Road Trip. Chicago, Head South and Back

hyperfish

North on an empty interstate after breakfast. Then turned off onto the old route 66 for a while.
                                                                               
Came across an old covered bridge.
                                                                               
                                                                               
Drove into Springfield IL, Lincolns resting place.
                                                                               
Visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
Before scraping the near side wing in the car park, then finding a hotel.
                                                                       

DOBLY

^oops!

Nice pics and interesting places you have visited / stayed at.

^^^ that covered bridge is a luxury one - some we drove over / through didn't have brick or stone supports, just wood that looked like it would snap if you sneezed the wrong way!

Can recommend a decent place to stay close(ish) to Chicago if you aren't staying in the city before heading to the airport:

Geneva (on the Fox River) 45 mins to the west of O'Hare.  Nice little town, great pizza on N 3rd street.

hyperfish

I've always wanted to see one of those bridges. This one was preserved, no traffic, so I'm still looking for a real one.

Thanks for the tip mate but I think we will stay downtown in Chicago. We once had a few days there and would like to see it at night again.

DOBLY

OK - in Chicago we stayed at the Public which is just 5 mins north of the central downtown.

Nice hotel - we had a nice room/suite but it was spoilt by the noisy air conditioning units, so can't recommend it because of this one thing.

A must do is eat at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria on N State Street - if it is a nice evening see if you can get a table outside at the front.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

hyperfish

Thanks, we haven't eaten Italian yet so we'll check that out.
Had snow crab at the Red Lobster. I don't do finger food but I always make an exception for these.
                                                                       

hyperfish

@DOBLY
Where did you stay at Geneva? Just looked at the Herrington on the riverfront. My wife is liking that. Might have a night there before going into the city.

Herrington Inn & Spa | Luxury boutique hotel, restaurant, spa, and wedding venue in Geneva, IL

hyperfish

We decided to go there.
Woke up to heavy rain and the weather channel shows rain from Chicago to St Louis, so that's been lucky.
After an hour of driving the rain stopped and it's warm but cloudy in Geneva lL.
Our room at the Herrington.
                                                                               
Riverfront view from our balcony.
                                                                       

DOBLY

Yep, that's where we stayed.  Room looks similar - ours had a fireplace, bed way was bigger than super-king and also a massive bathroom with two sinks, toilet round a corner (with its own phone!), large shower and huge spa bath - the bathroom had a heated floor which was fighting with the air-con, but we managed to get it to our liking.  Best sleep of the holiday!

I think our room number was 312 or 314 or something like that.

Enjoy the little town charm of Geneva before the madness of Chicago - hope it's not too hot for you - it was 90 f & 90 % humidity when we were there, but still loved it.

hyperfish

Our room is 200 and has all the features you describe.

hyperfish

Had a walk around town.
Hotel from the bridge.
                                                                               
                                                                               
Got dragged into shops, inevitably.
                                                                               
Had key lime pie and coffee in a chocolate shop. All these are made of chocolate aparently.
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
A wine festival starts tomorrow.
                                                                               
                                                                               
Outside our balcony, I thought the river was deeper.
                                                                               
Had dinner at a pub up the street.