Tezels on the Road

Tag: Chicago Hilton

  • Chicago 2026 — Day 5: Millennium Park, Grant Park & the Gala

    Monday, April 13 | Millennium Park, Grant Park & the Gala

    A perfect spring day along Michigan Avenue, and a glamorous evening to cap it all off.

    With Alicia back in conference sessions, I headed out to spend the day exploring two of Chicago’s most iconic green spaces right along Michigan Avenue: Millennium Park and Grant Park. I couldn’t have asked for a better day for it — the spring weather was doing its thing, flowers were blooming, and the trees were just beginning to bud. Chicago in April can be unpredictable, but today it was showing off.

    First stop, of course: Cloud Gate — the Bean. I know, I know — Alicia and I had already made the pilgrimage on Saturday morning. But honestly, it deserved a second visit. There’s something irresistible about that giant mirror-polished ellipse. I dare anyone to walk past it without stopping. The spring light hitting the skyline reflection was even more stunning than the first time.

    From there I made my way over to Crown Fountain, one of those public art installations that’s hard to describe but impossible to ignore. Two 50-foot glass block towers flank a shallow reflecting pool, each displaying a rotating cast of Chicago residents’ faces. There’s something quietly captivating about watching the faces change — a reminder that this city is made of people, thousands of them, all with their own stories. I spent more time there than I expected.

    The gardens throughout Millennium Park were absolutely beautiful — bursts of spring color everywhere, and the trees showing the first fresh green of the season. It’s the kind of scenery that makes you slow down and just take it in.

    I then crossed over into Grant Park, which stretches right across Michigan Avenue from the Hilton Chicago — practically our front yard for the week. The flowers here were equally gorgeous. I wandered over to the John A. Logan Monument, a dramatic equestrian statue honoring the Union Civil War general and Illinois senator. It’s an impressive piece of sculpture, and it commands the park beautifully.

    One of the unexpected highlights of the afternoon was simply paying attention to the architectural details of the park’s bridges. Chicago is famously a city of architecture, and even the park infrastructure reflects that — ornate stonework, decorative ironwork, and elegant design details that most people walk right past. I made a point not to.

    And then — the evening. After a day on my feet, it was time to clean up and join Alicia for the Urgent Care Foundation Gala, held in the Hilton Chicago’s Grand Ballroom. I’ll be honest: I was not prepared for how spectacular that room is. Soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, ornate details at every turn — it’s the kind of ballroom that makes any event feel like a genuinely special occasion. The gala was a wonderful evening celebrating the work of the Urgent Care Foundation, and it was a perfect way to cap one of the best days of the trip.

    Parks by day, Grand Ballroom by night. Not a bad Monday in Chicago. 🌷✨

    Cloud Gate sculpture (“The Bean”) in Millennium Park, Chicago, reflecting the city skyline and surrounding spring-blooming trees, with visitors gathered along a stone balustrade in the foreground.
    Chicago’s iconic Cloud Gate sculpture mirrors the city skyline and flowering trees on a spring day, as visitors gather along the park’s stone terrace to take in the reflective landmark.

    Next up: Day 6 — More Chicago adventures ahead. Stay tuned!

  • Chicago 2026 — Day 1: Arrival

    Chicago 2026 — Day 1: Arrival

    Thursday, April 9 | Arrival Day

    We made it! After months of anticipation, the Tezels are officially in Chicago.

    The adventure began with an afternoon flight — smooth, direct, and mercifully uneventful. The trip was prompted by Alicia’s attendance at the Urgent Care Association Conference, so while she’ll be deep in sessions over the coming days, Mark is along for the ride with a long list of Chicago sights to explore. Eight nights in the city. No complaints here.

    Landing was easy enough, but Chicago had one classic welcome gift waiting for us: 5 o’clock traffic. Our Uber crawled through the city like everyone in Illinois had somewhere to be at the exact same moment (because they did). But patience prevailed, and we finally pulled up to our home for the next eight nights — the iconic Hilton Chicago.

    Now, we’ve stayed in nice hotels before, but this room? This room is something. We scored a corner room on the 20th floor, and the views are genuinely jaw-dropping — sweeping vistas of Lake Michigan, the Museum Campus, and the lush green expanse of Grant Park stretching out below. We may have stood at that window a little longer than we’d like to admit.

    After settling in and shaking off the travel fog, we laced up our shoes and headed out for an evening walk along the lakeshore. The air was crisp, the lake was vast and moody, and the skyline behind us glittered in the early evening light. It was exactly the kind of slow, unhurried arrival moment that makes travel feel worth it.

    Back at the hotel, we capped the night with a light dinner and a well-earned glass of wine at the 720 Bar and Grill. Nothing extravagant — just good food, good wine, and a quiet moment to take stock of the fact that we’re really here.

    Eight more nights to go. Chicago, we’re just getting started. 🍷

    Next up: Day 2 — Mark hits the streets while Alicia dives into the conference. Stay tuned!

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