Day 2 The road begins in Chicago!

Route 66 begins in Chicago, and so our motor coach bus picked us up at our campground bright and early.  Yes, we will drive our RVs on Route 66, but downtown Chicago is exciting, and not at all RV friendly.  Traffic on the interstate was congested, but that was quickly forgotten when we arrived at the famous Lou Mitchell's restaurant for breakfast…right at the beginning of Route 66.  A Chicago and Route 66 institution since 1923, Lou Mitchell's greets each guest with donut holes, puts a tiny box of Milk Duds at each place setting, and serves wonderful omelets, waffles and pancakes.  And if our breakfast was not already amazing, we were also served a tiny dish of delicious soft serve ice cream….for breakfast dessert! Right in front of the restaurant, is a Route 66 sign --- a perfect place for JW and Mary Jo to document their beginning on The Main Street of America.

The official beginning of Route 66 is actually across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago, so our day included a visit to this museum, which has been voted as the world's #1 museum by Trip Advisor.  The Art Institute showcases thousands and thousands of famous, as well as lesser known pieces of art, including Marc Chagall's America Windows, created in memory of Chicago's former mayor, Richard J. Dailey.

Crown Fountain

Cloud Gate is affectionately known as The Bean.

Millennium Park, which is part of Grant Park, was also on our itinerary!  A prominent civic center, grassy areas, and larger-than-life art give visitors a reprieve from the busyness of the city.  

Our weather was perfect, and the waters of Lake Michigan were as blue as the Caribbean.




We were all familiar with the famous Sears Tower, but we learned that its ownership and name have changed to Willis Tower.  We took one of its 104 elevator cars up to the SkyDeck on the 103rd floor.  In 2009, when the building underwent major renovations, a series of glass bays that extend from one side of the building were added.  Known as The Ledge, these clear glass bays provide visitors with unobstructed views through the windows and glass floors  ---- 1,353 feet down!  So, we looked!

Wagonmaster Barry Klein seems to be just a bit over the edge!  

Our day in Chicago would not have been complete without a visit to Tommy Gun's Gangster Dinner Theatre!  Several of our Adventure Caravan guests became part of the show-----Thanks for the laughs, Gunter and Richard!