Tips or Trip to Chicago

Shedd Aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry
The Field Museum
Navy Pier - including the Children's Museum inside

Hi Lisa -

Looks like you have attractions covered, just wanted to throw out a hotel suggestion. Last fall we stayed at the Sheraton on Water Street (right next to the river). Easy traffic and parking, yet close to everything. The great thing is that they have a really nice indoor pool for the kids. Have fun.

We took the boat ride before my son was born. But I am sure kids that age would love it as well. It's the best part of Chicago trip for M.(yeah I have been there many times).
Navy Pier is nice for the kids. They have fireworks on the weekends.

I attended a conference in Chicago and had some free time and visited the Shedd Aquarium....very cool!

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

All the places listed below are great suggestions. I will warn you that there are often long lines to get into places like the Shedd Aquarium. If you plan on going there, buy tickets in advance so you can avoid the long lines.

I 2nd the Gino's East suggestion. Very good pizza! They also have long lines at dinner time. Sometimes hotels near the restaurant have a VIP pass so you don't have to wait in line. Otherwise go at a off time to get immediate seating.

Be careful not to come during the NATO Summit

Places to eat: Portillos, Gino's East Pizza, Ed Debevicts, Dicks Last Resort, Cheesecake Factory, Rainforest Cafe, Joes Seafood & Stone Crab (very expensive but better prices for lunch, HIGHLY recommend), Rock & Roll McDonalds, Rosebud on Rush

Navy Pier, Childrens Museum, Lego Store, The Sky Deck, John Hancock Observatory, Grant Park, Cubs game, Sox Game (more kid oriented), Water Taxi ride, Brookfield Zoo, Planetarium, Shedd, Field Museum, Hershey Store, Ghiardelli store, FAO Schwartz, The Bean, Millenium Park, Buckingham Fountain, Little Village (Italian area), China Town is a blast, duh Sears Tower

These are some tourist favorites as well as local favorites. Have fun!!!

I agree with most of the other posters. When we were there several years ago my son LOVED the Children's Museum on Navy Pier. The Natural History/Field museum is good if either one of them likes dinosaurs. There is a great park with fountains, sculptures, etc. near the Institute of Arts (Grant Park, including Millenium Park) and lots of space to run. Just don't try to play ball--it is against the rules and my husband and sons got "busted." There is a very family friendly Embassy Suites right off of Navy Pier. It has complimentary full breakfast and a happy hour with enough appetizers to make a meal. There is also a family friendly and reasonable Hampton Inn off of Michigan Avenue on one of the side streets (maybe Ohio?). They might also enjoy the Planetarium next to the Shedd Aquarium. When we were there they had a lot of interactive activities for the kids. The Lincoln Park Zoo is also fun and a manageable size for young children. The nearby Lincoln Park also has space to roam and play. If they like pizza I recommend either Giordanno's or Gino's, but there are a lot of good pizza places in Chicago. Chicago hot dogs are a treat too. Have fun!

Okay, if you stay downtown, prepeare to spend money is all I am saying. But, yes the Shedd, and Navy are great places to go. Leggo and American are near each other, but I like to just walk around the beach and this time of year is GREAT for that since we are having an early spring! Mostly, I wanted to tell you that layers are good for this season and to eat, well you can not go wrong with just about anywhere but for the places I know you will have to be willing to get out of the city. Tomorrow when my fiance (Chicago Native) is up I will ask him to give some downtown locations to eat at.

The Lego store is right next to the American Girl store (2nd level)!!! I was just at both a couple of weeks ago. I just loved the American Girl store.

Stay on Michigan Ave if you can afford it. The Intercontinental is nice but a little pricey.

Other things to see-
Field Museum
Shedd Aquarium
Navy Pier

Agree with all of the suggestions so far, especially Navy Pier, Millenium Park, Lincoln Park Zoo. You will have to judge how much museum time and being on their feet your little ones can handle and make your plans from there. Between the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry, there is a lot of territory to cover, but they are all fantastic places. If they were a little older, I'd also suggest the Art Institute, but with so many other places, you can visit there another time.

They will have a blast at American Girl and Lego.

If you like deep dish pizza, try Gino's East. Ed Debevic's and Dave 'n Busters are fun, kid-friendly places. Scoozi is great Italian and also kid friendly. Another one is RJ Grunts.

Hope you and your family have a great trip!

J. F.

I am from Chicago, and although I do not miss living there, I still love visiting there, especially for some of the attractions!

My favorite place to eat is Connie's Pizza. I like it better than Gino's East. The original one is not in downtown, its a short drive south & west of the downtown area. But I hear there is one in Nacy pier.

LOVE Navy Pier. I enjoy just walking around, but I last took my daughter when she was about 3.5, and she loved it too, and enjoyed the children's museum inside there.

If I had to choose between all the museums, I vote for the Museum of Science & Industry. My now almost 6 yr old has been there 3 times all at different ages, and she's had a great time every time.

Others have mentioned the Lincoln Park zoo, which is nice because its free, but if you have the time for a drive, the Brookfield Zoo is one of the best zoos I've ever been to (out of the maybe 12 zoos I've been to in my lifetime). It's so big, it has all the animals you want to see & expect, and I really like their exhibits. My kids spend hours in the Hamill Play Zoo there too.

Well, since no one that actually lives in Chicago responded, allow me!

You've gotten all great tourist attraction suggestions. If you want to get a feel for the "real" Chicago, get out into the neighborhoods. That's where you'll find the best parks that are kid friendly to let them run (Millenium Park is nice, but crowded and right on Michigan Ave).

Head over to the Lincoln Park area. Oz Park there (Webster/Lincoln) is a great place for kiddos to just run. While you're there, have lunch at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, if you like Spanish tapas (YUM!). Also, just walk around. Great shopping in this area along Halsted.

Grab breakfast at Bakin and Eggs on Lincoln in Lakeview (Lincoln/Greenview). GREAT for kids - it's loaded with families on the weekends, and the food is outstanding.

Go to Wrigleyville - catch a Cubs game, depending on when you're coming.

Lincon Park Zoo is free and great on a warm day.
Directly across Fullerton from the Zoo is the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum. Great for kiddos. Huge Butterfly exhibit where they can go in and be amongst them. Also, plenty of outdoor space where you can feed the geese that will walk right up to you.

If you come up to my neck of the woods in Lincoln Square, you'll find some of the best German food around (Chicago Brahaus is fun and kid friendly), as well as some of the best BBQ and Hot Dogs around.
Check out Smoque for BBQ (Pulaski/Irving Park Rd) and Hot Doug's for hot dogs/gourmet sausages. Both have websites and both are the best in the city!
If you're in that neighborhood, Horner Park is huge and has a great playground for the kiddos play at (this is right across from my house. :))

Hope that helps!
Enjoy your time here!

I loved the architectural river boat tours, and your kids may enjoy the boats. Its an incredible way to see the city.