Patrick's spring visit
This was Patrick's third visit to Chicago and I had the urge to get out of town. Between finals and my thesis I have been in the house a LOT, just type, type, typing away. So, I wanted to get out and see some new sights.
We rented a car and drove to Holland, MI and that name is no accident. Apparently there was a great deal of Dutch settlers there and this town has the only working Dutch windmill in the US. We went about 2 weeks before the beginning of tourist season so it was pretty quite and we could imagine what a zoo it would become in the spring.
The drive was only 2.5 hours and our first stop was the Saugatuck Dunes state park for some hiking. It was write on Lake Michigan and was amazing how much it felt like a beach you might visit on the east or west coast. It was also SUPER windy and cold so we weren't out there for too long. We next drove into Holland to visit the windmill and then the "big red lighthouse" which was actually super tiny. We then ate warming foods at an Irish pub in their downtown. Just before sunset we arrived at our Airbnb where we met our hosts (retired teachers from Detroit) who told us of a neat park within ten minutes walking that took you up a dune. We got there just as the sun was setting and it really was a neat view, though again cold and windy as all hell so it was a brief trip up there.
The next morning we drove to Grand Rapids, which was only a 40 minute drive from Holland. We first went to the Frederik Meijer Sculpture Garden which was super neat. I love the idea of seeing large sculptures out among trees and tall grasses, instead of enclosed in a museum. We ate lunch at a pizza place we learned of on the Food Network's website and it was the best pizza I've had in a while. Our next stop was a neighborhood with historic homes, a bakery for cupcakes and a look at another Frank Lloyd Wright house. Then, it was time to go home and return the rental car. I would have liked to have stayed out another day but I had to tutor the next day.
Patrick tagged along and read while I tutored from 9-4. After work, my co-worker Rob drove us all to a bar near the University of Illinois, Chicago so we could grab a drink before going to see another co-worker in their roller derby game. A friend of Rob's met up with us there as well. After a beer we went over to the university and watched the game. I've always wanted to go to one because a co-worker at Petroglyph used to be on a team in Sac. It was pretty fun and took a solid ten minutes of watching and reading the booklet to figure out the rules of the game. Our co-worker's team won, by a lot! After the game we went out for drinks, first at a bar in the neighborhood near the West Loop and then in Hyde Park. We were out until midnight; it's been a while since I've done that!
The next day was a lazy day. We hadn't drunk very much but we obviously woke up later than usual and were just kind of off.
Monday I had class so Patrick went to the Museum of Science and Industry which is about a mile walk from my place. Afterwards we met up and went for a walk on the bike path.
Tuesday we went downtown to the Field Museum and then ate at a great burger place.
Wednesday morning we went on an architectural boat tour in the morning, before my class and before Patrick had to leave for the airport.
It was a great visit.
We rented a car and drove to Holland, MI and that name is no accident. Apparently there was a great deal of Dutch settlers there and this town has the only working Dutch windmill in the US. We went about 2 weeks before the beginning of tourist season so it was pretty quite and we could imagine what a zoo it would become in the spring.
The drive was only 2.5 hours and our first stop was the Saugatuck Dunes state park for some hiking. It was write on Lake Michigan and was amazing how much it felt like a beach you might visit on the east or west coast. It was also SUPER windy and cold so we weren't out there for too long. We next drove into Holland to visit the windmill and then the "big red lighthouse" which was actually super tiny. We then ate warming foods at an Irish pub in their downtown. Just before sunset we arrived at our Airbnb where we met our hosts (retired teachers from Detroit) who told us of a neat park within ten minutes walking that took you up a dune. We got there just as the sun was setting and it really was a neat view, though again cold and windy as all hell so it was a brief trip up there.
Patrick tagged along and read while I tutored from 9-4. After work, my co-worker Rob drove us all to a bar near the University of Illinois, Chicago so we could grab a drink before going to see another co-worker in their roller derby game. A friend of Rob's met up with us there as well. After a beer we went over to the university and watched the game. I've always wanted to go to one because a co-worker at Petroglyph used to be on a team in Sac. It was pretty fun and took a solid ten minutes of watching and reading the booklet to figure out the rules of the game. Our co-worker's team won, by a lot! After the game we went out for drinks, first at a bar in the neighborhood near the West Loop and then in Hyde Park. We were out until midnight; it's been a while since I've done that!
The next day was a lazy day. We hadn't drunk very much but we obviously woke up later than usual and were just kind of off.
Monday I had class so Patrick went to the Museum of Science and Industry which is about a mile walk from my place. Afterwards we met up and went for a walk on the bike path.
Tuesday we went downtown to the Field Museum and then ate at a great burger place.
Wednesday morning we went on an architectural boat tour in the morning, before my class and before Patrick had to leave for the airport.
It was a great visit.
Those are great pictures Chelsey! It sounds like you guys had a good time over Spring Break.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Love you