Back to the Beach 2015

This is the year Marty McFly went into the future.  

This is also the year we went to the beach twice in one month. 

Thanks to Darling Carli, we were invited for another long week at the beach house.  

This time was quite a bit more relaxed- probably because we were like "we got this".  

And Henry was a month older.

And we had a bigger room.

And we packed waaaaay less stuff.  

We also rented a boat for the first time AND had a bonfire on the beach for the first time.

Thanks Carli and the Porters for the relaxing memories. 

Chicago

Last week = Chicago.

Favorite highlights:

14. The Art Institute of Chicago's Impressionism and fashion exhibit. 

We couldn't take pictures in the actual exhibit, so here are some of my favorites from the museum. 

13.  Pizzeria UNO. THE actual original deep dish. If you didn't have this- you didn't have the best.

12.  The parks! Chicago is beautiful! There are flowers and trees and beauty all around. 

11.  The art all over the city. 

10. The architecture. We even took the architecture tour on the Chicago River through the city and then out to Lake Michigan.

9. These places. Top: The historic Marshallfield and Company department store. My mom remembers shopping there when she was young.

Bottom: The Chicago theater and a poster fit for our trip that I found at a Potbellys Sandwich Works. 

8. Recognizing sites where movies took place.

Top: My Best Friends Wedding / While you We're Sleeping

Bottom: Blues Brothers (my second favorite movie of all time)/  Ferris Buellers Day Off

7. The Cardons apartment and its luxuries. Including the choice view for fireworks on the Fourth. 

6. The Willis Tower. Formally known as the Sears Tower. 

5.  Navy Pier

4. A visit to the Chicago Illinois Temple.  (My tired morning face)

3. My big, fat, Italian family. (a whole post about this party later) 

2.  The beach. Really really really, I loved this experience. The beach was a three minute walk from the Cardon's apartment. We ate at this lovely little café right on the stand. And then swimming in Lake Michigan was so cool and refreshing on this hot summer day. And, you're swimming at the foot of the city. So cool

1. Our hosts. 

For real. Kaci and Aaron made this trip possible for us. But they also made it 110% enjoyable and comfortable. They are THE best hosts. Always putting our ideas first and making sure we were comfortable and happy. I cannot say enough about their true hospitality AND allllllll of the fun times we had.  They are the best friends any travelers could have. 

 Photos: Cheese and root beer party the last night we were there. Hunter and Aaron at the Garfield Park conservatory. The Cardons in their Fourth of July gear. 

Nervi- Last Stop in Italy

Nervi was a short train ride from Genova on the coast in Italy.  It proved to have the best views we'd see on the trip- which so far were VERY hard to beat! As we walked the coastal cliffs in the late afternoon- we got a special view of the best sunset ever.  

I loved how the train station was RIGHT on the coast! 

Right before the sun broke through the clouds. 

Look at that light! 

Lake Garda- a day trip near Verona

On the bus to Garda: