"Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency." Daniel Burnham
Instead of a soundtrack, I have a book recommendation. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is one of the best books I've ever read. If you love historical fiction, then you won't be able to put this book down.
I come from a long line of control freaks. I've never been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal. I'm a planner. I don't like to leave things to chance, especially when I travel. I want to maximize every second of every trip - see everything, do everything. My rationalization is that I may never get to this destination again so I don't want to miss a thing or waste time trying to herd everyone into an activity once we arrive. Although this is obviously a trait with which I was born, I think the analness of it was triggered on a trip to Italy where I failed to see the Sistine Chapel. I've been haunted by that missed opportunity ever since.
My family has tolerated my travel organization over the years. Our 1997 family trip to Disney World when the kids were small was mapped out like a battle plan. Every day we conquered a different park, taking down the most popular rides one by one at a specific pre-determined time in order to minimize wait time. This was all pre- fast pass, people. We emerged victorious at the end of a 7-day trip, filthy and exhausted but we hadn't missed a single highlight. I still consider that trip my Super Bowl of travel and it's not beneath me to pull that victory out and wave it in front of my husband when he dares to ask, "Can't we just relax?" before our next vacation.
My family has tolerated my travel organization over the years. Our 1997 family trip to Disney World when the kids were small was mapped out like a battle plan. Every day we conquered a different park, taking down the most popular rides one by one at a specific pre-determined time in order to minimize wait time. This was all pre- fast pass, people. We emerged victorious at the end of a 7-day trip, filthy and exhausted but we hadn't missed a single highlight. I still consider that trip my Super Bowl of travel and it's not beneath me to pull that victory out and wave it in front of my husband when he dares to ask, "Can't we just relax?" before our next vacation.
It's with this planning fervor that I approach our upcoming trip to Chicago. My husband and I have traveled fairly extensively but somehow we've never made it to Chicago. My friends who have journeyed to the White City are eager to provide suggestions and must-see attractions. True to form, I plan out our trip to the second, making sure that everything Chicago is known for is on the itinerary. I don't plan to miss a thing.
We arrive to rain and cooler temps even though it's September. Texas is "hotter than a fur coat in Marfa" so the Chicago area weather is a a welcome change. We brave on through frizzy hair and soggy shoes and hit the highlights of downtown - the Bean, the Willis Tower and the Navy Pier. We dine at Luke's for lunch and Shaw's Crab House for a seafood dinner and drinks. http://www.shawscrabhouse.com/ Our time in Chicago is chock-full.
I rattle off the plans for the next day and quickly feel a mutiny rising. "We have reservations at Chicago Cut." "How about we visit Adler Planetarium and the Museum of Natural History?" "I would love to go on an architectural tour!" (The last plea meets with crickets.) From the vacant stares, it becomes apparent no one is interested in my Chicago tour, part deux.
It's funny when I planned this trip, it played out in my mind like a Lifetime movie - we reunite with our son whom we haven't seen in months and he proclaims what great parents we are, how he's missed us and hasn't been able to function without our sage advice and daily guidance. We spend the days frolicking through Chicago. In my Lifetime movie mind, downtown is the highlight of the trip. So many places to see, so many places to eat. We happily post pictures to social media so the whole world can see what a fabulous time we are having.
But my planned-out, dream vacation morphs into a totally different reality. It rains on us - a lot. We schlep for miles and our feet throb. Our boat tour gets canceled due to bad weather. However, our trip is far from ruined. As a matter of fact, something magical happens when I take a deep breath and put my best-laid-plans on hold. A whole different side of Chicago emerges - small communities on the outskirts that we would have never taken time to visit had we stuck to my itinerary. Taking the road less traveled opens our eyes to some wonderful parts of the area - parts I enjoy even more than downtown.
Our first discovery is the Village of Lake Bluff, a small community north of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan. A group of good old Methodist ministers started the Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association back in 1875, a resort that brought religious, cultural and recreational activities to the area. It was eventually incorporated and big plans were made to attract more families to the village, but those plans never came to fruition. Thank goodness, as this is a charming suburb of about 5,000 residents who live in expensive homes but who are mostly interested in creating a down-to-earth family friendly community unlike some of the other high-brow areas.
We stumble upon the village when we get lost returning from the Naval base. I imagine that's how the residents want to keep it - a hidden gem. The immaculately kept streets of the small downtown are lined with old brick buildings that have been transformed into high-end shops, markets and restaurants.
It's a beautiful, brisk night as we wander looking for somewhere to dine when we hear music wafting from Scranton Alley, a lovely vine-covered courtyard nestled between two old buildings. In the back corner of the alleyway is Prairie Expresso, a small shop offering not only coffee but wine and beer. John, the personable proprietor, allows us to sample before making our drink choices. He also carries a variety of meats, cheeses and smoked fish and suggests several to include in our food basket. The seating is all outdoor in the alley and the clear starlit skies beckon us to enjoy our wine and cheese al fresco. We strike up a conversation with John who is easy-going and happy to brag on Lake Bluff and how he ended up there with his young family.
