Road Trip: Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park is such a great destination! As the cabins (our desired lodging) were always booked, we decided to make it a day trip - and are so glad we did.

We had a great time and have a few notes and recommendations:

Arrive early:
It is only an hour and a half from downtown Chicago, so if you leave in the morning, you can hit the trails before it gets hot and crowded. If you plan to arrive before the Visitors Center is open, be sure to print out maps or have them your phone - though trails are well marked.

Check Facebook:
With all the rainfall in Illinois, there were several trips we planned to take to Starved Rock, but after checking their Facebook site, knew we had to abandon the trek as they would post that the park and/or parking lots were closed due to flooding.

Trail Options:
With 18 Canyons and 13 miles of hiking trails, how do you choose? We did some research online and for our younger hikers wanted to take on the hikes to: Starved Rock, French Canyon, Wildcat Canyon and LaSalle Canyon. And we made it! However, if we were to do it over, we would have skipped Starved Rock and Wildcat to focus on French and LaSalle Canyons, as they had the best waterfalls at the end.

Guided Tours - Check with the Visitor's Center for their FREE guided tours! We took a short one for Starved Rock and it was really informative with the history of the area (and helped us gather intel for our Jr. Ranger mission).

Waterfalls:
We were most excited when the end of the hike had a waterfall, which is possible in 14 of the canyons.

While best time to see the falls is in the Spring or after heavy rains, we recommend talking to the rangers to confirm which (if any) of the canyons have waterfalls. For example, LaSalle Canyon was further for us and if it didn't have a waterfall we could walk behind/enjoy, we may not have taken that path.

Junior Ranger:
The boys earned their first Junior Ranger badges and were so excited! The workbooks are available at the Visitor's Center, or you can do what we did - printed them in advance to complete a lot of it on the drive there. It can take some time (so be prepared) and has a mix of questions around the history, animals, and nature of the park with fill activities like fill in the blank and crossword puzzles. Find more details and the packets here.

Lengthen Your Stay:
With a longer stay, you can experience all the park (and Matthiessen State Park) has to offer with camping, hikes, river tours, canoeing, kayaking, wineries, breweries, and historical tours!

The nearby town of Utica looks so charming as well and has a good amount of pubs and places to eat - and don't pass up a photo opportunity with a huge, pink Big Foot outside of Two Girls and a Cupcake!

Age Recommendations:
If you plan to do a few trails, the kids will need to be strong walkers - for us, our 6 year old did well, but lost steam from time to time. Our 8 year old was a solid hiker and could have gone longer.

Cost Savings:
Free parking, Free access to the park trails.

Location/Transportation:
Located in Ogelsby, IL, Starved Rock State Park is about 1.5 hours from downtown Chicago. Free parking and access to trails!

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
The kids did really well and felt really proud of themselves after finishing, but we definitely pushed their limits (and may have each been carrying a child near the end). Definitely worth a day trip or longer!

Annual Event: Macy's Flower Show

Important note: The 2019 show is over, but read up so you know what to expect for next year!

I never knew how neat the annual two-week Macy's Flower Show is in Chicago! The theme for 2019 was Journey to Paradisios - Operation: Inspiration.

For starters, Macy's website for the flower show is great. They created a short, entertaining story, had a 360 degree video tour, and nice interactive map.

Noteworthy:

• This is a fun, "we are in the area" event. We live close by so it was easy to pop in to take advantage of it (and maybe scope out some backpacks).
• The experience is enhanced for younger kids if you read the story & watch the video to get them excited for store.
• Macy's creates interactive aspects throughout the exhibits: 
• Count the Paradigms (little aliens) throughout the store [we counted 12, pretty sure we missed another 10-50]
• Selfie area at the teleporter
• Decode the Paradisian secret (we did it!!)
• The store hosts a lot of events and offers throughout the show. To name a few:
• Galactic Characters
• Floral Workshops
• Cooking Demonstrations
• Kids Camp
• Special drinks at the Walnut Room

Age Recommendations:
All ages!

Cost Savings:
FREE!

