Family Vacation Ideas Within Driving Distance from Chicago

Door County, WI

Devils Lake, WI (near Wisconsin Dells) - it is a very shallow lake with a great beach area, and no motorized boats allowed. You can rent canoes right there, there are playgrounds, tent or cabin camping, horseback riding...I forget what else.

http://www.graygooseinn.com/

Gray Goose Inn, quiet little country inn in downtown Chesterton, short drive from Beaches and Indiana Dunes State Park. World's best innkeeper(yeah, I've known him for a long time), delicious breakfasts, tasty snacks, Pretty lake view rooms, etc. Nice solarium with lake view, wood floors and fireplaces in three suites. I recommend the Gray Goose Suite, as it has the best view. There are no pools there(eight room country inn), but it's near the water park, and beaches. Four Diamond AAA rated.

You can take the South Shore if you want a care free vacation, or drive, as it's close to Chicago. Local foods, European Markets on the weekends.

Several kid friendly parks including water parks in a short driving distance. Several theaters and an outdoor Mall nearby Michigan City.

Not too sure if Kenosha WI is too far for you, but the Bristol Renaissance Faire is going to be in full swing on the weekends during that time frame, and there are some hotels nearby that might give you insight on more to do during the week.

Hope you have fun wherever you go.

Have you done Milwaukee before? We have the lakefront with beaches, childrens museum and discovery world, Harley Museum, Art museum (calatrava), Miller Park, brewery tours, etc.. You could stay out west at the Country Springs Hotel which has a waterpark or at the Hilton downtown that has a waterpark.

You could do Put-in-bay in Ohio.

Mackinaw Island

Door County is a little longer drive, but worth it. Make sure you keep going north of Sturgeon Bay to all the charming villages!

silver leaf resorts u can look it up n call them they are all over the world there is also hotels u can rent and in door waterpark

Is Door County too far away? It has interesting terrain, a lot of state parks, and touristy things as well.

I'm hoping to do some Lincoln exploration in Illinois when my daughter is older. I suspect you are in the same situation.

I visit Lake Michigan annually. I can't imagine not going. Did you get as far north as Ludington? It has a beautiful state park and a wonderful play area to visit at sunset as the Badger arrives (though it needs permission to run this coming year--look into that). Have you taken it or the Lake Express between Milwaukee and Muskegon? That may be a fun circle vacation for you. Milwaukee is a nicely sized and interesting town. The art museum's architecture is breathtaking, and it has a zoo, children's museum, nice parks along Lake Michigan, riverside dining. Aim to take the boat at sunset from Wisconsin and aim to get a seat in the back to watch the sunset.

I love planning vacations, don't you?

Wisconsin Dells, it is right at that 4 hr mark.
Madison, Wi.

Camping in Shelbyville.

you and your family can go on a disney cruise in chicago

We are going back to Stevensville (near St Joes) again this year. We had so much fun last year.

We also love Door County.

Starved Rock in Illinois is a favorite for my daughter. Also, southwest Wisconsin is beautiful: Viroqua, Mineral Point...... Have fun!

Wisconsin dells, starved rock, or Dubuque Iowa is really cute. The dells is probably your most vacation-y location, with lots of stuff to do and beautiful scenery too.

Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana is usually fun for all ages.

You have tons of great suggestions. To add to your list is Iowa, just over the IL border. They have an amusement park, smaller than Great America.

Also Holland, MI is a cute quaint town. Long Grove, IL has tons of festivities that are a lot of fun; strawberry festivial....nearby there is the botanical gardens & Ravinia, then head to Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin, and not far is the Jelly Bean factory.

Around your time frame is tons of festivities, just google it.