Chicago

While we didn’t have much time before heading to our next stop, we were still able to enjoy a quick visit to the Windy City. We chose to stay outside of Chicago to avoid traffic and the hassle of parking with our car-top carrier—our vehicle is often too tall for standard parking garages.

Our first stop was Navy Pier. Lainey and I had visited Chicago a few months earlier, but the pier was closed that day due to high winds. Lainey found it ironic—Navy Pier, in the windiest part of the Windy City, shut down because of wind! But this time, we lucked out. The weather was perfect, and the breeze was just right. We rode the Ferris wheel, Tower Drop, swings, and a few other rides before heading to the Ice Cream Museum.

Lainey and I had been to the museum before, but the rest of the family had no idea what kind of fun was in store. Once inside, they took the “train” to the museum, explored all the colorful exhibits, and ate so much ice cream that Marley actually said he didn’t want any more—a rare moment for a four-year-old! Even Annie and I overindulged and went to bed with mild tummy aches.

By late afternoon, we were back on the road—heading toward St. Louis to officially kick off our epic adventure westward.