Today was scheduled for a bit more walking, so naturally, the first order of business was to get some breakfast from our go-to place, good old Dunkin' Donuts, or 'Dunkies' as they're fondly known, just around the corner. This morning's fuel-up consisted of egg and bacon on an English muffin, plus some hash browns and, of course, a large coffee to kick things off.
Wrigley Field
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| Its Seemed Odd Standing Here |
By 9:30, we were all set to catch the number 22 bus just a block away from the hotel, heading north away from the city towards Wrigley Field. It's about a thirty-minute ride on the bus to get up there. We'd both started getting into baseball in the previous year and follow a few teams like the Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, and the Chicago Cubs. So, this felt like a brilliant chance to actually go and see the stadium in person – it's apparently the oldest one in the USA – and hopefully snag some game tickets for later in the week. Today wasn't actually a game day, which made it the ideal time to go and get the tickets, as we figured it would be nice and quiet.
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| It looks Small From The Outside |
Wrigley Field opened in 1914, and its famous ivy-covered walls give it an old-world charm that is hard to beat. At the time of our visit, the stadium was undergoing a five-year, $740 million redevelopment project. In fact, the entire surrounding neighbourhood was eventually slated for revitalisation as well.
I believe the primary motivation for this is that most stadiums sit empty for about five months of the year. By incorporating more shops and restaurants into the surrounding area, the owners can generate revenue year-round through dining and special events like concerts. Unfortunately, Wrigley Field does not have a roof, and the winter weather in Chicago can be absolutely freezing.
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| I Often Watch Earthcam |
Funnily enough, over the last year, we'd spent time watching EarthCam, which has a camera mounted on a shop across the road from the stadium. It's absolutely manic around Wrigley Field on game days when you watch the stream, so it felt really strange, and a bit surreal, to suddenly be standing right there in such an iconic spot that we'd watched so many times online.
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| I Wanted To Buy It All |
The first thing we did was head straight into the big sports shop right opposite the stadium to see what goodies they had. I always love trying to find unique bits and pieces you can't get anywhere else, and this seemed as good a place as any to start rummaging. I probably ended up spending far too much money in there (about $75!), but honestly, I think it was all worth it. So, what did I blow my money on? I bagged myself a Wrigley Field hoodie that was half price at $35, a Cubs baseball, and some other bits and bobs like keyrings. There was honestly so much stuff in there you just wanted to buy it all and take it home with you!
While we were queuing up to pay, we had a slightly unexpected moment. The bloke in front of us reached into his back pocket to get his wallet, and he was casually carrying a gun. You immediately wonder if he's off-duty police, or then again, maybe not; it just really brought home that it seems like everyone over here is carrying one.
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| Got to Have My Coffee |
With our bag of goodies in hand, we went across the road to the ticket office at the front of the stadium to buy our game tickets. They were $18 each, which felt pretty cheap considering the seats we got were on the lower level and not too far from the front. By then, it was about 10:30 am, so it was time for a pit stop. We headed over to McDonald's on the other side of the road for a coffee – at $2 (£1.20) for a very large one, you really can't grumble! We ended up sitting in there for about half an hour or so, just watching the world go by.
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| Same Stuff, Twice The Price |
Before leaving, we had a quick look in the official Cubs sports shop next door as well. It was much more expensive in there, but they did have some really nice items. We only bought a couple of bits though, given the prices.
Feeling refreshed, it was time to move on and make our way towards the lakefront walk. As luck would have it, just as we were ready to go, the bus we needed seemed to be due any minute.
Navy Pier
After leaving Wrigley Field, it was only a few stops on the 152 bus to Lake Shore Drive, which is basically the main road that runs right alongside Lake Michigan. From there, we walked round the corner to catch the 146 bus down to East Street Beach, cutting under the motorway to get there.
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| Lake Michigan Beach Bar |
This beach is actually part of the huge Lake Michigan waterfront trail, which runs for about 40 miles, but our plan was thankfully only to walk from here to Navy Pier, which is just about a mile away. With the lovely weather we were having, the beach was fairly busy, though I imagine the water still wasn't very warm – it rarely is at the best of times! Sadly, the pub right there on the sand wasn't open yet either, so we just kept walking for about an hour along the lakefront until we finally arrived at Navy Pier.
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| The End Of Navy Pier |
Once we got onto the pier, there honestly wasn't quite as much there as we thought there might be, but it was still definitely worth the visit, and you get some fantastic views of the city skyline from a quarter of a mile out into the lake. By then, it was definitely time for some lunch, so we grabbed a hot dog from a shop down at the far end of the pier and then had a quick look inside the large ballroom before starting to make our way back up. The odd thing about Navy Pier is that a lot of it seems to be inside or actually on the roof, so we hopped in a lift to head up to the top floor where the rather imposing 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel is located.
Up Up And Away
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| Ferris Wheel Of Terror |
Getting on this Ferris wheel was something I just had to do, so I forked out my $8 and went for it. Like most big wheels these days, it doesn't actually stop, so you just have to time it right and step onto the gondola as it swings past, then they close a gate behind you. All was going perfectly fine until I got about halfway up and suddenly realised just how incredibly high I was, and even then, I still had another fifty feet or so left to climb! Thankfully, I wasn't completely frozen with terror, so I could still manage to take plenty of photos, and the view over the city and the lake from up there was truly was amazing. You were only actually on the ride for about ten minutes in total, which, I have to say, felt like more than enough time for me!
