My daughters and I went to Chicago a few weeks ago.  The purpose was to visit a few campuses that my younger daughter is interested in to apply for college.  But it was also to just get away from quarantine at home and get a change of scenery. 

Although we debated on cancelling or going, we decided on moving forward and going.  We took safety precautions – wearing face coverings, distancing, taking food out, washing our hands – very seriously wherever we went.  Most people in the city did too, except for those on Lake Shore Drive Trail.  I know it’s hard to wear a mask while running, walking or biking, but it still gave me pause.

We enjoyed the short weekend time we spent in the Windy City.  In the podcast, I tell you some of the five must-do’s while you’re here.  Granted, things may have been more fun if more places had been open, but we made the best of the situation.

Here are some of the places I mentioned on the broadcast:

Skydeck Chicago (at the Willis/Sears Tower)

Portillo’s

Lou Malnati’s

Navy Pier

Chicago’s First Lady Cruises

I also report on some news stories, particularly Royal Caribbean’s new Muster 2.0, with updated safety and evacuation procedures.  If you’ve been on a cruise ship and done the muster drill, you’ll appreciate this new way to fulfill a necessary procedure.  Disney World resorts will also open soon, on a staggered schedule.  I personally think it’s too early to travel to Florida and to Disney World because of its being a pandemic hotspot.

Another update is on cruising.  From an order from the CDC, cruises cannot sail until September 30th.  This even applies to smaller lines, with a few dozen to a few hundred passengers total.  This just typifies the fluid nature of how cruising and travel in general is going now.