Today I spent the afternoon checking out the Travel Expo in Rosemont. It was my first time going to this annual event so I didn't know what to expect. I love finding out new travel info and hearing about other people's travel adventures. This expo had a little of the best of both worlds. The 2 lectures that I saw today were by Rick Steves and by Patricia Schultz. I also wanted to see Pauline Frommer but her lecture was scheduled on Saturday. Rick Steves gave a very insightful presentation complete with beautiful photos from all over Europe. By the time his presentation was over, I was itching to go back to Europe. He touched on almost all the areas of Europe, including Turkey. Turkey has been a country that I've always kept in the back of my mind of a destination I would love to explore and learn more about.
After Rick Steves was Patricia Schultz, author of "1000 Places to See Before You Die". She also had some wonderful photos and advice for travelers looking to go just about any where in the world. I think the two lectures that I sat in on made the expo the most worth-while. There were a bunch of booths set up where I did collect some info for future trips. Many of these booths were passing out great Visitors Guides and other useful brochures. For me, the only drawback was that I kept getting asked to fill out raffle drawings. One raffle even wanted us to give our signature which would "o.k." the company to call us for marketing purposes. Even after I have signed up on the "Do Not Call List", I still get telemarketer calls so I opted to not fill out any raffle drawings today.
There were plenty of activities for children including an area that SeaWorld occupied with 2 live penguins. They were in a little display case where the glass went up to their shoulders. Their little heads would look over the glass and their little beady eyes would look around. I have such a heart for animals and couldn't get enough of them.
Overall I think the expo was worth the buy 1 ticket get 1 free Groupon that I purchased online. The booths are good if people are looking for more info for a specific trip or trip idea. I enjoyed the lectures, especially Rick Steves who has been to so many places that I would love to go.
People always say that planning the trip is half the fun. I can somewhat agree with that however for me, the planning part gives me that excited, anxious feeling that I have something to look forward to, something that I can experience and remember forever.
Seize The Day and Travel!
Showing posts with label Chicago Illinois. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Illinois. Show all posts
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Travel and Adventure Expo in Chicago (Rosemont)
For Chicagoans and Chicago visitors alike, there is a Travel and Adventure Expo going on in Rosemont this weekend (January 26-27). It is at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center and includes travel seminars, culinary demonstrations, and lots of info about travel. A couple other enjoyable highlights include learning to scuba dive in an indoor pool, getting a photo taken with a sled dog, and riding a segway.
Tickets are $9 a person but Groupon did have a deal for buy one get one free tickets (my friend told me about that one, thank you!)
Click here to see the website and find out more info.
If you aren't in the Chicago area this weekend, try to catch a Travel Expo in California in February or in Washington D.C. in March.
Have fun and get inspired to travel!
Tickets are $9 a person but Groupon did have a deal for buy one get one free tickets (my friend told me about that one, thank you!)
Click here to see the website and find out more info.
If you aren't in the Chicago area this weekend, try to catch a Travel Expo in California in February or in Washington D.C. in March.
Have fun and get inspired to travel!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
The Galapagos Tortoise
Recently I was at Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, IL. The last time I had visited Brookfield Zoo was this past spring and I remembered that the zoo had taken in some young Galapagos tortoises. At the time, I was very excited to see the little guys because we had just gotten back from our Galapagos trip in mid-January. During our visit a few days ago, the Galapagos tortoises were in the second animal house that we visited. They had grown some in the last 6 months and were very active. They were definitely more active then the other types of tortoises that were in displays nearby. Here are a few photos I snapped of the Galapagos tortoises from Brookfield Zoo.
Here are a few of my favorite young tortoise shots from our January trip to the Galapagos.
A couple giant tortoise facts:
1. There were 11 types of giant Galapagos tortoises but with the death of Lonesome George, there are now 10.
2. They are the world's largest tortoises.
3. They have common ancestors from the mainland South America and are believed to have traveled to the Galapagos by water.
Here are a few of my favorite young tortoise shots from our January trip to the Galapagos.
