Biking Illinois :: Museums and Beaches

Ride 28: Museums and Beaches

Biking Illinois: 60 Great Road Trips and Trail Rides

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Chicago, IL August 26, 2005

I will admit up front that I did a lousy job of photographing the great sights on this ride. The Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, Soldier Field, and much more are missing. The longer I live in Chicago, the harder it is to take off the blinders of familiarity. Consequently, the attractions that excite visitors are hardly visible to me. I remembered to write about them (thank goodness), but I didn't photograph them. Also this was one of the last rides I did for the book, which meant I was in a bit of a hurry, especially with a terminally ill dog waiting at home.

I did remember to photograph Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, though. Not long before I took this picture, the city closed a crosswalk here. You can see the remnants of paint stripes on the right. The unsightly barricades were the city's way of keeping people from crossing.

Maybe I should have named this ride " Museums, Boats & Beaches" because it passes several marinas along Lake Michigan.

The huge McCormick Place convention center curiously includes this waterfall on the side facing the lake.

These two photos were taken from the same spot with different zooms. I should have taken a better picture of the skyline, but it was a little hazy that day.

This is the broad Jackson Park Beach House.

This ride turns around at the South Shore Cultural Center, which was once an exclusive country club.

Here's a lousy picture of the Museum of Science and Industry that I took on the way back. It looks much better from the west side of Lake Shore Drive without all the cars, concrete, and light poles in the way.