Location/Transportation:
Loop / Downtown - 111 North State
Plethora of access by L and Bus.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
The kids liked seeing the story we read come to life, looking for the Paradigms and really enjoyed decoding the alien language! Though we didn't find a backpack we liked, but can't hold that against the flower show.

Activity: Chicago Architectural Center (CAC)

The Chicago Architectural Center opened in their new location at 111 West Wacker Drive on August 31, 2018. The Center is a two level facility where you can visit and explore, register for tours (walking, boat, L, or bus), and they offer school field trips, family events, and day/summer camps.

Bonus: CAC runs my favorite annual event tradition: Open House Chicago.

Today we went to check out the new CAC digs and had a great time exploring their interactive exhibits and gallery displays.

Noteworthy:

• The Chicago Gallery was where we spent a majority of our time as it included a(n):
• Quick video with an Overview of Chicago 
• Interactive Model of the City where you can see the Chicago Fire spread, watch the water turn green for St. Patrick's Day (without battling drunk people everywhere you turn), and find my home at the South end of the map!
• Push "pin" map to mark where you live in the City and/or where you would like to visit.
• Renderings and models of future projects for Chicago.
• Check the site for the timing of their Mobile Architectural Lab - a small desk with an activity and CAC staff member to talk about the day's theme. We learned about Bungalows (did you know there are 80,000 bungalows in Chicago? That's a LOT) and walked away with new artwork for our wall.
• The kids sped through the Rotating Gallery (which looked interesting but had a lot to read). [sad face]
• The Drake Skyscraper Gallery was impressive, though the kids didn't need much time in there. It showcases impressive buildings from around the world and highlights a few in Chicago (rotate based on current projects).

Pro Tip: You receive small "clips" to wear for access to the different rooms. Knowing my children lose everything in a speed that defies logic, I took a picture of them wearing the clips as backup. And the photo ended up being necessary.

Age Recommendations:
All ages welcome, though probably best for kids 5 and over.
There were interactive activities and maps for kids (and adults) and interesting information to read (if the kids allow you the time).

Cost Savings:
Visiting the CAC is very affordable (assuming you are able to get out of there without purchasing anything from their very tempting gift shop).

Click here for current pricing and discounted rates for kids, depending on age.

Location/Transportation:
Downtown Chicago / Loop: 111 West Wacker Drive
As the building is located at Wacker and Michigan, there is a plethora of public transportation available to get there.

Click here for parking and transit information.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
They had a good time and we enjoyed walking around Michigan Avenue and hopping into a few other places while we were out and about!

They desperately wanted something from the gift shop and I don't blame them. The shop has great books about Chicago (adult and kid options), great city centric shirts, bags, anything you can think of.

Suburb Activity: Blackberry Farm

Blackberry Farm -- which is not a location for berry picking -- is a living history museum of pioneer life with a lot fun activities for the kids.

We had a great time exploring our way through hands-on learning at the One-Room School House, Blacksmith Shop, and Early Streets Museum (the boys asked a lot of questions, which was fun to see). Then we took several trips through the pony, steam train, and carousel rides.  Several.

A big bonus of the park is the admission price covers everything, so you can ride that steam train 8,561 times if the kids want! 

After lunch at the Concession area (quick service with hot dogs and burgers), we hit up Adventure Playground (this was a big highlight -- a maze of houses with passageways - many parents were wandering through, looking for their children), saw farm animals at Discovery Barn, and mom enjoyed a well deserved rest on the Wagon Ride after working her legs for three people on the paddle boats.

The park is absolutely beautiful and pristine, making it so peaceful spending time there.

Noteworthy:

• The venue only has a few of the interactive pioneer stations open each day (my guess is to provide a reason for returning).
• While we there (about 4 hours), we waited in 1 line.  One.
• They have refillable water bottle stations!  Bring a refillable container and enjoy being environmental!
• Fox Valley Park District, where the farm is located, is adorable and probably a great way to spend a day or weekend, including: 
• 48 miles of trails for biking and walking
• Splash Country Water Park (across from Blackberry Farm) 
• Red Oak Nature Center, Golf, Disc Golf, etc... 

Age Recommendations: Infant - 12 years old
Based on the crowd, the average age was between 6-8 years old.

