South Side Chicago

This photo is from the Art Institute of Chicago, found on the southern side of the loop. Destination: South Side Chicago In this episode: FAQ is: Is it wrong for me to hate airports? . Today’s Destination is: South Side Chicago Today’s Mistake- Stranded in Dallas 3 days Travel Advice: Go with public transportation FAQ: Is it wrong for me to hate airports? I have to go there to pick up my grandkids but going to the airport is not fun. Answer: If you look at this as a chore, you’ll not enjoy the experience. I agree that airports can be a challenge. I think that you can shift your thinking and get that frown turned around with some attitude planning. Consider that you will be seeing your grandkids for the first time in a while and how excited they will be to see you makes this a fun trip and experience. You will change the world when you change your attitude. Today’s destination: South Side Chicago I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago for ten years, and rarely visited the South Side, since I was not familiar with the area. In 2021, I took a few days and explored this area, the larges of the three sides of the city that radiate from downtown. The others being the North Side and the West Side. The city annexed Hyde Park which was a start to this area. The Chicago River divides the sides. The South Side has a varied ethnic composition and a great disparity of income. Some neighborhoods are very affluent, while others are middle class and poor. It boasts cultural sports teams, landmark buildings, museums, educational institutions, medical institutions, beaches and many parks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Side,_Chicago https://www.mlb.com/whitesox https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/history/owners If you are going to Chicago, know that the city is basically split in North South. On a recent trip, I spent the day near the Museum of Science and Industry, along the lakefront Southside. This was the home of the Worlds’ Columbia Expedition of 1883) and there are still remnants of that fair. The Japanese Gardens are beautiful. https://www.architecture.org/learn/resources/architecture-dictionary/entry/worlds-columbian-exposition-of-1893/ The University of Chicago is full of ivy-walled buildings, like you would see at Harvard, and you can walk the promenade of tree lined streets and boulevards during the day and even find good street parking here for free. If you’re driving to Chicago from Indiana, you can go the skyway for a toll, or on the highway for free. Check your traffic apps to determine your best trip times. I took the skyway to Indiana, but the local highways on the return trip, which was fine without traffic in either direction. Your experience may be different. Today’s Mistake- Stranded in Dallas 3 days I was traveling from Atlanta to San Diego on Spirit Airlines in July 2021 and stranded three days. Don’t do this. Unexpected storms cut all traffic from departing the airport, which ruined some flight schedules. I was stuck. Fortunately, I was able to get a hotel about 40 minutes away and shared a few uber and taxi rides to finally get there. No compensation was given. Finally, three days later, my flight was then cancelled. So my friend helped me book a trip on Southwest from Love Field, so that’s how I finally made it home. On the way back, I gave up my aisle seat to a dad so he could sit with his son. Southwest later rewarded me with a voucher for a discount on future travel as a thank you. Unexpected but grateful. Today’s Travel Advice-Go with public transportation The price of car rentals is sky high these days. You may not need to rent a car. Check where you’re going and see if there is a public transit system available. When I was in Dallas, I was able to find and use the train service from the west part of Dallas to the airport for a fraction of the Uber fare. To get from DFW to Love Field was easy, too. I took the train and then a city bus, for a senior price of less than $2. Connect with Dr Travelbest Website Drmarytravelbest.com Mary Beth on Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Twitter Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram