Begins Today

The Chicago trip kicks off bright and early with the ringing of a morning alarm. To ensure our vacation didn’t end before it began, we set five alarms. Fortunately, only one alarm was needed.

We put all our efforts into packing the night prior, leaving nothing to chance. Our morning routine to leave involves getting dressed, putting the luggage in the car, loading Benson, and hitting the road. Getting out the door and on the road by 5:30 a.m. was our goal and something we were able to accomplish. The only thing missing from our morning start to the day was a cup of coffee.

Kansas City Airport

Our arrival at the airport was a little after 6 a.m. The task of transporting a large suitcase and stroller while boarding a bus is more challenging than I remember.

The Kansas City airport is aesthetically and functionally better than the old dual-terminal airport. The real trade-off comes in terms of convenience. The new single-terminal airport has far better food options than the past two terminals. However, they allowed travelers to be practically dropped off near their gate with a short walk. Whereas, at the new airport, once you make it through security, you walk a half-mile to your gate. And with how much they spent on it, they could have spent a little extra on the play area for children. What they have is pretty lame, which is on par with what we found at other airports recently.

The plane ride out was practically like any other short plane ride. The only exception is my wife and I trying to save money and, unfortunately, not getting a seat next to each other. It was a decision that we both regret from our fall Chicago family adventure.

The start of the flight was a little rough. Benson wasn’t being as cooperative as he normally is, and fortunately, I was sitting right in front of them. Needless to say, Benson crawled over the seat and me to sit on my lap. Within 15 minutes, he was asleep, much to my wife’s jealousy.

Arrival in Chicago

Whatever enthusiasm I had experienced from my initial ride on the L a year ago had vanished. The best way to describe the car we were in is the baby car. There were a little over half a dozen kids in the car, ranging from a newborn to a five-year-old. Strollers, luggage, and children are rolling, running, and screaming everywhere! Some of the strollers wouldn’t lock, and with every stop, a wave of luggage would roll like a tide coming in.

We arrived at our destination, only to discover that it was not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. I carried Benson and the suitcase up the stairs, with the condition that the luggage would be the first thing to go if something went wrong. Thankfully, everyone and everything survived, and the hotel wasn’t too far away.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Our fall Chicago family adventure continued with Benson’s first visit to a zoo. Unfortunately, he fell asleep on the way over and wasn’t awake for part of it. We shared photos with family, joking about how much Benson got to see despite being asleep in all the photos. He did eventually wake up, and I think he greatly enjoyed the experience.

This is the sixth zoo I have ever been to. There were things that I enjoyed about the exhibits that were better than others. The lion enclosure at the Lincoln Park Zoo had a walk way down and into the enclosure. There wasn’t the feeling of simply being a spectator at the exhibit. One thing my wife pointed out was the proximity to animals at the zoo. However, we were close to animals because they didn’t have a lot of free space.

I do think we will return to the zoo again when Benson is a little older. It was an experience we all enjoyed.

Haunted History and Criminal Past of Chicago

To say Chicago has a troubling and sinister past is an understatement. The Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tour revealed a little of its remarkably dark and intriguing past. The three of us departed for an evening tour of the city. Despite the rain and the cold temperatures, we made the most of the experience.

We walked down sidewalks, across traffic, and down dark alleys, learning about Chicago’s tragedies. Some of Chicago’s ghosts could be from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The fire burned over 3 square miles and killed approximately 300 people. Other ghostly appearances in the river could be from the capsizing of the SS Eastland. On July 25, 1915, families boarded a ship for a day of fun, but instead, it turned into a day of tragedy. In total, 844 passengers and crew perished.

Another disaster that haunts Chicago is the 1903 fire at the Iroquois Theatre. A fire broke out on stage, and in a panic, people fled to the fire escapes. However, the design of the theater included a flaw. The fire escape doors opened in and didn’t swing out. Every time there was a hint of light with the door opening, the crowd surged forward in a panic and closed any chance of escape. Some patrons made it to the fire escapes in the alley, but the number of people overwhelmed what it could handle. The fire escape collapsed under the tremendous weight. Today, that alley is known as “Death Alley.”

The last destination on our haunted tour was our very own hotel we booked for our fall Chicago family adventure.

The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center

The hotel is reportedly one of the more haunted locations in Chicago and the site of a tragic murder and suicide. A mother of two was staying at the hotel with her children after fleeing Czechoslovakia as German forces advanced. Her husband remained to sell their property and business. With these funds, he would secure their residency, and he would join them later. However, later didn’t come soon enough.

It is claimed that on the last day of their visas, the mother pushed her two children out the window. She would also take her life by jumping out of the 12-story window.

It is claimed that children can be heard running, laughing, and playing on the 12th floor. Could it be the ghost of these children?

Read more about the Congress Plaza Hotel’s haunted past and what you can expect if you stay there.

Interested in day two? Read the second day of our fall Chicago family Adventure? And don’t forget to check out our third day of our family-friendly Chicago vacation.