Chicago

What a fantastic city! We went in the month of July 03. We took the Amtrak train from Ann Arbor to Chicago. I had never been on a train so I thought that would be fun. It was ok, nothing special. Took about 5 hours to get there. We booked a suite at the Lenox. It wasn't a very tall building but our room was up as high as we could go. The room wasn't the greatest but it was adequate. We were right in the middle of everything. Most times we just walked but occasionally we took a taxi. Beware though, the taxi drivers are maniacs behind the wheel. 5 days was not enough time to see everything but we tried. We went to the Shedd Aquarium which was really nice. Lots of different sea creatures. It is set up in such a way that you won't miss anything by just walking around. They had a show with the dolphins too. They are so beautiful. We also went to Field Museum which is full of prehistoric creatures. They have an exhibit of the worlds largest and most complete T-rex. It was very educational. We shopped on the Magnificent Mile. That was a real treat. So many famous name stores and boutiques. I like to shop. It was difficult to choose where to eat because there are so many restaurants and the aroma of their food drifts out to the sidewalks. It was heavenly. Even in the little diners the food was delicious.
I guess the top of my list for fun things to do was going to Navy Pier. They have a 150 foot high ferris wheel (see pic) that is just amazing to look at. I was too scared to ride it so I just stood their and looked at it in awe of its size. We ate at a restaurant that served fine foods like filet mignon, oysters on the half shell and lobster tail. Excellent eating there! They had bands playing different kinds of music and arcade type games. You could rent bicycles with seats big enough for two to ride around on. We took a moonlight cruise out on Lake Michigan and saw the fireworks. They were awesome. The weather cooperated on this trip and we had sunshine everyday. The buildings in Chicago are so massive that you feel so small in comparison. Next time I go I want to stay in a high rise hotel with a view of Lake Michigan. Anyone have any suggestions? I really enjoyed Chicago and will gladly go back again.

Las Vegas

No life is complete without a visit to Las Vegas. I have been there 6 times now. I just love it there. I have stayed at the Venetian 5 times and the Paris once. Vegas is like one huge playground. I haven't been to any shows but I have walked all over that town and viewed many exhibits. The Titanic exhibit is probably the one I liked the most. When you go in you get to see real artifacts from the ship including clothing, jewelry, dishes and many other things. They have replicas of how the ship was set up, like the sleeping rooms, dining areas and staircases. They are actual size so you get the feeling of really being on the ship. You also get to know a lot about the passengers, like who they were and where they came from and if they were in the higher class or lower class areas.
Each Casino is unique in its own way with themed decor. So much to look at! I like how most of them are set up like little cities inside where you can shop and eat. When you look up at the high ceilings it has murals like a blue sky with white clouds. So you feel like everyday is a good weather day.
You can't go wrong with the food anywhere. They have so many restaurants to choose from. I like to eat in the restaurants where you can sit at dimly lit tables and sip on wine for hours. So romantic.
One of my favorite places to eat is in the tower of the Paris. They have the best lobster. And what a view! Inside their casino they have a cobblestone walkway to their shops and restaurants. It makes you feel just like you are walking down a street in Paris. Even though I haven't been to Paris I can imagine that some of the streets are like that.
One place that is a lot of fun is the Rio. They have a Mardi Gras theme. Many times throughout the night they have dancers who come out on lighted floats that go around just over the gaming floor and throw out beads while dancing to music. They also have a dancing stage show that is free. The famous Chippendales are there too. A very high energy casino.
I could go on and on about what there is to see and do in Vegas but this blog would never end. This is a must see and experience for yourself kind of town. I don't know when I am going back but I hope it is soon.