When Sweden Meets Chicago

Amidst all the other great reasons to volunteer abroad, there are the close friends you will meet along your journey. Sara is one of those, and she recently came to see my sister and I, and of course the wonderful city of Chicago, Illinois. I actually got to play a bit of a tourist in my own city, which was nice to slow down and soak up the history and vibe of the city I call home. She was in town for two weeks, so I will cover some of the highlights of our Chicago experience.

One of the primary tourist attractions is the Sears (Willis) Tower. I used to walk past the building every single day on my way to work, yet I had never been to the top. Well, I finally checked that off my Chicago list, got a great view of the city, and took a classic photo on the Skydeck ledge.

Next up was lots of walking. We headed down to Michigan Avenue and stopped in the cultural center where you can get free tours of Millennium Park, and other Chicago sites. Our tour guide was very informative and was definitely enthusiastic about the park. Check the times that are offered online before you go, but it is a great way to learn more about Chicago’s past, present, and future when you are on a budget!

We worked up an appetite, so we headed over to the classic Billy Goat Tavern for a nice, juicy cheezborger! Then we topped off the day with Garrett’s Popcorn, of course, and some shopping on the Magnificent Mile.

We also made sure to include America’s favorite pastime by going to see a Cubs game. Baseball, beers, and hot dogs made for a great Friday afternoon!

See more of our Chicago adventures in next week’s post!