A couple giant tortoise facts:
1. There were 11 types of giant Galapagos tortoises but with the death of Lonesome George, there are now 10.
2. They are the world's largest tortoises.
3. They have common ancestors from the mainland South America and are believed to have traveled to the Galapagos by water.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Chicago vs. The World
This past Friday night, we went to a charity hockey game at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. It featured the players from the 2010 Champion Blackhawks team and other NHL players including many that flew in from different states. Also, former Cubs Ryan Dempster "coached" the Chicago team and Bears Robbie Gould "coached" the World team. The game was to raise money for the Ronald McDonald Foundation and 11,649 fans showed up. What made this really amazing was that it was all planned within 2 weeks and had no advertising besides a couple of write-ups in the newspaper. People traveled from all over Illinois to see this game and I even saw some cars with Indiana license plates. It was a fun game for a good cause. Here are a few photos from the game that I thought I'd share:
Be on the look-out for other charity hockey games going on throughout the U.S., especially with the NHL lock-out. Friday night one NHL player from Minnesota had mentioned that he was playing in a charity game tonight (Sunday night). This game will take place at the University of Minnesota and will benefit the children of members of the military.
Be on the look-out for other charity hockey games going on throughout the U.S., especially with the NHL lock-out. Friday night one NHL player from Minnesota had mentioned that he was playing in a charity game tonight (Sunday night). This game will take place at the University of Minnesota and will benefit the children of members of the military.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Humboldt Park - Chicago, IL
Despite the dreary weather, this past weekend we made it to a Chicago neighborhood for the Open House Chicago. After much debate, googling, and mapquesting (I don't know my way around every neighborhood in Chicago), we decided to visit Humboldt Park. For those movie-savvy readers, Humboldt Park was the backdrop for the movie "Nothing Like The Holidays". The movie is about a Puerto Rican family coming together to celebrate Christmas. It's true that Humboldt Park is a mostly Puerto Rican area and this is what makes it so unique. With its Boat House, lagoon, and gardens, Humboldt Park is a green oasis in an urban setting.
Humboldt Park has gone through many different waves of immigrants. It started with Germans and Scandinavians towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Germans erected statues of Alexander von Humboldt (1892) and Fritz Reuter (1893). Then in 1901, Scandinavians enjoyed their statue of Leif Erikson (below). Poles immigrated to the area and cherished their statue of Thaddeus Kosciuszko. The 1920s and 1930s brought German and Russian Jews as well as Italians. Finally, the 1950s brought large influxes of Puerto Ricans with some Mexican immigrants.
When we arrived in Humboldt Park, it wasn't raining yet so we seized the opportunity to check out the Boat House (1440 N. Humboldt Dr.) and surrounding lagoon and gardens. Walking along the path was very peaceful and I was surprised at how many areas there were where people could get right up close to the water. There was even one guy that was fishing.
Next we visited the Field House (1440 N. Sacramento Ave.) On the main level there was a workout area and basketball courts. Behind the Field House was an area that used to be a beach. Now it just looks like a bunch of water-logged sand.
After the Field House, we headed over to the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture. We didn't really know what to expect but were pleasantly surprised when we were greeted by a trio of college students who gave us a tour. We viewed a lot of interesting artwork and photographs. We also got to see the former office of landscape architect Jens Jensen (1860-1951). Originally from Denmark, Jensen at one time lived in Humboldt Park and designed the garden areas along with those of Garfield Park. Jensen also helped to establish the Illinois State Parks system, the Cook County Forest Preserve, and the Indiana Dunes State Park. The building that the Institute is housed in was once stables for horses. Years ago, people would use the Institute building to park their carriages and have their horses tended to.
At the Boat House, Field House and Institute, we were able to park for free. We had to pay for street parking when we made our way down Division Street. We stopped at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School (2739-41 W. Division St.). This is a charter school with an average class size of 12 students. We got a tour of its rooftop green house which took a lot of money and effort by the school to make happen. The green house is a hands-on learning tool for the students and they even grow and harvest their own vegetables there. One of the science teachers told us what they went through to get the green house up and running and what kinds of things they were growing. He also showed us tropical fruit plants that he had brought back from a trip to Puerto Rico. Even with our harsh winters, Chicagoans still try to find ways to bring the tropics to the Windy City.