Our other discovery is the appropriately named town of Libertyville. A larger suburb than Lake Bluff but with an equally interesting history, Libertyville was established in the 1830's and also has a lovely downtown. Libertyville welcomes its military visitors with open arms which we greatly appreciate. We stroll the tree-lined streets and do some shopping. The pride of this small town is evident by the amount of care they have taken to restore and preserve the buildings. I only wish we had discovered the town earlier so we could explore more.
We decide to have an early dinner and find an interesting restaurant that seems somewhat out of place in this historic town. Shakou Sushi http://shakousushi.com is a gleaming, modern restaurant in the middle of Libertyville. Shakou means "social life" in Japanese and with the dance music playing in the background, you do feel at times like you're in an uber chic night club. We didn't look like their target demographic from our dress but they welcome us in and we settle into the plush gray bench seats to order. The gray and white decor with touches of purple is a feast for the eyes and their sushi is a feast for the taste buds. Some of the best I've ever eaten.
Our time together is short but meaningful and it's difficult to say goodbye. I realize that once I let go, we spend more time enjoying each other's company which is important when you have very little time with the ones you love.
It's hard for me to release control and go with the flow. Control is part of my DNA. But when I do surrender and let things unfold organically instead of trying to make things happen, I get the benefit of more worthwhile experiences. I like to think I'm evolving. Slowly. Deep breaths now. Inhale. Exhale. . . .Awe hell, who am I kidding.
But my planned-out, dream vacation morphs into a totally different reality. It rains on us - a lot. We schlep for miles and our feet throb. Our boat tour gets canceled due to bad weather. However, our trip is far from ruined. As a matter of fact, something magical happens when I take a deep breath and put my best-laid-plans on hold. A whole different side of Chicago emerges - small communities on the outskirts that we would have never taken time to visit had we stuck to my itinerary. Taking the road less traveled opens our eyes to some wonderful parts of the area - parts I enjoy even more than downtown.
Our first discovery is the Village of Lake Bluff, a small community north of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan. A group of good old Methodist ministers started the Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association back in 1875, a resort that brought religious, cultural and recreational activities to the area. It was eventually incorporated and big plans were made to attract more families to the village, but those plans never came to fruition. Thank goodness, as this is a charming suburb of about 5,000 residents who live in expensive homes but who are mostly interested in creating a down-to-earth family friendly community unlike some of the other high-brow areas.
We stumble upon the village when we get lost returning from the Naval base. I imagine that's how the residents want to keep it - a hidden gem. The immaculately kept streets of the small downtown are lined with old brick buildings that have been transformed into high-end shops, markets and restaurants.
It's a beautiful, brisk night as we wander looking for somewhere to dine when we hear music wafting from Scranton Alley, a lovely vine-covered courtyard nestled between two old buildings. In the back corner of the alleyway is Prairie Expresso, a small shop offering not only coffee but wine and beer. John, the personable proprietor, allows us to sample before making our drink choices. He also carries a variety of meats, cheeses and smoked fish and suggests several to include in our food basket. The seating is all outdoor in the alley and the clear starlit skies beckon us to enjoy our wine and cheese al fresco. We strike up a conversation with John who is easy-going and happy to brag on Lake Bluff and how he ended up there with his young family.
Our other discovery is the appropriately named town of Libertyville. A larger suburb than Lake Bluff but with an equally interesting history, Libertyville was established in the 1830's and also has a lovely downtown. Libertyville welcomes its military visitors with open arms which we greatly appreciate. We stroll the tree-lined streets and do some shopping. The pride of this small town is evident by the amount of care they have taken to restore and preserve the buildings. I only wish we had discovered the town earlier so we could explore more.
We decide to have an early dinner and find an interesting restaurant that seems somewhat out of place in this historic town. Shakou Sushi http://shakousushi.com is a gleaming, modern restaurant in the middle of Libertyville. Shakou means "social life" in Japanese and with the dance music playing in the background, you do feel at times like you're in an uber chic night club. We didn't look like their target demographic from our dress but they welcome us in and we settle into the plush gray bench seats to order. The gray and white decor with touches of purple is a feast for the eyes and their sushi is a feast for the taste buds. Some of the best I've ever eaten.
Our time together is short but meaningful and it's difficult to say goodbye. I realize that once I let go, we spend more time enjoying each other's company which is important when you have very little time with the ones you love.
It's hard for me to release control and go with the flow. Control is part of my DNA. But when I do surrender and let things unfold organically instead of trying to make things happen, I get the benefit of more worthwhile experiences. I like to think I'm evolving. Slowly. Deep breaths now. Inhale. Exhale. . . .Awe hell, who am I kidding.