Cost Savings:
The affordable admission covers everything in the park, which is such a wonderful perk.

Location/Transportation: Aurora, IL
About a 60 minute trip from downtown with plenty of free parking.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
The boys each had a blast at the learning areas - both boys would let me know throughout the day when they could hear the blacksmith hammering her tool and our 8 year old wants to return to see the the one-room school house again!

They each loved the Adventure Playground and the train, and our 6 year old rode each and every pony available (real and carousel variety).

Hands-on Learning:

Suburb Activity: Roller Skating

Apologies for the fuzzy photos - there was a smudge on my lens the whole day...

We took a trip (waaay) back in time to my childhood when visiting Fleetwood Roller Rink.  It has everything you hope for and expect: roller skate themed carpet, gaudy twinkle lights, bold paint colors, and top-40 tunes (intermixed with classics like TLC's No Scrubs).

Even one of these!

We really lucked out with the staff while there - the man working the rink took time to teach each child the basics of skating (and getting back up), and even circled back to show our oldest how to skate backward once he (sort of) mastered forward movement.

The man helping mentioned this was not officially part of his job, he just enjoyed it. A success story:

Kiefer skate from Tracy & Kevin Carlson on Vimeo.

Noteworthy:

• Training skates are provided for young skaters, which slows the turning speed of the wheels.
• Group and Private Lessons are offered at a very low rate, click here for info.
• Bring quarters if you would like to use their lockers, as bags, purses, and phones are not allowed on the rink (we learned this the hard way - but managed to get some photos first).
• If you arrive right when they open, you will have a nearly private rink experience (which is great for new skaters....and parents who have not donned skates for 20+ years).
• Food is available in their snack shop (ICEEs, Pizza, etc..)
• Remember to bring long socks for comfort!

Age Recommendation: All Ages!
If this is your child's first time, I recommend the lessons, and with the basics, they can pick it up pretty quickly.

Cost Savings:
Affordable outing, current price details and upcoming events found here.

Location/Transportation
The drive is only 20-30 minutes from downtown and there is plenty of (free) parking available.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Both kids loved it and want to return.  Our oldest wants to take lessons, so we'll definitely make another trip back!

Activity: The Kids' Table

We had the opportunity to enjoy a night at The Kids' Table, and had a great time! The Kids' Table is a cooking school with hands on experience specifically for kids and families, complete with kid-sized cheese graters, choppers, and whisks!  Who doesn't love mini cooking utensils?

All the kids (ages 4-8) were engaged and took part in prepping three aspects of our meal: stuffed pasta shells, pasta sauce, garlic bread, and strawberry pie.

This was our second visit and it is so fun to witness the children's' independence and participation in cooking.

To sign up for a class, visit their website to view availability and associated menu. They collect dietary restrictions as well, should this be a need!

Noteworthy:

• You can bring wine to enjoy during your time (the venue will supply glasses).
• The venue focuses on healthy cooking, so make sure you like the menu (especially for picky eaters)
• As a part of meal prep, the kids are asked to clean the table and cutting board - was great to see them put to work!
• The food wasn't loved by (most of) the kids this time -- but maybe that was the fault of the cooks and my kids are not the most refined eaters... :)

Cost:
We do the Family Dinner option (there are other options) and prices are very reasonable.  When we compare the cost per person, it is less than paying for a sitter, so it is a guilt-free night out with family & friends!

Check the site for specific price information.

Location/Transportation:

• There are two locations (as of Feb 2017): Wicker Park and Lincoln Park
• Contact Information
• We go to the Wicker Park location, and have driven / used street parking (typically free)

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
We will definitely do it again!!

Activity: Pinstripes $3 Bowling

Pinstripes is an upscale bowling, bocce, and bistro located near Navy Pier. They have great food, good service, and who can beat a $3 bowling deal for kids?

Check here for current deals and discounts, as we took advantage in 2016 (from 10-noon).

They prepare well for the kids, with 6 pound balls, automatic bumpers at their turn, and ball guide, and kids meals. They had a great time.

