Oak Brook Terrace (Chicago)

September 9, 2023 – Oak Brook Terrace (Chicago)

 

Another morning, another blah breakfast.  But the sky was clear and the temperature mild – a good day for a drive.

 

Since it is such a short drive from Madison to the Chicago area, we decided to ignore the freeways and (in Illinois) tollways and go along the regular, local highways.  We picked a route that would take us through Williams Bay, Wisconsin – home of the Yerkes Observatory, where R was a graduate student in the mid- to late 60’s.  That meant taking US-14 for most of the way, through fields of corn and other unidentifiable crops (farmers should be required to put up signs saying what they are growing) and past dairy farms.

 

As we neared Williams Bay, we were stymied by a closure of Walworth Road and had to find another way into town.  Williams Bay is an odd combination of what it was when R lived there and what is new.  Some old landmarks are still there, others are long gone.  And the bay shore has many more marinas that Rremembered; boating seems to be big.  Williams Bay, it turns out, is a major center for ice boating but that is a sport for later in the year.  The observatory is still there but no longer a part of the University of Chicago.

 

From Williams Bay to the town of Lake Geneva.  It, too, has something old, something new and appears to be a popular summer vacation spot.  Passed through town to pick up US-12 toward Chicago – a road R traveled many times but no longer familiar.  A lot of development in the area northwest of the city.  I had no idea that there were so many lakes in the area – it seems that we passed many more than we saw in Wisconsin – there were lakes leading into lakes leading into more lakes!  Maybe in Wisconsin they all have the same name, but in Illinois, they are all labeled differently, and as it was such a beautiful warm day, there were many people out in boats.  As it was only in the low to mid 70’s, there weren’t many people in the water, but many folks on top of it, that’s for sure!

 

Arrived at our hotel – Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Suites – at about 1:30.  Of course, our room wasn’t ready, so we left our luggage in their storage room and drove off to lunch/dinner at Lou Malnati’s Pizza – a Chicago institution (now with several restaurants in the Phoenix area) noted for its thick-crust pizza (we ordered pepperoni and mushrooms).  M wanted to return to our “first” Malnati’s, which was in Oak Park, when we were there with the girls.  Again, a very busy Saturday afternoon, but R was a whiz at finding parking just a block or two away, and there weren’t many people at all in the restaurant, so it was great!  And, the food is really good!  We also split a Malnati’s salad, which is also outstanding.  The serving sizes are generous, so – needless to say – we went off with two boxes of leftovers.  Fortunately, even the salad travels well!

 

Back to the hotel to check into our room (1007 – top floor!).  Lovely huge suite, with a balcony and views off in three directions!  Also happy that at least here we are able to watch ESPN and local channels, so were able to watch some of the Coco Gauff – Areya Sabalenka tennis match – Coco’s first grand slam win at the U.S. Open!  Then off to the Jewel grocery store to buy some laundry items and a few snacks.  Now back in our room, relaxing and definitely in for the evening!

 

Tomorrow – the Field Museum.


Driving from Madison, WI to Chicago


Driving through Williams Bay, WI

At Lou Malnati's, Oak Park, IL!





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