Our first full day in the Windy City.

After breakfast at the hotel we hitched a Lyft to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Our main goal for the day was to visit the top of the Sears Tower (Willis, but that's a story for later). We discovered there was a ticket that would get us three attractions for the day, so we started off at the Griffin. It's an amazing museum with many interactive exhibits.

Our Lyft driver suggested we walk over to the Obama Presidential Center before heading back into downtown, so we did. The pictures don't do it justice. The grounds were lovely. We couldn't have visited even if we had time, for it was sold out and there was a line of people hoping for an available ticket.

Next up was lunch at a place called Luke's Italian Beef on Jackson. We wanted a Chicago hot dog, and we got one! It was messy and delicious.

Next up was the Willis (Sears, hang on for the story!) Tower. We rode the elevator up to the 103rd story and after viewing the city stood on a 1.5" thick enclosed glass ledge to peer out and do the selfie thing.

After that we walked to Millennium Park to view The Bean, then took another Lyft back to the hotel to rest and recharge. Julie's phone battery was down to 8%!

The highlight of the evening was an archetecture tour by boat. The tour guide was engaging, and knew her stuff. So, what about that tower? It was the Sears Tower when it was built, then naming rights went with a lease to the Willis Group. Everyone there calls it the Sears Tower. It seems to be a point of pride.

Dinner was at Crushed by Giants brewpub.

(Go to the next day)