From: Tara
I love traveling, and have been to a few great places. Galveston, San Antonio, and Key West are some of my favorites that instantly come to mind. Even St. Louis ranks on the list, by day. By night, no thanks, too many crazies, and not at all like the regular kind of crazy you find in New Orleans.
Up until about a year ago, I would have said my favorite city to visit was Galveston. I love the water, I love the history, and I adore the people and the shopping and the sights. I love Moody Gardens, and Schlitterban … oh well, the list goes on and on.
However, slowly but surely, a change is occurring. Galveston is still one of my absolute favorite places to be, especially with friends, but the more I go into Chicago, the more I love it.
I love how easy it is to get to by train from our apartment. The train stop is li
terally about ten minutes from our front door. It’s WONDERFUL to have someone else deal with the traffic, the parking, the hassle of maneuvering around stupid people who never quite learned the meaning of GO at a green light. I wish places back South had commuter trains like this one. Imagine living in Lake Charles, but still being able to commute to Lafayette in only about 45 minutes as a passenger! And have train stops at convenient walking distance to wherever you need to go. Of course, my dear friend Eric answered this question for me. He said that the South did in fact have trains until a man named Sherman screwed them all up about a hundred years ago. Sigh. Damn Yankees!
I also love the museums. The Art Institute is a must for anyone, not just art addicts. Brandon and I once spent a day just in the museum. I could go back again and again and again. When you have such masterpieces as American Gothic, the Cy Twombly exhibits, Monet's, Georgia O'Keefe, and works dating back to the time of the Crusades. Some of our favorites are the miniature rooms in the Thorne Exhibit.
The Field Museum is the home of Sue, one of the largest T-Rex's ever discovered intact, as well as having numerous stuffed animals, including the two man-eating lions from movie "The Ghost and the Darkness", and many natural history exhibits.
I'm a nerd, I know. 
The Aquarium, the Planetarium, the Science and Industry museum...all incredible.
And I love the view from the Willis Tower, formerly known by her maiden name, the Sears Tower. The coolest feature of the Tower is the Ledge, a clear plastic box that you can step out onto and feel as if you are going to plummet into the river and street below. Seriously not for people with a fear of heights. But once you get past that first step, it's pretty neat. Although I will admit that my toes kept clinching as though searching for something to hang on to! My very brave Brandon had no problems whatsoever, and wants to go back when he can lay down completely on the floor of the ledge and look down. Did I mention it's 1450 feet in the air and is the tallest building in the Northern Hemisphere!!
Then you have Navy Pier, and Grant Park, and the Big Bean, a sculpture who's actual name is Cloud Gate. So, to friends and family who have not yet come to see me. Come and see me! But come either before or after the winter puts this on Lake Michigan
and this in our backyard.
Unless that's what you want to see and play in. In which case, PARTY at the LANDRY's for a Happy New YEAR!
I love traveling, and have been to a few great places. Galveston, San Antonio, and Key West are some of my favorites that instantly come to mind. Even St. Louis ranks on the list, by day. By night, no thanks, too many crazies, and not at all like the regular kind of crazy you find in New Orleans.
Up until about a year ago, I would have said my favorite city to visit was Galveston. I love the water, I love the history, and I adore the people and the shopping and the sights. I love Moody Gardens, and Schlitterban … oh well, the list goes on and on.
However, slowly but surely, a change is occurring. Galveston is still one of my absolute favorite places to be, especially with friends, but the more I go into Chicago, the more I love it.
I love how easy it is to get to by train from our apartment. The train stop is literally about ten minutes from our front door. It’s WONDERFUL to have someone else deal with the traffic, the parking, the hassle of maneuvering around stupid people who never quite learned the meaning of GO at a green light. I wish places back South had commuter trains like this one. Imagine living in Lake Charles, but still being able to commute to Lafayette in only about 45 minutes as a passenger! And have train stops at convenient walking distance to wherever you need to go. Of course, my dear friend Eric answered this question for me. He said that the South did in fact have trains until a man named Sherman screwed them all up about a hundred years ago. Sigh. Damn Yankees!
I also love the museums. The Art Institute is a must for anyone, not just art addicts. Brandon and I once spent a day just in the museum. I could go back again and again and again. When you have such masterpieces as American Gothic, the Cy Twombly exhibits, Monet's, Georgia O'Keefe, and works dating back to the time of the Crusades. Some of our favorites are the miniature rooms in the Thorne Exhibit.
The Field Museum is the home of Sue, one of the largest T-Rex's ever discovered intact, as well as having numerous stuffed animals, including the two man-eating lions from movie "The Ghost and the Darkness", and many natural history exhibits.
I'm a nerd, I know. 
The Aquarium, the Planetarium, the Science and Industry museum...all incredible.
And I love the view from the Willis Tower, formerly known by her maiden name, the Sears Tower. The coolest feature of the Tower is the Ledge, a clear plastic box that you can step out onto and feel as if you are going to plummet into the river and street below. Seriously not for people with a fear of heights. But once you get past that first step, it's pretty neat. Although I will admit that my toes kept clinching as though searching for something to hang on to! My very brave Brandon had no problems whatsoever, and wants to go back when he can lay down completely on the floor of the ledge and look down. Did I mention it's 1450 feet in the air and is the tallest building in the Northern Hemisphere!!
Then you have Navy Pier, and Grant Park, and the Big Bean, a sculpture who's actual name is Cloud Gate. So, to friends and family who have not yet come to see me. Come and see me! But come either before or after the winter puts this on Lake Michigan
and this in our backyard.
Unless that's what you want to see and play in. In which case, PARTY at the LANDRY's for a Happy New YEAR!
Not no but HELL NO! I would be like you other people need to get the hell out of this box if I'm even going to stick a toe in. It makes me freak out just seeing the picture!
I can't wait to visit now!