After visiting Honolulu about a decade ago, I started dreaming about moving to Hawaii. It reminded me of the Philippines but with the benefits of the American lifestyle and luxuries. I had also fallen in love with the natural beauty of the island, the beaches, and its climate.
Recently, I started to let go of that dream of moving to Hawaii. I now realize that my dream is not very realistic, at least not for my family at this time. The cost of living over there is way too high for us. Now, if somehow we suddenly become wealthy, then of course I'd move in a heartbeat!
This summer, after visiting my sister in North Carolina, I fell in love again! This time with Wilmington - with its charming historic downtown and neighboring beaches. Oh to live by the ocean!!!
I told my family we should move. They wouldn't have it! My daughters, especially! They love Chicago.
Today, as we hung out at the beach and I watched my girls play in the sand and swim and enjoy the beautiful day, I got to thinking...
Chicago is actually a pretty fantastic city.
Here are the 5 reasons I came up with...
1. We have beaches, too!
True, Lake Michigan does not compare to the ocean, but in the summertime it's easy to pretend we're by the oceanside. It's certainly huge enough to look like the ocean. The best part is we don't have to worry about saltwater in our eyes!
2. The food!!!
This is probably my favorite reason.
Here in Chitown, we have a multitude of choices for good eats. You're craving for Thai food? No problem! Sushi? Of course! Vietnamese pho? Uh, yeah! We even have Jollibee now for all the Filipinos craving for their favorite chicken joy and peach mango pies and halo-halo!
What? Not craving Asian food?
Well, there's Italian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, French... You name it, we've got it!
Oh, man, now I'm hungry!
3. Diversity of Cultures
I love that Chicago is a melting pot of cultures. We have a wide variety of ethnic groups: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Irish, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Welsh, Assyrian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Indian, Pakistani, Thai, Vietnamese, Tanzanian, and so on. Not only do we benefit with the diversity of foods, but we get to interact with and learn from a variety of people. I love that my daughters have the opportunity to meet and become friends with people of different cultures.
4. There's always something to do in Chicago!
What's great about this city is that we do not need to worry about running out of things to do or places to go, especially in the summertime. Besides the many miles of beaches, we also have dozens of museums. My family's favorites are The Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Chicago also has hundreds of parks - perfect for picnics, biking, running, playing ball with the kids, walking our beloved dogs.
The coolest park, of course, is Maggie Daley Park with its gorgeous backdrop of skyscrapers.
If you like to go shopping, we've got the famous Magnificent Mile and lots of other shops and malls like Water Tower Mall (or my girls' favorite: Old Orchard Mall in neighboring Skokie).
Oh, I can go on and on, but let me wrap this up.
Last, but certainly not least...
5. Chicago has the best skyline!
Just look at it!
Recently, I started to let go of that dream of moving to Hawaii. I now realize that my dream is not very realistic, at least not for my family at this time. The cost of living over there is way too high for us. Now, if somehow we suddenly become wealthy, then of course I'd move in a heartbeat!
This summer, after visiting my sister in North Carolina, I fell in love again! This time with Wilmington - with its charming historic downtown and neighboring beaches. Oh to live by the ocean!!!
I told my family we should move. They wouldn't have it! My daughters, especially! They love Chicago.
Today, as we hung out at the beach and I watched my girls play in the sand and swim and enjoy the beautiful day, I got to thinking...
Chicago is actually a pretty fantastic city.
Here are the 5 reasons I came up with...
1. We have beaches, too!
True, Lake Michigan does not compare to the ocean, but in the summertime it's easy to pretend we're by the oceanside. It's certainly huge enough to look like the ocean. The best part is we don't have to worry about saltwater in our eyes!
2. The food!!!
This is probably my favorite reason.
Here in Chitown, we have a multitude of choices for good eats. You're craving for Thai food? No problem! Sushi? Of course! Vietnamese pho? Uh, yeah! We even have Jollibee now for all the Filipinos craving for their favorite chicken joy and peach mango pies and halo-halo!
What? Not craving Asian food?
Well, there's Italian, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, French... You name it, we've got it!
Oh, man, now I'm hungry!
3. Diversity of Cultures
I love that Chicago is a melting pot of cultures. We have a wide variety of ethnic groups: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Irish, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Welsh, Assyrian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Indian, Pakistani, Thai, Vietnamese, Tanzanian, and so on. Not only do we benefit with the diversity of foods, but we get to interact with and learn from a variety of people. I love that my daughters have the opportunity to meet and become friends with people of different cultures.
4. There's always something to do in Chicago!
What's great about this city is that we do not need to worry about running out of things to do or places to go, especially in the summertime. Besides the many miles of beaches, we also have dozens of museums. My family's favorites are The Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Chicago also has hundreds of parks - perfect for picnics, biking, running, playing ball with the kids, walking our beloved dogs.
The coolest park, of course, is Maggie Daley Park with its gorgeous backdrop of skyscrapers.
If you like to go shopping, we've got the famous Magnificent Mile and lots of other shops and malls like Water Tower Mall (or my girls' favorite: Old Orchard Mall in neighboring Skokie).
Oh, I can go on and on, but let me wrap this up.
Last, but certainly not least...
5. Chicago has the best skyline!
Just look at it!
So there... Those are the five reasons why Chicago is an awesome city.
I think my family and I are going to stay after all...
Just don't mention winter...
No comments:
Post a Comment