Next we moved on to Cafe Colao (2638 W. Division). After viewing the Cafe's century-old ovens in the back of the restaurant, we enjoyed an avocado sandwich. Quite delicious! Across the street from the Cafe is La Casita De don Pedro (2625 W. Division St.). La Casita is a traditional Puerto Rican style house where cultural and educational events are held. It has a zinc roof and porch and inside there are some traditional Puerto Rican decorations and furnishings.
We ended our Open House tour with a visit to Architechs Inc. (2541 W. Division). The owner gave us a nice tour where he described what he went through to acquire the office space and how he designed the interior. All different types of materials were used and it was interesting to see what he did to make the space look and feel a certain way.
As we walked back to our car, I had a big smile on my face just thinking about how much I learned in one day. It's amazing how Chicago has all these nooks and crannies that I didn't even know existed! Even though this is only year two of Open House Chicago, I'm hoping that it grows and envelopes even more areas of Chicago.
Humboldt Park has gone through many different waves of immigrants. It started with Germans and Scandinavians towards the end of the nineteenth century. The Germans erected statues of Alexander von Humboldt (1892) and Fritz Reuter (1893). Then in 1901, Scandinavians enjoyed their statue of Leif Erikson (below). Poles immigrated to the area and cherished their statue of Thaddeus Kosciuszko. The 1920s and 1930s brought German and Russian Jews as well as Italians. Finally, the 1950s brought large influxes of Puerto Ricans with some Mexican immigrants.
Next we visited the Field House (1440 N. Sacramento Ave.) On the main level there was a workout area and basketball courts. Behind the Field House was an area that used to be a beach. Now it just looks like a bunch of water-logged sand.
After the Field House, we headed over to the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture. We didn't really know what to expect but were pleasantly surprised when we were greeted by a trio of college students who gave us a tour. We viewed a lot of interesting artwork and photographs. We also got to see the former office of landscape architect Jens Jensen (1860-1951). Originally from Denmark, Jensen at one time lived in Humboldt Park and designed the garden areas along with those of Garfield Park. Jensen also helped to establish the Illinois State Parks system, the Cook County Forest Preserve, and the Indiana Dunes State Park. The building that the Institute is housed in was once stables for horses. Years ago, people would use the Institute building to park their carriages and have their horses tended to.
At the Boat House, Field House and Institute, we were able to park for free. We had to pay for street parking when we made our way down Division Street. We stopped at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School (2739-41 W. Division St.). This is a charter school with an average class size of 12 students. We got a tour of its rooftop green house which took a lot of money and effort by the school to make happen. The green house is a hands-on learning tool for the students and they even grow and harvest their own vegetables there. One of the science teachers told us what they went through to get the green house up and running and what kinds of things they were growing. He also showed us tropical fruit plants that he had brought back from a trip to Puerto Rico. Even with our harsh winters, Chicagoans still try to find ways to bring the tropics to the Windy City.
Next we moved on to Cafe Colao (2638 W. Division). After viewing the Cafe's century-old ovens in the back of the restaurant, we enjoyed an avocado sandwich. Quite delicious! Across the street from the Cafe is La Casita De don Pedro (2625 W. Division St.). La Casita is a traditional Puerto Rican style house where cultural and educational events are held. It has a zinc roof and porch and inside there are some traditional Puerto Rican decorations and furnishings.
We ended our Open House tour with a visit to Architechs Inc. (2541 W. Division). The owner gave us a nice tour where he described what he went through to acquire the office space and how he designed the interior. All different types of materials were used and it was interesting to see what he did to make the space look and feel a certain way.
As we walked back to our car, I had a big smile on my face just thinking about how much I learned in one day. It's amazing how Chicago has all these nooks and crannies that I didn't even know existed! Even though this is only year two of Open House Chicago, I'm hoping that it grows and envelopes even more areas of Chicago.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Open House Chicago
Last weekend was Open House NYC, this weekend it's Chicago turn to show us what it's got. Open House Chicago is the one weekend a year where different buildings around Chicago are opened up to the public. The public can see areas of buildings that they would not normally be able to see. Some buildings are giving special tours, others are showing off some of their secret gems. These areas of Chicago have Open House buildings: Downtown, Gold Coast, Pilsen, Rogers Park/West Ridge, Uptown, Hyde Park, South Shore, Bronzeville, Little Village, Garfield Park/North Lawndale, and Chinatown.