Noteworthy:

• $1 adult beverages
• $1 Desserts for the kids and each kid's meal includes a bread stick
• Great lounge furniture and shoe holders; plenty of table space for food and drink
• Valet does not start until noon. Learned this the hard way (luckily, spot hero is our favorite app)

Cost Savings:

• Three dollar bowling
• Discounted drinks and food

Location/Transportation:
Streeterville, near Navy Pier
Several bus routes stop close to the facility.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Great time!

Annual Event: Open House Chicago

Embarrassed to admit, after living in Chicago for over 1.5 decades, this is the first year I learned of the Chicago Architectural Foundation's ("CAF") Open House Chicago.

It is an annual event in the city, taking place over 2 days with 200 buildings participating.  No matter what neighborhood you are in, or if you want to see a new one - there are options for you:  The buildings this year were as far North as Northwestern University (Evanston), West for Frank Lloyd Wright Homes (Oak Park), and South for WGN Flag & Decorating (South Shore).

The CAF event website is spectacular, giving a map of all the locations and the neighboring Divvy stations if you prefer to bike around in order to squeeze in more sites.

With the kids in tow, we focused on locations more with their attention span in mind:

• Jay Pritzker Pavilion - cool photo op
• Chicago Architectural Foundation - mini Chicago replica in the main lobby 
• LondonHouse - rooftop with views of the river and lake
• Marquee at Block 37 - nice rooftop views 
• Chicago Cultural Museum and Chic-fil-A - both not on the official tour, but hey, we love em. 

Tomorrow we are targeting McCormick Place Rooftop Farm, GEMS World Academy, and Zap Props

Noteworthy:

• A few locations are incredibly popular, so the long lines were a deterrent (AON is an example). Though we skipped those, you can purchase a CAF membership to gain priority access and skip the lines.  Most locations were no issue.
• Some locations have docents or activities
• The kids loved the rooftops and the mini city replication

Cost Savings:
FREE!

Location/Transportation:
Something in essentially every neighborhood!  Get out there!!

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
The kids' attention span is a little short, so we have to pace ourselves.  I am already counting the days until this comes around again next year!

Playground: Horner Park

Horner Park has been recently renovated and it is gorgeous.

The climbing options are great, and ones we had never seen before.  As the park was (literally) crawling with families, it was hard to get photos.  Just know you need to find your way to this park if your kids like climbing, tunnels, twists, bridges, slides, merry-go-rounds, or small zip lines!

Noteworthy:

• The fieldhouse is next to the playground, so bathrooms are only a few steps away.
• Playground has a sitting zipline feature - kids were lined up to ride
• Small toddler area available (see below)
• Other amenities: tennis, running path, baseball fields, fieldhouse

Cost Savings: Free!

Location/Transportation:
Albany Park at Montrose & California
We drove as parking is plentiful along the street and there is a parking lot (free).

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
SO Great.  Although it isn't too close, we will definitely be coming back!

Activity: Skate Park

Thanks to some friends, we learned about this great idea.  With our kids feeling confident on their scooters and getting pretty solid at their bikes, we thought it would be fun (well, husband thought fun, mom figured terrifying) to take them to a skate park.

The boys loved it.

They quickly settled into their own routes with ramps and inclines - the older one even trying out a little wall climbing action.

While I was indeed terrified, I did my best to hide it and no one walked away injured.  Our oldest fell a few times (one while attempting to take his bike straight up a wall), but no blood was spilled.

Noteworthy:
Go early in the morning, before the park is packed with legit skateboarders.

Cost Savings:
Free!  ...unless you experience injuries ;)

Location/Transportation:
There is probably a skate park near you!  We used the one at Roosevelt & Michigan, and early morning parking was easy.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Great time!

Annual Event: Midnight Circus

This is the second year we have attended the Midnight Circus in the Parks show and we plan to make it an annual tradition.

In short, it is a legit, talented, and entertaining Circus group under a "little Big Top," performing in Chicago parks all throughout the city.  There are tightrope walkers, hula hoopers, jugglers, acrobats, and perfectly timed comedy (see the photos on their site).

Performance proceeds go toward Chicago Park improvements, so everyone wins! We get a good show, and our parks are improved!

