Dining & Boating in Chicago | Travel Photography

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In mid-July, I found myself taking a spontaneous trip to Chicago to meet Jesse who was there for work. We then commenced with lots of eating and even a bit of boating.

Meal one as soon as I got in from O’Hare: Boka, (located next door to Alinea, but we’ll be back for that next month). They just completed an overhaul of the entire restaurant. Delicious, seasonal food. Jesse asked about their cool pitchers, but they have no idea where they’re from.

Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boka Chicago | Anna Wu TraveloguesBoka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boka Chicago | Anna Wu TraveloguesBoka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Group portrait with Ninna & Eric.

Boka Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Skipping over some fried chicken and Lou Malnati’s, Saturday brunch was at Little Goat.

Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Thumbs up for the ooey gooey sticky bun.

Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Brunch at Little Goat, Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Chicago, Illinois  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Saturday’s dinner: Yusho, a Japanese tapas bar.

Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

The starter dish was one of my favorites– a crispy pork skin with mustard seeds and honey. I got one in the shape of America! Or Dumbo the elephant, depending on how you look at it.

Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

First dish below: pretty American wagyu.

Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues  Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues Yusho Chicago | Anna Wu Travelogues

Finally, on Sunday we took a train more than an hour north to Fox Lake, where Jesse’s coworker took us out on his boat.

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Birds in the sky, birds in the trees.

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

We boated out to a bar in the middle of a lake, while other people arrived by helicopter…

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues Boating at Fox Lake, Chicagoland  | Anna Wu Travelogues

A lovely, relaxing way to hang out in Chicago. Can’t wait to be back in August!

Anna Wu is a wedding and portrait photographer based in San Francisco but often jetsetting to New York City and around the world. Follow her on facebook for more photography and travel adventures.