An Evening at Navy Pier and a Day by the Lake

Spent an evening wandering around Navy Pier this week. The weather was clear and warm, one of those perfect summer nights. I hadn't been in a while, but it's always a good place to just watch the light change over the city. The Ferris wheel dominates the view, especially against the bright blue sky just before sunset.

The main event was getting that view from the top of one of the rides, looking back at the skyline as the sun started to set. It puts the whole city into perspective. The reflections on the water and the glass towers were incredible. It’s a familiar view, but it always feels a little different depending on the light and the time of year.

A few days later, I needed a change of scenery and drove out to the lakeshore. It's a totally different world from the pier. I walked down the wooden staircase through the dunes, and the sound of the city was replaced by the wind and the waves. The beach was wide and mostly empty, just sand stretching along the water under a big, open sky. It’s nice having both of these places so close by.