Chicago Forum: Best attractions for kids ?

Take a look at - http://www.chicagoparent.com/

for additional ideas.

Even though you're driving, kids love taking the L! It's a cool "big city" experience (and cheap!). On Saturdays there are free Loop tour trains. Stop by the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington) on Saturday morning for tickets.

http://transitchicago.com

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Cultural+Center&entityNameEnumValue=128

I like the Field Museum. They have some great dinosaur exhibits- a permanent one (Evolving Planet) and a temporary one (Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries). There's also a new Darwin exhibit coming in June. The Field would be a good thing to pair with a visit to the aquarium or planetarium, but I actually prefer the Field to both of those places.

Plan to go to Navy Pier on a Saturday if possble so that you can check out the free fireworks show. It's the best part of that visit.

I still remember my first trip to Chicago as a kid, and the two things that stand out are the Sear's Tower and the amazing dollhouse at the Museum of Science and Industry. I've been hooked on museums ever since!

Are you familiar with the Association of Science and Technology Centers Passport Program? (www.astc.org) I just read about it on someone else's GoList the other day, and I am very excited. At first it doesn't sound like the most exciting thing in the world for kids, but if you buy a membership to one of the participating museums, you get into 280+ museums around the world FREE! It includes a large number of children's museums (unfortunately not the one in Indianapolis), discovery centers, space museums, aviation history museums, as well as the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. I'm not sure about your area, but several museums in Indiana have family memberships for $50. That would pay for itself right away if I visited the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry.

To read more about it and search for participants:

www.astc.org/members/passlist_about.htm

I've never been to the Shedd Aquarium or the Adler Planetarium, so I can't give you any advice about that. I definitely think you ought to visit the American Girl Place! Great choice! I just stopped in briefly because I was with a friend who needed to go in there. I am a grown woman and I was hooked! Boy it was hard to leave that place without spending a fortune. Definitely an exercise in willpower!

I enjoyed the John Hancock tower. Your kids will probably like it as much as I liked the Sear's Tower when I was a kid. I haven't been to the observatory, but we celebrated a (grown-up) birthday in the restaurant at sunset and it is a wonderful memory!

Navy Pier is what it is. It is touristy and can be crowded, but there's also a festive hustle and bustle about it. The Ferris Wheel and the view of Lake Michigan is nice. Wear good walking shoes. We've gone early in the day and late in the evening so the sun hasn't been bad.

We took one of the boat tours that you can get from there and enjoyed it. Since you can walk along the river and see a lot of what you see on the river tours, I think I would have chosen a Lake Michigan tour instead. Here's a comparison chart of the boat tours. http://www.chicagotraveler.com/boat_tours.htm The boys might especially like the tall ship tour. http://www.tallshipwindy.com/ There's even a Pirate Dinner Cruise!

Someone might have already mentioned this, but definitely look into the free trolleys if you're going in the summer. (I think the one to Navy Pier runs all year, but the others don't.) They go past most of the popular sites and save little legs from too much walking.

Millennium Park is very cool. The kids should love the Cloud Gate Sculpture. Right across the street is a visitors' center. www.millenniumpark.org The trolley goes right by it.

If you want to have a picnic lunch, a few blocks away from the park is Spa Cafe. (spacafe.com) I really like the food. I'd eat there all the time if I lived closer to it. Don't tell the kids, but it's actually healthy too. Check the menu on the website. You know your kids and you'll know if that's the kind of food they like. (Note: They're only open M-F 7am to 4pm.)

The art museum is by Millennium Park, I believe, and it was ranked one of the best art museums for kids.

Farther north (and west, I think) is the ornate white Wrigley Building. It isn't really a destination in itself, but it's right by the river, and once you've been to that area you'll notice it in lots of movies and TV shows. One of my favorite movies is WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. They have hot dogs right by that bridge by the Wrigley Building, they walk along the river when he walks her home at night, and the fancy curved apartment building where Peter lives is right at the end of Navy Pier. I happened upon these spots since I was staying closeby, but that reminds me that the Chicago Greeters (which someone else mentioned) offer a film themed tour. www.chicagogreeter.com/Greeterdescript2.html

That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anything else I'll let you know! I hope you have a wonderful trip!

