Isaac Warren
Print Editor
CHICAGO — The Lamp newspaper staff recently took a road trip to Chicago.
There, the Illinois Community College Journalism Association was hosted at Harold Washington College, part of the City Colleges of Chicago.
We attended seminars April 7 and 8, along with representatives of other colleges in Illinois, and got to learn new ways to improve the newspaper, as well.
We stayed in the DoubleTree and enjoyed fantastic Chicago-style pizza at Giordano’s. The time at Chicago was amazing and full of exciting things to do. Based off of our experiences, I have written a bit of a guide that is, what I believe to be, a typical Chicago trip for a tourist.
Arriving in Chicago is both exciting and frustrating. While waiting for traffic to resume, you can take all the time you need to enjoy the scenery and landscapes of the Windy City. After the 40-minute traffic wait, you take ramps that seem to never end, and zip into downtown.
After escaping the traffic, you need a place to park. Fortunately, there are plenty lanes on the sides of the streets where you can park your vehicle and hope that a bus doesn’t crush it. After spending half an hour getting into the parking space, you can go check into your hotel. The staff are usually nice and are eager to serve you. After even more waiting, your room is ready to go and it is time to enjoy Chicago.
Almost everywhere you go, there will almost always be a Red Robins or a Panda Express available to eat at. Chicago is well known for pizza and is absolutely amazing. Prepare to pay a lot, wait a lot, and have leftovers, because they really pack a punch in that delectable, savory pie.
If you still have money in your wallet, there are a plethora of stores that are willing to take it from you. From Disney to Under Armor, Chicago has something for everyone and at a price that will make your eyes bulge like a frog.
Spending a long day in Chicago is very tiring, especially if your mode of transportation is your feet. Rest those aching ankles back at the hotel, where you can look out your window, and gaze at the streetlights. They are so bright and spectacular at night, they almost make up for blocking out the stars with light pollution.
In a nutshell, Chicago has literally hundreds of places to enjoy. At times, it can almost feel like New York. It’s amazing that one of the largest cities in the nation is just sitting to Springfield’s northeast, waiting for tourists and travelers alike.
Isaac Warren can be reached at [email protected].
