Talk away! It's Friday Free for All, though today I've got a subject. How do you all do driving in "foreign" cities? All I can say is I'm so glad just my daughter and I went and not DH. His patience would be gone, and that would ruin both of ours. He's not a city driver any more.
We navigated just fine into Chicago, to downtown, and our hotel. But, you better have patience for this drive. This average traffic on a Thursday afternoon was worse than some of worst days in Minneapolis and St Paul. We were here completely to get something accomplished, but it's not somewhere I'd go by car for a relaxing get away. DD1 drove a few years ago when two grad school friends from Ireland were there for a film festival. She didn't seem phased. I didn't have issues, but still, not a fan. Who knows how leaving will be later today.
We got out and about after a little stretch and rest. She also had yet more prep stuff to do for the program, so took care of that first. We really only ventured through Millennium Park, saw the Bean, gardens, and fountains. There's a terrific children's playground, a climbing wall, and roller rink loop. We only wandered a couple hours but I was spent after a full day driving. Maybe we'll come back in the future by plane and use Ubers. Here's a few pictures to say we didn't drive all that way for no photo ops.
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| Grant Park theater. |
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| The Bean, or Cloud Gate. |
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| A lovely central park garden. |
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| Buckingham Fountain. |
What's on your mind today? Any driving experiences that stayed in your brain?
Interesting question! I don’t mind City driving or traffic but I hate driving somewhere I’ve never been before. I’m convinced I’ll take a wrong turn and end up in Michigan or something. I do have travel anxiety though which sounds crazy but is a real thing. A vacation seems like a good idea until it’s time to go then all these worries creep into my head. Once we’re at our destination it usually goes away and then I’m sad when it’s time to leave. My DD is a new driver, only got her license in April and had 0 problems driving the 146 miles from here to Erie, getting on the turnpike, merging onto an interstate, through construction and then onto a busy highway. I was quite proud of her! Driving in Chicago sounds quite intimidating to me. Beautiful pictures:) JoAnn
ReplyDeleteIt's not know my route that I dislike, but I do have traffic patience. Good for your daughter. Mine will drive part of the way after we are out of the city and stop for a break
DeleteGlad you arrived safely, and I hope that your daughter will be able to get everything taken care of for her trip. Cool pics! Safe travels home!
ReplyDeleteI can't do city driving anymore as it is too stressful for me. I had thought that we would do a cross country road trip, but I think now we will ride amtrak and stop at the national parks along the way. :)
My parents had a wonderful by train trio shortly after they retired to Washington. I think I'd enjoy too.
DeleteI easily and confidently drove the Can of Worms in Rochester, NY after I got onto it and turned around by exiting and getting turned to direction I wanted. My in-laws were so surprised because I was so young but mainly because I was a Southerner. I also drove in Atlanta traffic when all my friends warned me not to drive it, let someone drive me. That said, I am not so sure I want such complicated driving now as I easily get exhausted.
ReplyDeleteYou're a brave lady! I think you're accomplished at many things others shy from.
DeleteI lived in the Chicago suburbs for over 10 years- our older 2 kids were born there. It’s a great city but cold in the winter. We would take the train there 2 or 3 times a year but rarely drove into the city. I’m glad everything seems to be working out for you. Have a nice weekend. Nan
ReplyDeleteThat might be more agreeable. I did ok walking but shirt bouts. How are the suburbs affordability wise for young people starting out? My daughter is still exploring places.
DeleteChicago traffic is a bit rough. One place I absolutely despise driving in is St. Louis. We don't go there much anymore because the roads, traffic, congestion...all add up to a headache.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got out and did a bit of sightseeing. If you go back you need to do the boat tour from Navy Pier. It was really nice seeing downtown from the water. Have a safe trip home.
I've never been to St Louis, only drove dirt if around it. Her friend said to try the Navy Pier but just not enough time.
DeleteIt never ceases to amaze me, as a Brit, just how far USA citizens are prepared to drive in a day. But then the USA is such a vast country, compared to ours. I remember someone once telling me that Florida is the size of England - incredible!
ReplyDeleteAnd Minnesota is 40% larger than Florida. I enjoyed that about the UK. We did quite easy day trips to Bath, Cardiff, and even Paris by train!
