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!

Road Trip: Saugatuck, Michigan - 3 day itinerary

We enjoyed our first weekend trip to the quaint, picturesque lake town of Saugatuck, Michigan and below are our recommendations of activities & restaurants for families with young children.

The town is very easy to navigate on foot and we recommend staying near the main street (there are some Inns and many VRBO/AirBNB offerings), so you can avoid looking for a parking spot. There is also a nice little playground in town that we frequented to let the kids run freely and to kill time while waiting for the ferry or duck boats to become available.

DAY 1

We left Chicago in the morning and arrived in Saugatuck just in time for lunch!

Mermaid Bar and Grill - American Fare (Kids Menus Available)
This restaurant sits along the water front, so the kids can watch the boats float by, and the food is good too! Servers were nice, attentive, and quick (which is key with young kids).

The Sweet Shop
We then wandered across the street to the Sweet Shop to enjoy chocolate dipped Oreo for dessert. The kids were thrilled, as was mom!

Saugatuck Chain Ferry - Crosses the River from Saugatuck to Douglas
This is a unique experience for kids - as it is the only hand-crank ferry still used in the United States! It is a small ferry, manned by college students (or high schoolers? It's so hard for me to tell nowadays) who crank a lever that pulls the ferry along a chain to the other side of the water.

Key Note: The chain ferry is often not able to run if the water is choppy. Which we learned the hard way. Twice. If you are on the other side and the ferry isn't running....there aren't a lot of easy options to get back to the other side.  Recommend riding it from Saugatuck, across the river, then riding it right back. This means you won't have to hitch hike like we did.

Mt. Baldhead Hike:
The Mount Baldhead Recreation Area most notably has a nearly 300-step staircase taking you to the top of the area to view the town and surrounding water. The hike is fun - the kids had energy to spare, which is perfect, as "sand dune jumping" awaits them at the top!

We made our way to Mt. Baldhead by the Chain Ferry, but then were stranded on the other side - would recommend taking a car and saving the chain ferry for a one-off experience.

DAY 2

Saugatuck Dunes State Park
This beach feels like your own private beach, most likely due to the hike it takes to get there. It is a beach within a state park (there is an unmanned entrance which requires a fee (cash only) - check the site here for the current Recreation Passport cost).

The hike from the parking area to the beach is a gorgeous, tree-filled forest (slightly buggy, be forewarned) - but pack light, it is about 2 miles in distance.

Center for the Arts
The local Center for the Arts has a quaint, beautiful garden mixed with art.  We strolled through it, as it was on our way into downtown and enjoyed stepping into the quiet area to enjoy the scenery.

Harbor Duck Adventure
Another family favorite - This amphibious vehicle was previously used in WWII and now provides some entertainment and information to tourists to get a land and water view of the towns of Saugatuck and Douglas.  It was a fun trip (the driver was a funny guy) and we even walked away with some good nuggets.  Kids loved getting into the water!

Key Note: When I say it sells out fast, I'm not kidding.  It only seats 20 people, so make sure to get there early. They also may have a private tour happening (this happened to us). We learned a lot about flexibility on this trip :)

Shops & Playground:
Between the town tour and dinner, the kids enjoyed the little playground downtown.  It is on the west side, near the Chain Ferry and across the street from public bathrooms. Pretty genius, truly.  Many families enjoy the little shops as well - so make sure to check those out (you can watch the waffle cones being made at Kilwins)!

Saugatuck Brewing Company
Our family enjoys breweries (well, not the younger members, but you know what I mean), so this location hit the spot.  Casual with good beers and food. We had a flight of beers, which was fun and the boys enjoyed the little sports/billiards room nearby to pass time as we waited for our food.

Saugatuck Antique Pavilion
If there is a wait to get into the brewery, we heard the antique pavilion is a fun place to pass the time.  We were able to get in right away to the restaurant and never had a chance to pop over.  If you it out and let us know how it was in the comments!

DAY 3

As this was our check-out day, we packed up in the morning and headed to Oval Beach.

Oval Beach
This beach is more easily accessed than Saugatuck Dunes State Park, so it is best to arrive early to find parking and claim a place on the beach.  It is more active with people and the beach itself is nice, though a bit narrow.  Kids had a fun time!