For more information visit: http://www.openhousechicago.org/
For more information visit: http://www.openhousechicago.org/
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Hockey Stadiums
In my previous post I had mentioned that on my still to do Bucket List, I want to see hockey games in at least half the NHL stadiums in the U.S. and Canada. So far we've got four stadiums under our belt and plans for more.
We saw the Chicago Blackhawks in Fall 2010, a few months after they won the Stanley Cup. I remember the stadium was packed with people going crazy over the Windy City's new champions. The Blackhawks play in the United Center. I like this stadium and feel that there's a decent view from almost every seat. Outside the stadium, there isn't much to do but it's a short drive to other parts of the city for post-game partying.
In March 2011 we saw the New York Rangers play at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately we weren't very fond of "The Garden". Some seats had blocked views which I didn't think was fair considering tickets were pretty expensive. Also, I didn't like the setup where the bathrooms were in the arena with the seats so there were lines of people waiting to use the bathrooms right next to the seats. Madison Square Garden is a historic stadium and I do recommend a visit.
Our Tampa Bay Lightening game in January 2009 rounded out a nice Tampa Bay/Carnival Cruise trip. My husband proposed to me at the beginning of this vacation. Then we boarded a Carnival Cruise ship and headed to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. When we arrived back in Tampa Bay we ended the trip with a fun Tampa Bay Lightening game. Before the game, there was a pre-party around the stadium with food, drinks, a band, and games. The weather was so mild compared to Chicago winter weather and we were secretly wishing that the Blackhawks could have these kind of pre-parties outside the United Center. We both liked St. Pete Times Forum and had no complaints about the rink views from our seats.
We're hoping the NHL players and owners are able to work out their differences in the next month so we can have a hockey season this year. If so, our plan is to hopefully see the New Jersey Devils and NY Islanders this year and the L.A. Kings next year.
We saw the Chicago Blackhawks in Fall 2010, a few months after they won the Stanley Cup. I remember the stadium was packed with people going crazy over the Windy City's new champions. The Blackhawks play in the United Center. I like this stadium and feel that there's a decent view from almost every seat. Outside the stadium, there isn't much to do but it's a short drive to other parts of the city for post-game partying.
In March 2011 we saw the New York Rangers play at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately we weren't very fond of "The Garden". Some seats had blocked views which I didn't think was fair considering tickets were pretty expensive. Also, I didn't like the setup where the bathrooms were in the arena with the seats so there were lines of people waiting to use the bathrooms right next to the seats. Madison Square Garden is a historic stadium and I do recommend a visit.
In March 2012 my husband, my friend and I went to see the Ducks in Anaheim. The area around the stadium is nice and nearby is the Angels' baseball stadium. I liked the setup of the stadium and each seat seemed to have good views of the rink. On our way to the stadium from Los Angeles we stopped by a couple of hockey stores and the popular In and Out Burger. My friend suggested the "Animal Style" burgers which were as good as it gets.
Our Tampa Bay Lightening game in January 2009 rounded out a nice Tampa Bay/Carnival Cruise trip. My husband proposed to me at the beginning of this vacation. Then we boarded a Carnival Cruise ship and headed to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. When we arrived back in Tampa Bay we ended the trip with a fun Tampa Bay Lightening game. Before the game, there was a pre-party around the stadium with food, drinks, a band, and games. The weather was so mild compared to Chicago winter weather and we were secretly wishing that the Blackhawks could have these kind of pre-parties outside the United Center. We both liked St. Pete Times Forum and had no complaints about the rink views from our seats.