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| Amazing Views To The City |
From the top of the pier, we carried on walking and went into what looked like a really big conservatory, which is called the Crystal Gardens. Inside, it's set up like a small tropical garden. I imagine in the freezing cold Chicago winters, it must be absolutely lovely to sit in here amongst the
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| The Crystal Gardens |
palm trees when it's lashing down with rain or snowing outside. After having a wander around and admiring all the plants and the little water jets spraying over the pathways, we left via the back doors and came out onto another enclosed indoor level higher up.
Gift Shop Galore
From there, we had to go down a flight of stairs to reach the lower level, where there were loads of
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| Navy Pier Lower Level with Gardens Above |
different shops. I was totally in my element here with all the knickknack shops! You could even build your own bear and stuff it yourself, apparently, for a price. Since we'd already done a fair bit of walking by this point in the day, I was definitely glad to find a McDonald's, so we stopped in there for half an hour or so to have a coffee and just take the weight off our feet for a bit.
By now, it was starting to get late, so we decided it was time to head outside and catch the first of two buses back towards the hotel. The area where the buses leave from at Navy Pier felt more like a full-blown depot than just a terminus, as there seemed to be about twenty different routes starting from there! I think we only had to wait about ten minutes for the number 65 bus, which took us onto the Mag Mile. Then, I had the bright idea of trying a slightly different route back to the hotel, so we decided to wait for the 36 bus instead.
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| All Buses Go To Navy Pier It Would Seem |
This turned out not to be the best plan of the day, as we ended up waiting about twenty-five minutes for it to actually turn up. I honestly should have checked the bus times online while I still had the free Wi-Fi in McDonald's earlier, but I completely forgot! Ah well, not to worry; we weren't in any particular rush anyway, so we eventually hopped on the 36 for the twenty-minute ride. As luck would have it, this bus route dropped us off literally right outside the door of Butch McGuire's pub, so we naturally had to pop in for a swift drink!
Evening Drink
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| Tall Cold Beer |
We didn't bother sitting inside Butch McGuire's, as it was still really warm, and they had tables out the front on the pavement. So, we happily sat there with a big beer served in a long glass. This was my first time trying Lagunitas IPA, and honestly, by golly, it was lovely when it was freezing cold. However, you definitely can't drink too many of them because they're way too strong for me, especially when they arrive in a massive 24 fl. oz. glass – that's significantly more than a standard UK pint!
While we were sitting there, we saw a woman come out of the bar across the road and promptly fall over drunk in the street. By the looks of it, she'd definitely had one too many, I reckon! But, completely undeterred, she eventually managed to get back up and just went straight back into the bar again.
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| Today's Must Have Item |
After our swift drink, it was time to pop into CVS to grab a few bits and bobs for settling down in front of the TV that evening. Naturally, first things first was sorting out the beer supplies, and then I grabbed some flaming hot Cheetos, which I quite like. With our provisions secured, it was back to the hotel for a well-earned rest. It felt like a long day for both of us, but it had been a really good one with loads to see, do, and eat, even if we did end up spending a bit more than we'd originally planned. All that was left then was to get the laptop on and write the blog entry for the day while sipping on some cold tins of Budweiser.
Reflections on the Day: Hoodies, Hot Dogs & High Ferris Wheels
Tuesday was a day of contrasts: iconic sports history, lakefront strolls, and a few unexpected laughs. Starting with Dunkies breakfast, we were well-fuelled for the trek north to Wrigley Field. Seeing the stadium in person after months of watching EarthCam streams felt surreal — like stepping into a postcard we’d stared at from afar. The sports shop across the road was a wallet’s worst nightmare, and I happily surrendered $75 for a hoodie, baseball, and assorted trinkets. The casual gun sighting in the queue was a reminder of cultural differences we’ll never quite get used to.
Tickets secured, coffee consumed, and Cubs merchandise bagged, we headed south again towards the lakefront. The walk from East Street Beach to Navy Pier was hot but scenic, with Lake Michigan shimmering beside us. The pier itself was less bustling than expected, but the skyline views more than made up for it. Lunch was a classic Chicago hot dog, followed by my slightly nerve-wracking ride on the 150-foot Ferris wheel. Ten minutes felt like plenty when you’re dangling above the city, but the photos were worth every shaky moment.
Crystal Gardens offered a tropical oasis in the middle of the city, a place I could imagine being a lifesaver in winter. The gift shops downstairs were a knickknack paradise — from build-your-own bears to endless souvenirs — though the McDonald’s coffee break was the real highlight for our tired feet.
The journey back was less smooth. My “bright idea” to try a different bus route left us waiting twenty-five minutes, proving once again that free Wi-Fi should be used for more than checking emails. At least fate rewarded us by dropping us outside Butch McGuire’s pub, where a cold Lagunitas IPA in a comically oversized glass hit the spot. Watching a woman stumble out of a bar, fall flat, and then march straight back inside was pure Chicago street theatre.
By evening, snacks and beer from CVS completed the day. Flaming hot Cheetos, tins of Budweiser, and a laptop session to blog it all out made for the perfect wind-down. Tuesday was long, hot, and full of walking, but it delivered everything we’d hoped for: iconic sights, quirky moments, and plenty of food and drink to keep us going.