Noteworthy:

• Tickets are inexpensive, showtimes are plentiful
• Arrive early to find a good seat, as they are not assigned
• At the end of the show, families can meet and talk with the performers.  I may have used my children to speak with certain performers :)

Cost Savings:
Ticket prices vary by location, check here for remaining shows and details!
There are a few shows remaining for October...

Location/Transportation:
Various locations - we typically attend McKinley Park

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Parents also get to vote: 5 stars!

Road Trip: St. Louis

After an amazing, jam-packed, family-friendly trip to St. Louis, wanted to share our experience to make sure you consider a trip to this city.

Quick Family Travel Facts:

• We like to save money & time where we can
• We wake up at the crack of 6 am, so we over-prepare and plan to fit in everything we can into each day before the kids tire out and/or have melt downs.  This has continuously worked well for us and wanted to share some of the tips.
• Assume for each section, we arrive at or before the place opens.

Accommodations, Transportation, & Misc:

We stayed near the airport, and while it was only 20-30 minutes to get to each activity, would look for a new area in the future (open to suggestions) - contemplating downtown or the Galleria area to be near evening activities & restaurants.

• Car: We drove to St. Louis (5 hours from Chicago). Parking at each venue was inexpensive.
• Stroller: We used our stroller at the Zoo and Botanical Garden to extend the "life" of our kids.
• Apps: Used the zoo app a few times to give animal facts to the kids.

Gateway Arch:
The quintessential Gateway Arch monument is a fun stop if you have never been. Not to mention it is the tallest monument in the world (stands 630' high and 630' wide - remember this fact to share during the tour. You're welcome).

If you pre-purchase tickets, the wait is no issue. We purchased online when 3 hours from the city. You leave with your assigned "group" time, then are shuffled to another area for quick facts and then routed to the transit to the top - which may feel claustrophobic to some as 5 people sit in a cozy egg-shaped car. The viewing area can feel congested, but be patient for the ebb and flow to see the nice views of the downtown and river.

Note: During our visit, the grounds surrounding the Arch were under construction, making it a longer walk from where we parked ($6).  However, we loved walking through Laclede's Landing & Riverwalk - the cities oldest district.

After the Arch, we walked to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. Kids loved the roaming balloon artist, parents loved the warehouse feel.

St. Louis Zoo
Although the St. Louis Zoo is the Best Free Attraction in the US, it could easily compete with many of the nation's zoos that have an entrance fee.  The zoo is beautifully kept, signage is great, and animals are plentiful (They have a ton of elephants!). We could have spent another day there.

While entry is free, add on costs are: Train, Children's Zoo, Carousel, 4D Theater, Stingrays, and the Sea Lion Show.  Purchasing an Adventure Pass is recommended to save money and/or these areas are free for the first hour the zoo is open (confirm this before going).

Parking is a cost at their lot, but the surrounding area has street parking for free.

Speaking of the surrounding area, the zoo is nestled in the city's gorgeous Forest Park.  It is an expansive park with rolling hills, museums, restaurants, and theater.

Check the zoo website for tips on when divers are active in tanks or feeding is likely to occur.

City Museum
I could write an entire blog about the City Museum.  It is absolutely amazing and unique. The best way to describe it is a real-life Chutes and Ladders.

There are no maps. I repeat - no maps. There were definitely areas of the museum we missed (am guessing ...I mean, there are no maps, so who knows). It is a series of rooms with tunnels, caves, slides, skate board ramps, ball pits, airplanes, buses, human-sized hamster wheels, and more.

My (strong) advice:

• Wear workout clothes - athletic fit is best to avoid getting caught on slides and ladders. Long-sleeved and pants will protect your skin as you will be sliding and crawling a lot.
• Wear knee pads - I'm not kidding.  See sentence above. Crawling a lot. On metal. 6 year olds seem unphased.  Those over 30, not the same.
• Take a flashlight - Many had headlamps and it took everything in me not to steal it off their heads. You will need it to find your way through a lot of the space.
• Age - Recommend 5 years old and up. Our 3 year old did fine, but held us back. The 5 year old did great. 

We grabbed a quick donut breakfast at Pharaoh's Donuts near the museum. While it is a hole in the wall establishment, you can watch them make the donuts and they are really good. I may have gone back for seconds. 