You didn't mention if you were staying downtown or in one of the suburbs. If you're staying somewhere where it would be easier to park and then take the train downtown, you might benefit from the Metra Family Fares.

metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/family_week…

Parking downtown is pretty expensive. It's $23 at Navy Pier, for example. Parking at many of the Metra stations is only $1-2, in contrast. metrarail.com/Service_Advisories/daily_fee_p…

Because driving and parking in Chicago can be a challenge, my friend who lives in a suburb of Chicago usually takes the train instead of driving. Then she walks, takes a cab, uses the EL or the trolley when she's downtown.

With the trolleys, be sure to look for the words "Free Trolley" on the vehicle. Some are not free! cityofchicago.org/Transportation/trolleys/

Entertainment.com might have some good deals for you. Their website wasn't working this evening, but the books usually have great discounts. Right now all of the books that are still available are only $9.99--down from around $30 for most of them.

Again, I hope you have a great trip!

I've just spent a great weekend entertaining Briti friends, and my kids came everywhere too.

Navy Pier - the kids love it. There's a huge Ferris Wheel, mini golf, a carousel for the little one and a wave rider (I think it's called) for the older two. It's chairs on chains that go round really high up. There's also a hilarious hall of mirrors and tunnels, which will be too much for the little one, but again, older kids and adults enjoy it. You also get amazing skyline views from the end of the pier.

Field Museum - something for everyone.

Shedd Aquarium - only if you like fish I think.

Planetarium - definitely not for the little one, and possibly not even the 7 year old.

Lincoln Park Zoo - amazing, and free. There's a farm in the zoo also. Has a big lake where you can take out pedal boats shaped like swans, (life jackets included);

Beaches - depending on where you're staying, Chicago has great beaches. The biggest one downtown is probably North Avenue Beach as it has the big boat house, volley ball set up etc. Fun.

Most of the attractions have web sites for detailed information.

I would advise you select Museum of Science & Industry over the Adler Planetarium. All of your kids will enjoy it.

For sure visit Millineum park for the "bean" sculpture and fountain.

Depending on your overall trip plan, you may want to consider the Morton Arboretum in west suburban Lisle. It has a great children's garden with outdoor activities where you can easily spend a half day without boredom.

Note for John Hancock, you can go to restaurant and get a drink or meal and save on the observatory charge. They have a buffet lunch that is probably most economical. It is overpriced for the meal, but when you deduct the admission you'll save for the observatory the bundle is pretty reasonable.

While you shop at AG place, note there is an Ghiardelli ice cream parlor just on the other side of the water tower. Across from the Ghiardelli is a Hershey store that's unique. Also the kids may like the Lego store a few blocks south on Michigan Ave.

Thanks for all the advice & suggestions! We will probably drop the Planetarium and perhaps go to the Museum of Science & Ind. we had already planned a trip to the Field Museum, but I inadvertantly left it out of my original post.. My boys are dying to see Sue! the Lego store is a must see stop as well....DS has been saving his $ for months for a big splurge there. I checked out some pics of the "bean" and it looks really fun so we'll try & squeeze it in as well.

THANKS AGAIN!

Bren

Bren, our Julys can be very pleasant to truly hot and humid. Being from mid-VA, I'm sure you are familiar with the last.

On the very pleasant days, though, there's nothing better than to take a walk up to and around Lincoln Park Zoo, maybe have a picnic in the park, or visit one of the beaches. Even on the truly hot/humid days, going in the morning (as soon as the Zoo opens, for example) is still good.

If you are going on a picnic, I like to mention that there are farmer's markets held all around town, held on specific days of the week, where you can get fresh, locally grown produce. Some are in the neighborhoods, but others are held in public places such as Daley Plaza in the Loop. And the Green City Market is open every day in Lincoln Park, just north of North Avenue (and just south of Lincoln Park Zoo) - it has cooking demonstrations from chefs of some of Chicago's better restaurants as well. The City of Chicago's website gives a complete listing of when the farmer's markets are and which days of the week and the Green City Market's website shows the calendar for the cooking classes, recipes, the vendor information and the like.

Don't know what dates you are coming to Chicago, but take a look at the City of Chicago's website - specifically for what neighborhood festivals are occurring when you are here. A number of them have family-friendly events (such as a Children's Corner at the Sheffield Garden Walk). Still others are spectacles in their own right, such as the Chinatown Dragon Boat Race for Literacy (being held on July 21).

NOTE: While you are in the City of Chicago's website, take a look at the section about the Art of Play 2007 event happening all summer at various places around town. This event is all about fun, games and play! There is a calendar in the website and you can see the HUGE amount of things that can be done each day - many of which are free to the public at places such as Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center, Daley Plaza, and other parks and locations around town.

Hope these suggestions help a bit!