Robby modeling our rental car. Notice in the background how green and beautiful it is? It's a little brown in AZ and I'm from Seattle...this was such a treat!
The Mall of America was about 7 minutes away from our hotel, so we went there to explore and eat dinner. We were excited to find Noodles and Co, something we enjoyed in Utah!
That place is huge! Every store on the planet, plus an amusement park right in the middle. It was unbelievable.
The next night, after Robby's meetings, we went into Minneapolis. It was way bigger and busier than we expected!
We ate at Ike''s Food and Cocktails, a restaurant I found on a food blog I follow. The burgers were wonderful and so worth it!
Funny story: Robby and I walked over to Target Field where the Minnesota Twins play. We wanted to take a picture for one of Robby's favorite people from his former job at BYU Athletic Marketing, since Bill grew up in Minnesota and loves baseball. When Robby texted the picture to Bill, he got a phone call. What do you know, Bill and his family were in town! So of course we had to go visit.
Robby misses everyone at BYU Athletic Marketing, so it was fun to see Bill and his family. Thanks for the visit!
We went to the MOA again on our way out of town. Don't judge, it has a lot of restaurants and it was so close to our hotel. Plus, every time we went we got some good exercise, walking for miles and miles...that's what it felt like at least.
Next up: Green Bay!
Funny story #2: We got to our hotel in Green Bay and went to the gym to work out. I started on the elliptical and got into an episode of What Not to Wear. Then I look back at Robby, to find him in the massage chair, reading. Nice work out, husband!
One night for dinner we ate pizza and salad ( keeping it classy with the salad in the hotel's plastic cups, since we had no dishes) on the bed and watched TV. It was a fun picnic! There weren't many restaurant options in Green Bay...
If you can look past Robby's classic picture face, which he does because it drives me crazy...you'll see his buffalo burger. Not buffalo sauce flavored, literally a burger made from buffalo. We tried a local restaurant that came highly recommended. It was good, not great. Again, not too many options in good ol' Green Bay.
Next Up...Chicago!!
View as you drive into the city... We dedicated a whole day to exploring Chicago. It was crowded and really hot on that day, but we had a blast! We started at Navy Pier.
The water was so blue and the scenery was so beautiful!
After exploring all morning and having to stop at Walgreens to buy socks because my feet were getting blisters and I forgot to put them on that day, we were starving!! We found Gino's East, which came highly recommended.
This place was so fun and interesting. You are allowed to write and draw all over the restaurant...seriously! Everything is covered in writing. The chairs, booths, walls, ceiling, light fixtures, arcade game machines, high chairs...you name it, its got writing on it!
Can you find where Robby wrote our names?? Hint: it's in the middle.
There's that face again...
We had to get Chicago Style Deep Dish, since we were in Chicago!
I though these bathroom signs were funny. Notice all the writing again?
That is the building from Transformers 3! Do you recognize it?
We explored beautiful Millennium Park and loved it!
The famous jelly bean sculpture, it was so crowded. We saw 4 weddings! Apparently this park is the place to get married in Chicago.
On the way back to our car, there was this building with little pieces of other buildings and landmarks all over it. Robby is pointing to something from the Courthouse in Reno, NV (since it was the only one from NV) and one from the Salt Lake Temple. Mine is from Mt. Rainer in my lovely home state WA!
When we got back to Minneapolis to fly home, we stopped and got one of my favorite treats...a cookie ice cream sandwich with cookies and cream ice cream. It was amazing and we may have gotten one more than once during the week. Perfect way to end a wonderful trip!
Here are some lessons we learned from the trip:
1. People from the Midwest are so kind and friendly. Wish we could all be like that everywhere!
2. People in the Midwest drive slow... I mean 45 on the highway? There were so many times that Robby and I though we could run faster than we were driving...and we aren't runners.
3. Dear State of Illinois, Your toll roads aren't super wonderful. Also, you could explain them a little better for us outsiders. Not very user-friendly.
4. We still love spending time together...it might have been too much togetherness for some, but we had a blast.
Here's to a fabulous trip with my best friend, exploring a new place of the country and creating fun memories! The next question is: Robby, when is your next business trip? Let's start planning... :)
