Friday Five: The 5 Best Things About Chicago

I feel like I’ve given Chicago a bit of a hard time this week with all my musings about the Midwest. From weird things about this city, to ways my closet has grown, and beauty products required for survival. So, to end the week on a high note, here are my 5 favorite things about the Windy City.

1. The Riverwalk.

This is my absolute favorite spot (or landmark, I guess) in the city. I get to walk across it every day on my way to work which you’ve probably noticed from my Instagram Stories! There’s something about having a river run through a metropolis that I could never get tired of. While Matt may refuse to go kayaking with me on it and it freezes over into an icy tundra by December, it’s one of the prettiest sights in my opinion. It also comes alive in the summer with wineries and patio restaurants.

2. Chicago Skyline.

Call me biased but the Chicago skyline has some of the most beautiful architecture. Each building has its own history and you can learn about it on the architecture tour which is one of my top recommended things to do in Chicago. I know it sounds weird, but it was legitimately the best tour I’ve ever been on and has made me appreciate all these skyscrapers a little bit more.

3. Public Transportation.

After spending so much time driving in LA, both Matt and I decided to go sans car after the move. Public transportation is so easy and can take you almost anywhere you want to go. As I mentioned in Monday’s posts, there’s no shortage of intriguing things to see on the L too (for better or for worse). Since LA’s metro was mostly used for drunk people trying to get to USC games, it feels so cool to be in a city where it’s so central to getting around!

When that doesn’t work, use your feet! It’s such a walkable city too. There’s always a new corner or nook to discover and we try to wander a bit at times to see what’s out there.

4. Snow.

Yes, the cold is rough especially for someone who didn’t see much of it growing up. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the weather or be one of those people celebrating the random day in February where temperatures are 50 by wearing a pair of shorts. My blood isn’t that thick. But for some reason, when it’s snowing, my eyes light up like a child’s on Christmas morning. I love crunching through fresh powder outside and somehow forget that it’s literally freezing outside. Snow just makes everything better.

5. People.

The people are just good. There is no shortage of genuine interactions, strangers are for the most part courteous, and everyone is willing to have a conversation with you. Sometimes I’m caught off guard by how nice people are. As if I’m waiting for the punchline that often doesn’t come. I’m still working on building strong friendships (it’s hard as an adult), but I’ve already come a long way this first year. Having watched Matt go through the same thing when he moved to LA years ago, I can say it’s a lot easier to build here in the Midwest. People just generally have good hearts and there’s something about being here that just bonds us all together.

On that note, happy anniversary to me and Chicago! What did you guys think of this mini series? What was your favorite post this week?