City Museum: Indoor & Outdoor Climbing Bonanza

Missouri Botanic Garden
The Missouri Botanic Garden was beautiful and had a lot of great areas to enjoy.  The garden (and parking) is free, though the Children's museum is a small cost.  The kids had a blast playing in the different areas - climbing structures, slides, ropes, and a water feature (kids will get soaked).

In the main garden, we were able to touch turtles and feed Koi Fish.  Another nice touch: Water Bottle filling areas, so you can bring and fill up your own bottle!

Recommend visiting Ices Plain & Fancy in the nearby, historic Shaw neighborhood. The ice cream is made in front of you using fast-churn liquid nitrogen. Very futuristic!

The Magic House
The Magic House is hands down our favorite Children's Museum we have visited.  And we've seen a lot. It is massive, pristine, and creative: something to discover at every turn. The entire family had a blast - we came when it opened, and closed it down.

Some of our favorite rooms (though it is hard to narrow down): Coloring a fish and then scanning it onto a projection wall where it moved around; and the Construction Zone - it features a small scale versions of a house.

Not sure if this is standard, but the museum started to clear out around 3 p.m. so we felt like we had the run of the place.

This shows a glimpse of the facility:

This shows some of our favorite areas:

Clockwise from top left: Construction site (was unbelievable), two Presidents!, Little Car Repair, Musical Balls,
Football Test Area, Art to Action, Ice Cream Cart, Puzzles!

Meals
All of the restaurants were great with kids and had something for them to do at each spot.  Our favorite area for meals was in the Delmar Loop neighborhood of St. Louis. We ate at Fitz's and Salt + Smoke.

Fitz's Root beer is a St. Louis staple for ginormous root beer floats and a bottling room you can watch in action (check site for the bottling schedule). While no reservations are accepted, place your name on the list, eat at a nearby restaurants (Salt+Smoke!) and then have dessert at Fitz's.

Conclusion: We had a great time and still had more we wanted to see - Grant's Farm, City Garden, Butterfly House, and Myseum. However, we are confident the ones we did were a perfect fit for our family!  Hope you are able to take a trip to this city and this was helpful in your planning!!

Playground: Skinner Park

As expected, when visiting one of the top Chicago schools, their playground is top notch. There are two large climbing and slide areas, a toddler area, a water feature, community gardens, picnic tables, AND a sandbox. The park itself sprawls for 2 blocks and includes basketball, tennis, and baseball areas.

Both boys found a lot to do, though I was unimpressed with the sandbox. It was small and the only "toys" in the sand where wrappers and other trash people left behind. I threw them away and would like to preemptively apologize to those hoping to use the chip bags as a shovel. It also had a lot of rocks, which the kids actually really liked (photo evidence below)...until they stepped on them.

SandRocks

Noteworthy:

• Cool climbing structures, especially the red hoops
• Dragon - don't worry, it's not real - was a surprise hit (photo above).
• No bathrooms on site.

Cost Savings:
Free!





Location/Transportation:
West Loop
Free street parking along the park area

Kid's Jury: 4.5 stars
My youngest loved the rope web he climbed in; my son liked "the whole park". I had to dock it half a star because of the sandbox.

Playground: Union Park

This park was so handy to get to, being across the street from a train station! The park has a pool, playground with a small (and very popular) water feature, and a lot of unique playground features.

Noteworthy:

• The main slide structure has all kinds of unique features, from rock climbing throughout, little plastic hammocks, to angled monkey bars. 
• Climbing is abundant: the huge rope dome and neighboring rope "course" has bridges, ladders (you guessed it, made of rope), and different layers to climb throughout.
• 1 out of my 2 kids loved the bucket spinner. The other lost his mind because it was going really fast and when his mom wasn't there to stop it, he (understandably) freaked out.
• Bathrooms in the fieldhouse.

Showcasing a few special touches incorporated in the main play structure.

Cost Savings:
Free! Especially when a random person holds open the CTA gate to have you walk through.  Who am I to say no?

First time on Pink
AND Green Lines!

Location/Transportation:
West Loop
Incredibly easy access off the Ashland Train Stop via Green or Pink Line - literally across the street.

