Illinois: Chicago, Abe Lincoln and Deep Dish Pizza

Capital: Springfield

Largest City: Chicago

Population: 12.8 million

Admitted: 1818

Illinois is a mid-western state. Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, and the main reason many people travel to the state. It sits on Lake Michigan and has numerous reasons to visit. Another notable city of the state is Springfield -- it is not just the capital, it is also where one of the presidential greats came from -- Abraham Lincoln.

Chicago

From Michigan, I took two extremely long day trips as my visit first visits to Illinois. I went in July of 2014 with a friend to the largest city in the state -- Chicago. Our first stop was at Lincoln Park Zoo. The Lincoln Park Zoo has free entrance. It was weird walking into the zoo and wondering where the entrance was. Since that visit, it has been my favorite zoo.

We also ate deep stuffed pizza at Giordano's. Despite it taking awhile for the pizza to arrive at our table, I absolutely loved it.

I also saw Millennium Park, which has notable attractions including The Bean. Cloud Gate, often called The Bean because of its shape, is one of the most recognizable attractions of Chicago. Its mirror-like surface reflects the Chicagos's skyline. Another attraction at the park was a large immersive video that gives the illusion of shooting out water.

Seeing The Bean for the first time

I returned with my husband in June of 2015 and did nearly the same exact trip as I did the first visit.

Along Lake Michigan, an amusement park with a big ferris wheel sits. I had a dream to ride this ferris wheel both times. Unfortunately, both times, it closed due to lightning, and my dream died.

I returned to the city in November of 2018 on a trip I took to a few midwestern states with my husband. It was below freezing and made for a very cold Chicago visit. We decided to eat at the Rainforest Cafe. As a child, I ate at the Rainforest Cafe in Florida, and absolutely loved it! As an adult, it was honestly kind of lame.

Our next morning in Chicago consisted of my primary purpose of this return visit -- the Field Museum, which is a large natural history museum. I enjoyed it and recommend it.

Exploring history in Chicago

After our museum visit, we had a Chicago hotdog. The Chicago hotdog has mustard, onions, dill pickle, sweet relish and sport peppers. It was good, though I missed ketchup.

All three times I went to Chicago I got stuck on the underground streets. GoogleMaps was just as confused as I was as it had no idea whether I was on the upper or lower streets.

Outside of Chicago

I went to Springfield in November of 2019 while we were finishing up the states west of the Mississippi. I wanted to pay my respects to the 16th president of the United States who hailed from there -- Abraham Lincoln. We went to the Lincoln Home Historic Site. To not pay money, I did a quick run around to see the houses while my husband sat in the car. I also saw his tomb at nearby Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Paying my respects to one of the presidential greats

Along with visiting Abraham Lincoln sites, we also dined at a restaurant on route 66. Route 66 is known for its number of quirky attractions including the restaurant we dined at. Route 66 actually ends in Illinois -- it ends in downtown Chicago, though, not near where we dined at on this trip.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed each of my visits to Illinois. I would like to return, especially since Chicago is also one of my favorite cities in the United States.