We almost moved here 6 years ago
Maybe it’s because we used to live in the Midwest, maybe it’s because both Freddy and our fur baby Juanito were born in the Great Lake region, maybe because Gabriel and I visited Chicago during Labor Day Weekend exactly 6 years ago, or maybe it’s because the purpose of this trip was for a mini family reunion, for some reason or another, Chicago felt good.
People here in America like to call the Midwest flyover states and don’t pay much attention to it unless it’s an election year. However, Chicago is one city that stands out. It’s the third largest city in the US and it’s known for its signature architecture, being an economic powerhouse as well as its cultural and food scene.
Like most touristic cities, you will likely never run out of things to do in Chicago. Believe or not, my favorite thing to do in the windy city was literally walking around with my family while admiring the grant urban planning. If Seattle’ urban planning style is a raw diamond focused on Scandinavian minimalism, then Chicago’ style is like a carefully crafted art deco engagement ring, so sophisticated that it takes a while for you to observe all the details big and small. Chicago’s architecture style is closely tied to its urban planning, with expansive public spaces and integrated public art. This might sound controversial, but in my opinion, New York has very specific iconic buildings while Chicago has a more iconic skyline where all the buildings harmoniously compose a beautiful symphony. Chicago’s architecture is a reflection of its industrious spirit, blending historical significance with cutting-edge design, making it one of the most architecturally diverse cities in the world.
I’m gonna be honest, when Gabriel and I first visited Chicago together 6 years ago, we thought about moving there. It’s such a diverse and vibrant place that you can’t ignore its big energy. Being immigrants ourselves, we love to be surrounded by people from different backgrounds. And since we moved to the US from Canada for economic opportunities, we wanted the city we live in to have a diverse economy. We love cities that are bustling but not overwhelming so we never considered NYC. Even though Chicago is an expensive city with pretty high taxes, its real estate is still considered affordable especially compare to the coasts. For various reasons, we didn’t end up moving there and we couldn’t be happier with our current home in Seattle but I’m still rooting for the Chi and counting the days till I visit again.
