Welcome To Chicago!
Here is a winter sunrise over Lake Michigan from downtown Chicago…where my wife and I lived for 5 years….and I realize that I have never shared one of the city’s most fun holiday events!
First, here’s a look at some of the lights of Chicago in December:
There is always an enormous holiday tree at the north end of Grant Park in the city’s famous “loop” district, and there’s much more as well:
Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo also lights up for the holidays…but it’s all about one big event: the arrival of Santa Claus by Chicago subway train!
That’s my wife Alex welcoming Santa to the train station! You see, a specially dressed train goes all over town with Santa and his reindeer leading the way!
Here is the video I shot of this incredibly fun event!
You can also board the Tain and ride along for awhile as well – or just watch Santa arrive and spread holiday cheer!
Chicago really embraces the holiday. Apparently there was a Santa convention when we were in a cab once, because I caught a few of them pounding the pavement:
Of course, the entire country is lit up for the holidays, and I am seeing it up close in New York – like the spectacular holiday tree at 30 Rock:
The Big Apple is all dressed up for the holiday – click here for video and more!
This is the season for all to decorate their own tree – and I do it in a very tasty way:
Yes, I am a bit obsessed with my food-based ornaments and once you see the pictures and video of them, you just might be as well – click here for that!
Back to Chicago, there is so much to see and do there all year long, like visit “The Ghost And The Darkness!”
Yes, they now reside in a museum and you can see them up close! Click here for their true story and the film made about them!
You can also see some of the city’s incredible architecture by walking along the Riverwalk…click here for a full tour!
If you like these stories, why not sign up to receive emails whenever I post? It’s easy to do, I do NOT collect any information about you at all, there are absolutely NO ads of any kind, just stories about movies, music, books, food, travel and pop culture…
You can sign up by clicking on my blog here and see the note on the right!
https://johnrieber.com
Let me know if you’ve seen Santa take a train – and I you like this story, please share on social media!
Categories: Art, chicago, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, Pop Culture, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
This is wonderful, John!
LikeLike
I grew up in Wisconsin but never went to Chicago for Christmas. It looks amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so fun and you can ride the train as well – although it’s packed!
LikeLike
Oh, that’s cool!
LikeLike
I love Chicago at christmas time, and never knew about this, how fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How great! I have spent more than one Christmas in Chicago because my parents grew up there. One funny and stupid teenage memory involved spending Christmas in Chicago. There was at least a foot of snow on the ground. On the 26th, my cousin, a friend of his, and I drove 24 hours straight to Florida, taking turns driving. On the 27th, we were swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Not the smartest thing I’ve ever done but certainly memorable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HA! I love that! Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic – so much fun!
LikeLike
Sounds like everyone is ready for holiday! I used to enjoy looking at the huge Christmas tree in The Grove🎄✨
LikeLike
Love the Chicago and NYC pics. Riding the subway with Santa. Ya can’t get better that that. Ha, ha. You lived in LA previously, right? How do you like the Christmas Season in NY versus CA?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that Chicago Christmas train is pretty cool…as for NY vs. LA, New York has decorations everywhere! Christmas markets are abundant and the city is packed with people…in LA it’s 75 degrees and everything is so spread out you have to travel to find a lot of the same festive vibe! Thanks for the comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I asked because good friends of ours were just saying that they were frustrated with the lack of the Xmas vibe in LA. I reminded them that I would gladly trade them for the 75 degree weather. 🤣🤣😎😎😎
LikeLike
That’s terrific!! 🛷
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great thing they do on the Chicago subway. There was never anything remotely like that when I lived in London.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As I said in the story, they allow you to ride along as well – but it was packed to the rafters so I didn’t use any of the pics I grabbed! Thanks for the comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like fun! And I love the adorable picture of Alex!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! I loved the Santa train. (But I don’t think those reindeer are real!) So much fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person