked along the Lakeshore Trail for a while on the way back to downtown. A passing rain shower didn’t stop me from enjoying the views along the Gold Coast, with its stunning apartment/condominium buildings overlooking Lake Michigan. If I had to pick a city to live in, Chicago would be among my top choices.
By the time I made my way down the Magnificent Mile (high end retail shops galore!), I was exhausted and hungry. Given that I have eaten little more than carbs and sugar for two days, I knew it was time for some much-needed protein. I had passed a restaurant that looked inviting on my way to dinner last night – The Smith – and decided to try it for a late lunch/early dinner. The chicken sandwich with burrata and pesto was good, but I was spoiled with my dinners the last two nights and this wasn’t quite in the same league in terms of food or service.
My feet needed a rest after lunch, so I walked back to my hotel and collapsed for a while. My last outing for the day was a walk on the Riverwalk to get some gelato and sit on an Adirondack chair by the river to do some people and boat watching.
I literally have nothing planned for tomorrow. Not one thing. Nada. This could either end up being a really fun spontaneous day, or I could be bored for the next 24 hours. Time will tell.
Traveling with Laura 