Kid's Jury: 4.5 stars
The park is great and has a lot of options: playground, swings, green space, tennis, pool, and water feature. My 3 year old didn't have as much to play on, as it was geared to older ages - my 5 year had a great time.

L-R: Open field; bucket spinner (with the one who liked it); pool

Playground: Ping Tom Park

Ping Tom Park offers a lot from a jungle gym for all ages, kayaks, nature walk, water taxi, and bathrooms(ish).  They have a fieldhouse with a pool, multipurpose gym, and scheduled activities, but if you don't want to sign up for classes there is still a lot to offer:

Noteworthy:

• The playground has play areas and jungle gym options to appease  toddlers and older.
• There is a great kayak rental - Urban Kayaks - a short walk away from the playground. We shared a Kayak with our son when 4 yo and plan to all go out this summer (5 and 3 yo).
• Bathrooms at the fieldhouse (when open), but it is a bit of a jaunt from the playground.
• Have to wait to rent a kayak (which would be surprising)? Enjoy the nice nature trail or skip back over to the playground.
• Haven't ridden a Chicago Water Taxi?  Well, now's the time! The Chinatown pickup / drop off location is steps from the playground. And what kid/parent doesn't love a boat ride? 
• Important note: Tickets must be purchased prior arrival. We learned the hard way, after our kids had selected their seats for an exciting adventure and we finished muscling our stroller onto the boat.  Which reminds me to mention: not all boats are ADA friendly.

Cost Savings:
Free, and can make a day out of it, taking time to explore the fullness of Chinatown and the area.

Location/Transportation:
Transportation: Area is very congested, so recommend public transportation.  Is a 10 min walk from Cermak-Chinatown Red Line.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
We love it here and our son is excited to take the bike trails soon.

Activity: Garfield Park Conservatory

updated: March 17, 2018

The Garfield Park Conservatory is a great indoor/outdoor conservatory offering a large variety of plants and environments; warm desert to lush tropical plants.  They are constantly expanding and hosting special art exhibits to complement the plant life; so every visit feels a little unique.

There is a nice children's play area - don't miss the fish with legs in the pond!

Their website is fantastic.  Check out the tour options as well!

Noteworthy:

• If taking children, younger kids tend to be "done" after visiting the Children's Area, so keep this in consideration.
• If visiting during cool or cold months, leave your coats in the car if you don't mind a quick run to the entrance as it is very warm in the conservatory.  

Cost Savings:
Free Parking and Free Entry (donations accepted and welcomed) with maps and tours available.

Location & Notes Summary:
East Garfield Park

• Transit: Green Line stops just a block from the conservatory,       but we usually park in the free lot adjacent to it. 
• Savings: Suggested donation for entry and free parking

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
We always enjoy it - especially in the winter when we need to get out of the house.

Our most recent visit was thrilling for our 7 year old, as he was excited to read all the names and point out from where each plant originates.  Our 5 year old loved seeing the waterfalls, fish, ants, and bees.  And both loved the children's slide.

Playground: Dvorak Park

Another submission in our "not new adventure, but family favorite" is Dvorak Park.

This park was renovated recently and went from a sleepy park to an immediate favorite. It offers a lot, including shade: Slides of varying heights and difficultly, climbing structures, swings, tunnels, and more!

As a parent in charge of putting on and retaining sunscreen coverage, we like to avoid the argument of whether they can go through water features (thus having to re-apply).  So having a park where the playground is fully separated from the outdoor public pool is a dream!  Win-Win for this parent.

Spider-Man would love this park

Noteworthy:

• The playground is next to a field and fieldhouse which hosts CPD classes and community activities.  And bathrooms.  
• Has a zipline glider for kids!

Cost Savings:
Free!
Neighborhood parking is free, but sometimes hard to find.

Location/Transportation:
Pilsen
Street parking only and depending on the activities at the fieldhouse or time of day may be more difficult to find, though we have never had to "leave" from not finding a spot.


Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Technically, my son gave this 10 stars.  I reminded him it was on a 5 star scale and he would still like to make 10 stars his final answer.

