JourneysPhotograph

A Late July Trip: From Chicago to the Coast

·Chicago, Illinois·#travel#beach#summer#family trip#cityscape#chicago
An aerial view of a city park with a large reflective sculpture, a pavilion, tall buildings, and a lake with many boats.

We spent a few days in Chicago at the end of July 2018. The weather was perfectly clear, and from high up we had a great view over Millennium Park. You could see the Bean and all the people around it, and out across the harbor on Lake Michigan, which was filled with sailboats.

Down on the street, the scale of the buildings was impressive against the blue sky. At night, the city completely transformed. We walked along the river, looking at the reflections of the illuminated skyscrapers in the water. It was a classic big city experience.

After Chicago, we headed to the coast for a few days at the beach. It was a real change of pace from the density of downtown. The weather was a bit hazy with some clouds, but still warm enough for a full day on the sand.

I spent some time just sitting and watching the waves while the girls got right into the water. They had their boogie boards and spent most of the afternoon in the surf. It was a good way to end the trip, just simple time by the ocean.

An aerial view of a large lake with sailboats, a marina, green parks, and several buildings.Tall modern skyscrapers dominate the skyline above a city street with cars, pedestrians, and trees.A nighttime view of a city skyline with tall, illuminated buildings, a river, and a bridge.Night view of a city skyline featuring tall buildings, including circular ones, illuminated and reflecting in a river.A person wearing a straw hat, mirrored sunglasses, and a floral swimsuit sits in a blue beach chair on a sandy beach.Two smiling girls in swimsuits stand on a sandy beach with the ocean, swimmers, and a cliff in the background.Two children in swimsuits stand on a sandy beach, one holding a red boogie board, the other smiling with goggles.Two children with boogie boards stand on a sandy beach, with the ocean and many people behind them under a cloudy sky.