First off, I want to set the stage. Pack Up + Go plays cupid by matching our family up with the perfect vacation. The catch…it’s a surprise! The days leading up to this get-away were filled with guessing, bets, and thrills as we received email updates with what to pack and weather forecasts. We got to the airport. Drum roll, please….(open envelope mailed by Pack Up + Go).
The place: Super-friendly Chicago, IL
The stay: The stellar Hotel Palomar
The rest of the documents in the travel package are just amazing. We got travel tips, itinerary ideas, how to get around, and more! In our email were our American Airlines digital boarding passes and everything. Really…no hassle traveling.
We flew out first thing and got to Chi-Town. Dropped off our bags at the hotel – which was ready for us. They even gave our daughter a goodie bag with beach ball included (for their indoor pool!)
The city was blistering with whipping wind (hence, Windy City) from the Lake as we walked over to Navy Pier (suggested by Pack Up + Go) for a ride on their carousel. Breathtaking views of the Lake and the city!
We then Lyfted over to the Museum of Science and Industry. So much to see and play with – even a Wright Brothers model plane. All the walking around in the museum opened up our appetite for Chicago’s deep-dish pizza. But, not after a dip in Hotel Palomar’s indoor, heated pool. We then found Gino’s East. It was casual and fun.
After a good night’s sleep, we headed to Wildberry Cafe by Millennium Park. Best crepes ever!! We got the morning off to a nice start by walking through the Park, and viewing the famous “bean” named Cloud Gate. The views from all around made for amazing observations (and Instagram posts)!
It was a sunny day, so we headed to Willis Tower (formerly Sears) and went up to their Sky Deck for epic views and pictures. We recommend the fast pass. It’s so worth it to save the time, because then we were able to head to the Shedd Aquarium (suggested by Pack Up + Go). This place is massive. Make time to do it right, and catch the dolphin show. Beautiful.
We walked back through the Park and found our way to dinner reservations made by Pack Up + Go at Cindy’s Rooftop. We are so glad Pack Up + Go made this reservation, because we would otherwise have missed out on a foodie’s dream dinner and fantastic rooftop views of the Park and the water. Unforgettable, indeed!
The last morning, we got an email with our return tickets. We left our bags with the mega-friendly hotel concierge, and headed out to Wrigleyville. Batter and Berries is a must-go breakfast spot if you’re a french toast freek. All the flavors you can think of…
A quick whip around Wrigley Field (baseball not in season just yet), then we made our way to Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s free and amazing…and did I mention free!?! We got to feed cows and see polar bears out and about. We even had time to see their Conservatory, which had spring in full bloom inside. The smell was that of every possible perfume you can imagine. Ah…
We departed back for our hotel, grabbed our bags, and headed out to the airport with ample time.
Shakespeare wrote that parting is such sweet sorrow, and the Bard was right! The spring flowers left us in a sweet mood as our family reflected back on a wonderful trip that could not have been without the folks at Pack Up + Go. We’re recommending it to everyone we know. And…we’re going to book super soon again.
Life can definitely have more nice surprises. So, we can’t wait for the next surprise destination!
Special shout out to the Pack Up + Go team!! Classy.
Happy Travels 