Activity: Firehouse Tour - Engine Co. 103

Today we whisked to a firehouse for a tour and to pat a Dalmatian.

After reading a great article on Red Tricycle about local firehouses that offer tours, we picked the Engine Co. 103.

It was a quick tour, as it is a small firehouse (1 fire engine) and they had just waxed the second story, so we couldn't go up there. But we were able to give treats to Freckles (we brought our own) and sit in the engine and try a hand pump.

Noteworthy:

• Call.  Call Again.  Even though I had called the day prior and was told Wednesday would be great, it is important to call again.  As you may arrive while they are eating dinner and it is less than ideal.  For everyone. Regardless, the fire fighter was friendly and fought through his hunger to show us around the fire engine.
• The Dalmatian is older and sweet.  And barks a lot while the firemen get to the door.  It freaked out my 3 yo so his body didn't touch the floor while we were in the house.  After he greets you, he retires to his cage, so if you want a photo with him, get it fast!

Cost Savings:
Free!  well, there was a $4 cost to the beggin' strips we brought.

Location/Transportation:
West Loop
We drove and were able to find street parking (free) easily.

Kid's Jury: 3.5 stars
Would have loved to have a more lively tour and should have called ahead to ensure timing was ideal. Would have liked to see the second floor, taken a trip down the pole, and maybe put on a pair of boots (but no idea if that ever happens...)

Playground: Maggie Daley Park

Some may be wondering why on earth we haven't hit up some of the most noteworthy aspects of Chicago: Maggie Daley Park; The Shedd Aquarium; and much much more.

Many of these we have visited and loved, and below is the first of the "Been There; Loved That" series of our favorite haunts:




Quite possibly the best park I have every been to in my life is Maggie Daley Park.

Do you like slides? Bridges? Boats? Water Features? Turtle Swings (not sure if this is the actual name or just what we call them)? (Rock) climbing? Lake view? Open areas of grass? Ice Skating?  Gardens? Tennis? Private Party Rooms? Picnics?

Check.

It is the greatest bribe we have at our fingertips.

Location & Notes Summary:
Loop

• Parking: We use SpotHero to find parking. You can also take public transit with a little walking.  Some street parking available if you find it (try the Parknav App)
• Savings: The best way to enjoy the ice rink (seasonally) - own skates.  This reduces cost and helps sidestep what can be a long, long queue for skate rental.
• Media: The park has a twitter handle: @MaggieDaleyPark - Of course it does.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars

My 5 year old suggested 100 stars.  So, yea, 5 stars.

Road Trip: Washington Park Zoo (Michigan City, IN)

Word of mouth and a friend recommendation led us to the Washington Park Zoo.  It was a picturesque area and the grounds were easy to navigate.  Though the zoo was quaint (which is a sweet way to say small), it carried the key aspects for young families: Train, Petting Zoo, Tigers, Reptiles, and Monkeys.

We could get really close to animals, though a few of the animals were not let out as the evenings are still too chilly for them.  The kids had a great time and the size of the park was perfect for them -- we were able to see all the animals without pushing the youngest to his pre-nap limit.

Noteworthy:

• There is a beautiful observatory tower you can climb, boasting views of the lake and lighthouse below.
• There are free range peacocks which actually stick around the Peacock cafe.  They are gorgeous!
• The entry line takes a long time as there is only one person taking money/providing tickets.  Although we were only the 10th family in line, it took about 15 minutes to get through the gate.  However, once inside you feel like it is a private tour as there are not too many crowds.
• The train does a tight circle and though I was concerned the kids would be disappointed, it was a needless worry -- they were all smiles and had buttons to push on each car.
• You can make a full day out of it as Washington Park also contains a beach, lighthouse museum, parks, playgrounds, and a water feature.  More details here.

Cost Savings:
The zoo is definitely worth the cost of admission.  It is very low cost - check out the site for details!

Location/Transportation:
Michigan City, IN (one hour outside Chicago)
We drove and there was a parking lot adjacent to the zoo.

Kid's Jury: 4 stars
They really enjoyed the day and the weather was fantastic!  We were glad to experience this hidden gem.

Purpose of this photo: evidence
that we brought both children.

Yes, I know he needs a haircut.