Chicago… Chicago… Chicago…
Boat tours, deep dish pizza, slime museums, and a city I didn’t expect to love — Forks, Roads & Real Life
Once again, I find myself heading home from Chicago on a train. A city I’m honestly learning to love.
Growing up in Southern Illinois and now living in Central Illinois, Chicago always got a bad rap. I think a lot of that comes from what people see on the news. And sure—like any big city, Chicago has its problems. But it also has some really great things.
Today, I figured I’d talk about a few of them.
Let’s rewind a few years… Okay, Maybe Ten years.
Back when Gabriella and I were dating, I picked her up from DePaul and we spent the day exploring the city. One of the things we did was an architecture boat tour. And wow… if you ever get the chance, go do it.
Honestly, it was probably one of the best dates we ever went on. There’s just something about being out on the water, seeing the skyline, talking about life, and slowing down for a little bit.
I think that trip was when we both realized how much we love boat tours. Ever since then, on almost every vacation, we’re suckers for a good water taxi or boat tour. There’s just something relaxing about being on the water while seeing a city from a completely different angle. You notice things you normally wouldn’t see.
And honestly, every time we do one now, it kind of takes me back to that trip.
Now let’s talk about the important thing. The food.
Chicago has a lot of great food. Recently, I discovered a Chinese restaurant not far from where I usually stay called MingHin Cuisine. It looks super fancy when you walk in, but it’s actually really affordable.
Get the crab rangoon. Trust me.
And if you’re looking for classic Chicago deep dish pizza, I’d head over to Pizzeria Uno. Touristy? Sure. Still good? Absolutely.
One thing about Chicago—there’s always something to do.
Earlier this year, we took Reagan to the Sloomoo Institute, which is basically a slime museum. And honestly… I think Gabriella and I had more fun than Reagan did.
You can literally walk on slime. Don’t knock it until you try it.
We’ve also done the Museum of Ice Cream. Just know what you’re signing up for before you go—because you will eat a ridiculous amount of ice cream.
At one point they offered a hot dog flavored ice cream with relish. I refused to try it. Gabriella did. Let’s just say… it wasn’t her favorite.
And yes, you can jump into a giant pool of sprinkles. Fake sprinkles, thankfully.
Now for the adults.
If you’re looking for a fun night out, go check out Howl at the Moon for dueling pianos. Really lively atmosphere. But I’d recommend going before 10PM. Things get a little rowdier after that.
Honestly, I’d encourage people to take the trip to Chicago.
Go explore something new. Life’s too short to let headlines scare you away from experiencing the city for yourself.
Obviously, be smart and aware of your surroundings—just like you would anywhere else. But there’s a lot more to Chicago than what makes the news.
And if you need help planning a Chicago trip, let me know. I’d honestly love giving recommendations.
P.S. Reach out to your State Representative or State Senator and ask about the Chicago Museum Pass. You can get access to several museums for free, which is a pretty great deal.