Our First Ever NASCAR Race and 24 Hours in Chicago: 4th of July Weekend

A 4th of July weekend we won't forget in a hurry. In this vlog we fly from San Diego to Chicago (with more flight drama than we bargained for), attend our first ever NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway, then squeeze in a whirlwind day of sightseeing across downtown Chicago. In this video: The flight from San Diego: significant weather delays and a rough start to the trip 4th of July at Chicagoland Speedway: our first ever NASCAR race and easily one of the most memorable experiences of the entire year More rain, long delays and a flooded car park with cars getting bogged trying to leave. All part of the story Willis Tower Skydeck: standing on The Ledge, the glass floors 1,353 feet above Chicago Chicago River Boat Tour: seeing the city's iconic architecture from the water Cloud Gate at Millennium Park: because you can't go to Chicago without seeing The Bean It was Bella's second time in Chicago and my first. Between the racing, the weather chaos and the whirlwind sightseeing day, it was one of the most eventful legs of the whole trip. 🔔 Subscribe to follow our full 2026 travel series. 📍 Locations covered: Chicagoland Speedway Willis Tower Skydeck, Chicago Chicago River Cloud Gate (The Bean), Millennium Park #NASCAR #Chicago #NASCAR2026 #ChicagolandSpeedway #WillisTower #TheLedge #TheBean #CloudGate #ChicagoRiver #4thOfJuly #IndependenceDay #ChicagoTravel #TravelVlog #Chicago2026 #NASCARRace #FirstTimeChicago #MillenniumPark