TRIP - 4 Days US Thanksgiving in Chicago

Last minute trip to Cold, Windy Chicago over US Thanksgiving with family, it was lots of fun despite some cold weather

Day 1 - Thanksgiving

• 6:30 YKF-ORD, only 15 passengers, 1 hour to ORD, but 2 hours wait at custom as they only had 2 officers for 100+ visitors 
• Check-in at Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park - got 1 beautiful Park view suite + 1 suite
• Wendella Boat Tour in the afternoon while it's warm (~15C) 
• Dinner @ Aria inside Fairmont 

Day 2 - Black Friday

• FREE Chicago Greeter tour from 10-noon - Millennium Park and The Loop, Architecture Foundation
• Bus to Lou Malnati's Pizza for Lunch
• Bus to The Field Museum
• Bus back to Millennium Park for Christmas Carol
• Dinner @ Panera Bread 

Day 3 - Saturday

• Bus up to John Hancock Tower Cheesecake Factory for Brunch
• Bus back to Fairmont to check out by 4 pm (free late check-out), move to new hotel Club Quarters Wacker along Chicago River. Sadly we only got 12th floor rooms with limited river view 
• Bus back to John Hancock Tower, waited ~30 minutes to the Signature Lounge on 96th floor but we got the best table in the house on the southwest corner. Photos will speak for themselves. It costs about $10/person for drinks/snacks instead of $18 observatory ticket
• Walked down Magnificent Mile, shop here and there
• Dinner @ Dao Thai Restaurant - interesting decor and wonderful meal

Day 4 - Sunday

• Navy Pier - walking around taking photos of Chicago skyline, and Chicago style Hot Dog
• Check out of hotel
• Shop at Target on 1 S State St
• Took a loop on the brown line to see the Chicago skyline
• Take Blue line to ORD, and check-in for 8pm CST ORD-YKF (only 22 passengers)
• Landed ~10pm EST and home about 10:30pm, and SNOW!!

Expenses

• Hotels
• Fairmont Chicago Travelzoo deal $129/night x 2 and I used my Fairmont Platinum benefit of 2 Free Suite upgrades <-- What a Suite, What a View!!
• Club Quarters Wackers: $164 + $119 /night
• Food: Free, courtesy of our lovely cousins to offset the hotel charges
• Shopping: Polaroid camera $200
• Others: Boat ticket $26 x 5, Grocery $34, Museum $42

Notes

• Ella was such a good baby this time, despite lack of sleep
• It was a very relaxing peaceful trip, and we saw everything we wanted to see
• Weather was cold for 2 days but that made the trip more memorable 
• It's not the destination, but the people you are with, that make all the difference!!

* below are not our photos