Dallas and Chicago, a Work Trip with a Weekend to Explore

Written by in Travel
The Wrigley Building clock tower and Tribune Tower seen from the LondonHouse rooftop in Chicago
Versiunea în Limba Română 🇷🇴

My trip to the States started with a visit to the embassy to get my visa. The process itself was straightforward, but I found it a little stressful being met by security right out on the street and knowing that nobody outside would hear from me until I came back out. In the end, all was well. Visa approved, travel mode ON. 😄

I spent ten days in the States, four in Dallas and six in Chicago. I was in both cities for work, but I had a weekend in Chicago, and one of my colleagues offered to show us around downtown. That explains why I have only a handful of photos from Dallas and somehow managed to photograph the same river from every possible angle in Chicago.

Four Days in Dallas for the International Roofing Expo

I went to Dallas for the International Roofing Expo (IRE), which its organizers describe as North America’s largest event for the roofing and exteriors industry. It takes place every year and has been hosted in several cities. Of all the things I could have photographed at a roofing expo, I came home with a picture of R2-D2, C-3PO, and a stormtrooper. 😄 

R2-D2, C-3PO, and a stormtrooper among the booths at the International Roofing Expo in Dallas

I had very little time to explore Dallas, but I liked everything I did get to see, starting with our hotel, Canvas Hotel Dallas. The exposed brick walls and concrete ceilings were exactly my kind of industrial style. And at the hotel restaurant, I ordered the same thing every evening: steak and fries.

I think our server was convinced it was the only thing I knew how to read on the menu. Bless her, she kept suggesting other dishes. I was determined to eat my fill of that famous steak. It didn’t work. I’d happily order it again. 😋

Bed with a wooden headboard and pendant lights beside an exposed brick wall at Canvas Hotel Dallas
Guest room with a concrete ceiling, exposed brick around the window, and a desk beside the bed
Lounge with armchairs, tables, and a lit bar beneath a ceiling with exposed ductwork

I was also fascinated by the roads and the cars. The freeways had lane after lane, the pickup trucks were enormous, and everything seemed to come in XXL. I also made it to In-N-Out Burger, where the red-and-white booths reminded me of the American diners I’d seen in movies. I was happy to finally get the full American burger experience myself.

Cars and trucks on a multilane freeway, photographed from an overpass in Dallas
Red-and-white booths with a menu board and a neon sign above the counter at In-N-Out Burger

A Windy Weekend Above Downtown Chicago

In Chicago, we stayed at the Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel. I’d been looking forward to the weekend so I could see downtown, but first I had a small problem. Chicago really lived up to its Windy City nickname. I was so cold I had to go shopping for something warmer. I still wanted to see the city, so I bundled up and went out anyway.

The colleague who offered to give us a little tour had a good idea. He took us from rooftop to rooftop so we could see as much of Chicago from above as possible. We went to Cindy’s Rooftop, overlooking Millennium Park and The Bean, and LH Rooftop at LondonHouse, with views of the Chicago River and the Wrigley Building clock tower. Luckily, most of the terraces had some form of outdoor heating, so we could sit outside and enjoy the view over a coffee, a tea, or something a little stronger. 😉

Cloud Gate, also known as The Bean, in Millennium Park with Chicago’s skyscrapers in the background
Me wearing a pink scarf on the LondonHouse rooftop, with the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower in the background
Carved stone ornament on the LondonHouse rooftop balustrade, with the Chicago River and Lake Michigan beyond
Bridges over the Chicago River and the round Marina City towers seen from the LondonHouse rooftop

My favorite stop was The Signature Room. Someone had tipped me off that the best view of the city was from the ladies’ room. Naturally, I had to go and see for myself. More than once, actually. 😄

The Signature Room at the Ninety-Fifth emblem featuring the Chicago skyline, mounted on a stone wall
Snow-dusted skyscrapers with Lake Michigan and the Navy Pier Ferris wheel in the background
Willis Tower with its two antennas rising above the buildings of downtown Chicago
Road curving along Lake Michigan between Chicago’s high-rises and snow-dusted beaches
Overhead view of a glass of prosecco on a napkin bearing the Signature Room logo
Old Fashioned over ice in a rocks glass on a Signature Room napkin

I also stopped by the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue that weekend. I didn’t buy anything, but wherever I travel, if there’s an Apple Store, the visit is mandatory. 😄

Wooden display tables and potted trees inside Apple Michigan Avenue, seen from the upper level

Days at the Office and Dinners with Colleagues

After the weekend, I spent most of my time at the office, well away from downtown. In the evenings, though, my colleagues took us to a different restaurant each night. They knew how much I love cooking and trying new dishes, so they went out of their way to spoil me a little and surprise me with something at every dinner. It worked. 😄

One of those restaurants was Girl & the Goat in the West Loop, which Stephanie Izard opened after winning Top Chef. The menu was designed for sharing, so we could order several dishes for the table and each try a little of everything. I love that kind of dinner, especially when several things on the menu catch my eye.

I wish I’d taken photos of those dinners. I’d love to look back at what we ate, especially since Chicago was where I tried escargot for the first time. And I actually quite liked it. 😄

If I could order one thing from each city right now, I’d go for steak and fries from Dallas and an Old Fashioned from Chicago. It’s been my favorite cocktail ever since.

Chicago’s skyline and the snow-covered shore of Lake Michigan seen through an airplane window

What I Took Away from Dallas and Chicago

❤️ What I Liked

  1. How different the two cities felt. Even with plenty of people around, Dallas felt like it had room for everyone. In downtown Chicago, with tall buildings on either side and people going in every direction, I really felt like I was in the middle of a big city.
  2. How welcome my colleagues made us feel. I loved getting to spend time together away from the office. It gave me a glimpse of their Chicago.
  3. The food. I ate well in both cities. In Dallas, I could happily have ordered the same thing on the fourth evening. In Chicago, several dishes usually caught my eye at once. Good thing we could share. 😄

💔 What I Didn’t Like

  1. How little time I had to see Dallas. I liked what I saw and would have loved another day to explore.
  2. The cold in Chicago. Next time, I’d pack something warmer. Actually, I’d go in summer. 😆
  3. The coffee. I’m not used to drinking a liter of coffee before I start work just to feel something, but that’s what it felt like it would take. 😄
  4. The jet lag. With such a packed work schedule, I barely had any time to myself to adjust. At dinner I could hardly keep my eyes open. At 3 a.m., I was wide awake and chatting with my colleagues in Romania. At least their workday had started. 😂

This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, book an activity, or use a service through these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.