We're hoping the NHL players and owners are able to work out their differences in the next month so we can have a hockey season this year. If so, our plan is to hopefully see the New Jersey Devils and NY Islanders this year and the L.A. Kings next year.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Sweet Home Chicago
Yes, I live in a suburb of Chicago so I am a little biased about the City of Broad Shoulders. Chicago has been the backdrop for many historical events. Just like New York City, Chicago had its own group of gangsters. The "Chicago Outfit" was at one time led by the infamous Al Capone. Race Riots and the 1968 Democratic Convention sparked other kinds of violence in Chicago. However just like any other large urban city, through the dark marks in Chicago's history shine many wonderful aspects.
Chicago is bursting with culture. One can visit Greektown, Little Italy, Chinatown and Ukrainian Village without leaving the city. There are also other ethnic enclaves that include Polish, Puerto Rican, and German heritages. I would highly recommend visiting an ethnic area during a visit to Chicago. The most popular tourist attractions include Navy Pier, The Field Museum, The Art Institute, and The Museum of Science and Industry. Plus, Chicago boasts Championship sports teams along with biking, boating, and ice skating.
One of my favorite times in Chicago is when the "Magnificent Mile", also known as the Michigan Avenue area, is having its tulips days in the spring. There are so many beautiful colors and I see photographers on a daily basis snapping away.
Here are a few of my own Chicago tulip photos.
I do have these photos posted on my other blog, Chicago Daily. I started that blog a couple years ago and have slowed down on it as I've started this new blog.
As far as vacationing in Chicago, really any time of year is great to visit. For first time visitors, Chicago in early summer or early fall are my favorite times of year. Mid-summer is wonderful for the beach but as we've seen this summer, can sometimes get uncomfortably hot. Winters in Chicago are full of beautiful Christmas decorations and Thanksgiving parades but can be extremely cold.
For accommodations, some hotels run seasonal specials. I have also seen some good Chicago hotel deals on sites like Groupon and Living Social. Areas like Michigan Avenue tend to have higher prices across the board as far as food, accommodations, and activities. Navy Pier is free to walk around but Imax Theater ticket prices run around $18 a ticket and Ferris Wheel ticket prices are $6 per person. Other fun free activities include walking around Millennium Park, checking out The Bean, and visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo. http://www.choosechicago.com/ has a "Deals" section that is worth checking out.
All in all, this "Second City" is a wonderful place to visit no matter what time of year you come. Carpe Diem....book your trip to Chicago!
Chicago is bursting with culture. One can visit Greektown, Little Italy, Chinatown and Ukrainian Village without leaving the city. There are also other ethnic enclaves that include Polish, Puerto Rican, and German heritages. I would highly recommend visiting an ethnic area during a visit to Chicago. The most popular tourist attractions include Navy Pier, The Field Museum, The Art Institute, and The Museum of Science and Industry. Plus, Chicago boasts Championship sports teams along with biking, boating, and ice skating.
One of my favorite times in Chicago is when the "Magnificent Mile", also known as the Michigan Avenue area, is having its tulips days in the spring. There are so many beautiful colors and I see photographers on a daily basis snapping away.
Here are a few of my own Chicago tulip photos.
I do have these photos posted on my other blog, Chicago Daily. I started that blog a couple years ago and have slowed down on it as I've started this new blog.
As far as vacationing in Chicago, really any time of year is great to visit. For first time visitors, Chicago in early summer or early fall are my favorite times of year. Mid-summer is wonderful for the beach but as we've seen this summer, can sometimes get uncomfortably hot. Winters in Chicago are full of beautiful Christmas decorations and Thanksgiving parades but can be extremely cold.
For accommodations, some hotels run seasonal specials. I have also seen some good Chicago hotel deals on sites like Groupon and Living Social. Areas like Michigan Avenue tend to have higher prices across the board as far as food, accommodations, and activities. Navy Pier is free to walk around but Imax Theater ticket prices run around $18 a ticket and Ferris Wheel ticket prices are $6 per person. Other fun free activities include walking around Millennium Park, checking out The Bean, and visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo. http://www.choosechicago.com/ has a "Deals" section that is worth checking out.
All in all, this "Second City" is a wonderful place to visit no matter what time of year you come. Carpe Diem....book your trip to Chicago!
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