DeleteI despise driving, and even riding in the car. Moving here from the southwest with two dogs and several cats was VERY memorable. To DH's credit, I didn't drive so much as one mile. I'm glad my kids all have licenses now, since we still don't want DH driving yet. He still needs a few more months of recovery, I think. He misses it. He was always so wonderful about driving, to the point that for the longest time, we only had one vehicle. We managed one the whole time he was working, and then later, when I returned to school for another degree. I was Princess "Drop off and Pick Up."
ReplyDeleteI'm glad he's taking the recovery serious and your kids can help drive. My hubs has just gotten his fill from his sakes job in food and candy- too much on the road in a day
DeleteI drive to Indiana to visit family regularly, and there is no way to avoid Chicago. The highways through there are always under construction somewhere, which is the worst part of the drive. I hope you and daughter have had a good trip.
ReplyDeleteThat's what it seemed like endless construction. Getting 15 Mike's from our hotel took an hour, at 12:30!
DeleteJust a year after we were married, we drove to visit a friend that lived in Rochester NY. We had no navigational tools except me and a paper map. Of course we hit rush hour in Chicago. I still marvel at how well my husband managed to navigate that traffic. It seemed like we always had rows of traffic that we needed to get across for our upcoming exit.(We survived the experience and came back through Canada, seeing many moose along the way.) Only complaint from husband was the achy muscles in his leg. He was driving a manual Jeep and his clutching leg got a workout. Ranee
ReplyDeleteA manual would be murder in a body for a long trip. I used to carry the Hudson maps to find houses for home visits. I think we used a lot of road maps in the past.
DeleteI live in a mega city which almost always makes it into the 10 worst cities to drive so, driving in the US is always a pleasure. I have driven both in Chicago and NYC and to me they are OK, not better or worse than Istanbul. I am used to congestion and it doesn't bother me anymore because I have learnt to accept it. When friends come to visit from other cities, they absolutely hate it here. Uncle refuses to drive although I always offer him my car.
ReplyDeleteThis was a necessary trio. I'll not choose traffic filled routes in normal life. Do you need to drive a lot?
DeleteGood for you. Portland is a mess to get through and Hubs is not allowed to drive in Portland. Have a great time. I actually love Chicago, used to go there for work all the time.
ReplyDeleteWe liked the Michigan Ave area, huge park, and lakeside. I'm sure we barely saw a thing though.
DeleteI like country driving. I drive two hours a day for work and see multiple deer, wild pigs, snakes, raccoons, skunks, etc. I despise driving to Atlanta airport, which I did Sunday night. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteI can imagine Atlanta by the airport is a literal hot mess! I don't mind country driving either.
DeleteI’m a decent driver but if there is a lot of traffic I might get a little nervous. Hope you had a good trip.
ReplyDeleteI stayed calm, so it all worked out. My daughter helped navigate as Siri was a bit slow to speak.
DeleteI've never had a drivers license! I am a pretty good navigator/passenger, though. I find being in a car rather stressful in general.
ReplyDeleteNavigation is a great help. My daughter was a gem. Have you just not found interest or need for a driver's license? I know a few people that got their license in their 20's when others were getting as teens. They said they had no car so why get the license.
DeleteAll I can say is, thank God for cellphones and navigation systems! And my husband is the worst with any kind of traffic (even around my little town), Why are they going so slow? That lady is on her phone! etc. No wonder his BP is so high!
ReplyDeleteDH is the same- hypercritical of other drivers. It's awful being in cars with him.
DeleteJust a note that I loved traveling on Amtrak and did several long train trips and hope to start again. That saying I have been doing 3-4 long car trips per year and usually love them! I’m a widow and most the trips are solo although two weeks ago a friend and I drove to a conference from Minnesota to San Antonio (and down to Padre Island). She likes driving too (and has a flying phobia so refuses plane trips). But we commented how you can go anywhere with your Garmin….. I personally like a full on Garmin device on my dash, so much easier to see, follow and hear. I call her Carmin, mine has an English accent and we end in the “car park” ha! My last two solo trips were over 3000 miles. This darn gas price :( will affect my travels. I will say I think Dallas and Houston is the worst! I don’t mind Chicago but it is not easy. I’m a pretty patient traffic person. Food/drinks/Sirius radio and I’m good. Jre
ReplyDeleteI think a train trip will be in my future. I love a good road trip too. I just won't intentionally find the major traffic places to drive. I like your Garmin device. My older kids had in their cars back in 2014 when they relocated cross country and phone gps was still spotty.
DeleteI still have PTSD-like memories of traffic in Boston. Oh the horror.
ReplyDelete