We had quite an eventful trip last year for the holidays, so this Christmas, Chad and I decided not to drive at all. On Saturday, Dec 19 we took the southbound Metra (a block from our house) down to Chicago and walked to Union Station to take an Amtrak to Pontiac, IL. Chad's friends picked us up, we stayed for a few days with his family and then headed back to Chicago via Amtrak to catch a different Amtrak to Jackson, MI. After spending a few days with family/friends in Jackson, it was back on a train to Chicago to catch the Metra northbound to Kenosha on Sunday, Dec 27. We only had a little bit of layover and it ended up being cheaper than driving (and much safer!). It was a little tricky getting all of the gifts we were taking (plus our clothes/items) into small enough suitcases to make for convenient travel: walking & shoving into luggage racks. It was even MORE difficult to get it all back...we were absolutely spoiled this year! We brought back DOUBLE (or more) of what we took with us. Thanks to Chad and his master packing ninja skills and my Uncle Rick's donated suitcase, we made it with all of our booty! I'm sure the two of us were quite comical to watch in the snow covered streets of Chicago.