A Tribute to Chicago

Posted by Kyle Goes Global on October 15, 2012

This post is a tribute to my home, the city of Chicago –

one of the finest cities in the world.

This tribute stems from an evening when I was leaving work and climbing the stairs to the “L” (Chicago’s Mass Transit – The Chicago Transit Authority or CTA) and I heard a 20-something female tell her friend on the phone say:

“I’m just getting off the L”

The wheels began turning in my head.  Only since November 2009 have I lived on the north side of the city near the iconic Wrigley Field home of the Chicago Cubs that I realized how great of a city Chicago is.

Wrigley Field

I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life, but spent my entire childhood, less ages 1 to 4, in the suburbs, I never realized Chicago’s full potential.  I have never been anywhere else in the world that is a better place to be than Chicago in the summer time.  There is a bar or restaurants every other business, patios and parks galore, incredible deep dish pizza, the ~20 mile lake front path filled with people exercising from sunrise til after sun set.

North Avenue Beach Volleyball Tournament – Chicago hosts several professional beach volleyball tournaments each year & weekly competitive tournaments.

This is my favorite view in the city – from North Avenue Beach where I spend most of my time in the

summer playing beach volleyball – looking southbound at the Chicago Skyline – highlighted by the

100+ story (1,127′ – almost a quarter mile tall) John Hancock Building.

There is beach volleyball and intramural sports galore!  Below is a view of Northerly Island compliments of Players Sports Facebook page from its annual Luau grass volleyball tournament overlooking Chicago’s museum campus, one of its harbors, and the skyline.

Other sites to see include Chicago’s  Downtown, known as “The Loop,” offers some of the best architecture in the world.  It also is home to the famous Michigan Avenue and the Magnificent Mile.  The Sears Tower (as Chicagoans will always call it), Trump Tower, the John Hancock building and its restaurant on the 96th floor over looking the lake.

“The Bean” in Millennium Park after I finished the Chicago Marathon with my friend Rachel.  It reflects the city skyline from all angles creating amazing photo opportunities.

There is Navy Pier with its tourist traps, the incredible Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), State Street, and the entirety of Millennium Park.

State Street in April

Post the Shamrock Shuffle – The World’s Largest 8K by Buckingham Fountain with the Sears Tower in the background.

Free Concert at Millennium Park – biweekly, all summer.

Chicago offers free concerts at Millennium Park, an incredibly large and diverse running community and host to one of the largest marathons in the world, with over a million spectators each year!  Chicago also has the largest 8K race in the world with 45,000 participants which is a site to see itself throughout the Chicago downtown districts each March.

Courtesy of Bank of America – Chicago Marathon

This image is post the Men’s Health Urbanathlon – a 10 mile race I completed in 2011 with 7 obstacle

courses and a 46 story equivalent stair climb within Solider Field – Home to the Chicago Bears.

There are neighborhoods of every imaginable ethnic background, and if I wanted to experience various cultures throughout the world, I could easily be a tourist in my own city and find authentic cuisine from dozens and dozens of backgrounds.  In addition, Chicago’s museum campus is second to none, and Chicago sports…you might have heard of them…just maybe.

Pre-Game for Chicago Bears Game

During my past travels over seas in remote areas where little to no English is spoken, I have said that I am from Chicago, and their response is almost always either “Michael Jordan” or “The Windy City”.  It’s such an honor to be traveling over seas and to be able to say, “I’m from Chicago,” never once have I received a negative response.

Michael Jordan – Chicago Bulls

Wherever you may live in the world, I cannot encourage you enough to visit Chicago on your next trip to the States or if you are a domestic reader to plan a visit to Chicago as well.  It may not receive the hype of New York City or L.A., but what it lacks in that hype, it more than makes up in character and personality.  The people from the Midwest are as friendly as can be and willing to help you out around any turn.  I’ve personally had friends visit from England and Germany and each could not stop raving about how much they love the city.

“Wolf Point” of the Chicago River, Merchandise Mart to the left, and the sky scraper Trump Tower in the background

Come see for yourself, I promise you it will be worth it.  Chicago is unreal, I will miss it, however, I’m so proud to call it home and know that I can return at anytime – to the warmth, pleasure, and joys of The Windy City.

Kinzie Bridge and Sears Tower

I’ll miss you Chicago, you are the finest city in the world

and I’ll always call you home!

Posted under Pre-Trip and tagged with Chicago, chicago marathon, Home, Local People, shamrock shuffle, Thoughts, travel
Comments (14)

14 comments on “A Tribute to Chicago”

1. americagrouptravel on October 15, 2012 at 11:22 am said:

   We love Chicago! what a fantastic city…..so much to see and do!

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   • Kyle Goes Global on October 15, 2012 at 6:25 pm said:

     It really is! I could’ve gone on and on about the smaller details too!

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2. mandymy17 on October 15, 2012 at 1:07 pm said:

   And we will miss you Kyle!

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   • Kyle Goes Global on October 15, 2012 at 6:25 pm said:

     Mandy! Thank you, will miss you and volleyball here!

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3. FFF on October 15, 2012 at 5:49 pm said:

   A friend just came from a trip to Chicago and told me very nice things about the city! Maybe my next trip to the US will include it.
   Looks like your trip is getting closer huh? Good luck and enjoy it man!

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4. Kyle Goes Global on October 15, 2012 at 6:26 pm said:

   You have a very trust worthy friend! It really is incredible – it should be up there on the list, it’ll blow you away – promise!

   Yep, only 15 days now! Crazy – thank you!

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5. Katrina Denny on October 15, 2012 at 9:32 pm said:

   Awwww it really is the best, isn’t it?! I didn’t fully appreciate Chicago until I moved back home after college. As Lupe Fiasco said, “I’m from the city in the Midwest, best city in the whole wide wide world…”

   Oh, and I think the ‘L’ deserved a picture.

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6. AdventuressAbroad on October 15, 2012 at 10:11 pm said:

   Chicago looks like a great city! Your post definitely makes me think about planning a trip there in the future.

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   • Kyle Goes Global on October 19, 2012 at 8:18 am said:

     Do it! I know you’ll be happy that you did! It’s beautiful!

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7. agnesstramp on October 16, 2012 at 5:23 am said:

   Kyle, it’s so brave of you to leave your home city and go into the wild. How are you feeling about it? How long are you going to travel for? (you told me, but I forgot soooorry!) Great photos. I remember “The Bean” from many American movies. Would like to go there one day

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   • Kyle Goes Global on October 19, 2012 at 8:19 am said:

     Thanks! It’s so whirlwind right now! I’m just ready for my flight and none of the other last minute things that planning requires. Any last minute tips?!

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     • agnesstramp on October 19, 2012 at 8:32 am said:

       Travel insurance, injections, visas and that’s it really. Remember Less is More!

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8. Bessie Crum (@OurOwnPath) on October 19, 2012 at 3:44 pm said:

   My Kyle also ran the Urbanathalon last weekend – too bad we hadn’t met yet, I would have been looking for you!! I was also a course volunteer near Navy Pier. Yay running, and indeed, we have one of the best cities in the world!!

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9. Katie Aune (@katieaune) on October 21, 2012 at 7:45 pm said:

   Ah, love this! Counting the days til I’m able to move back!

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