Earl's Berry Farm
While this location is no longer open, there were several similar You-Pick farms along the road.  It was great to break up the drive home and so fun for the kids to run around picking blueberries.  They had an awesome time and a great snack for the remainder of the ride home!

Location/Transportation:
About a 2.5-3 hour drive from Chicago.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Had a great time relaxing and enjoying a weekend of small town shops, picturesque beaches, and unique experiences. Over and above the activities, the kids really loved the time at the beaches the most.

Road Trip: Ski Lessons (Wilmot Mountain)

Ready to embrace this winter weather and challenge your kids (or yourself) with some downhill skiing?  Try out this nearby mountain...

We took a quick road trip to Wilmot Mountain for a kid's half day lesson (9:30 am - noon).

It was our 7 year old son's first time on skis and first time seeing a ski resort. The resort is cozy and easy to maneuver with (resort map) a ski school, rental area, main chalet (food, drink, lounge, small store, etc), and trails.

The ski school check-in is efficient, and they quickly had us signed in and on our way to pick up our rentals (see Rentals note below). Instructors were easily visible, good at directing us to the next steps, and patient answering my numerous questions.

Once rentals were in hand, we were running late, and the ski instructors were great about quickly joining our son with the rest of his class on the mountain (i.e. bunny hill).

The school is strict on their parent drop-off policy, keeping anxious moms (me) and dads at a distance so the kids can focus on learning the ropes. I tried to watch for a bit, and then couldn't figure out which kid was mine and sought solace at the nearby (warm) chalet.

From what I saw of the lessons, the kids receive good instruction and by the end, Chase was able to go down the full bunny hill unassisted and successfully maneuvered himself through narrow cones!

Noteworthy:

• Rentals: If you need rentals, arrive with plenty of time.  It took us a full 30 minutes to get our boots, skis, and helmet - and we had pre-registered online. The area is TIGHT and difficult to figure out the first time. That said, staff was incredibly helpful and did their best to keep lines moving.
• Goggles: Rentals do not come with goggles, but would highly recommend you borrow/purchase some. 
• Viewing Lessons: It is difficult to get a good view of the kids in lessons, depending on where they are on the mountain. And the fact that every kid looks the same size and is most likely wearing the identical black and gray colors and matching rental helmets. 
• Food: Walt's Tavern is on property, with a fire pit outside. The cafeteria has a mix of comfort foods and snacks.
• Tubing: They have a large tubing hill (which we didn't experience), and it looks amazing.

Cost Savings:
You probably know this, but skiing isn't cheap.

• If your family gets the ski-bug (much better than this year's flu bug), be sure to review their website for deals on season passes, bulk discounts, or Epic passes (deductions at Colorado destinations and more).  
• Groupon may have deals for ski resorts in the area as well.

Location/Transportation:
Other Locations near downtown Chicago with ski lessons for kids:

• Four Lakes Alpine Snowsports - near Lisle, IL
• Villa Olivia - Bartlett, IL

All locations are closer to downtown, though classes look more expensive

Kid's Jury: 4 stars
So while my son gave it 3 stars, I added a star as his rating is very misleading. His only complaint was that he didn't get to do harder aspects of skiing.  Everyone has to start with the basics, so he got a little bored and I should have set expectations on the first lesson teaching basic skills; not going down a black diamond.

Random Recommendation: For first time skiers, I recommend starting with a private lesson (if affordable) to get a sense of skill level. I wish we would have done this to make it is easier to determine his skill level for future group lessons (avoiding boredom or over-taxing on either end of the spectrum).

Road Trip: Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL)

Our family had a great experience at our first (family) trip to Six Flags!

Rides are restricted by height, so ensure your shortest family member is a min of 36" or you will be paying a lot of money for very little to do.

Main Height Breakdowns:
36" Height - Access to:

• All the kiddie rides (think sitting in a car that follows a pre-set path; planes that circle).
• Located in County Fair Kidzopolis & Hometown Square
• 2 roller coasters: The Whizzer and Little Dipper (our small guy loved both)
• Roaring Rapids & Yankee Clipper/Log Rides

42" Height - Access to all of the above and:

• Justice League - 4D Laser Game
• Demon - upside down roller coaster
• The Dark Knight - completely dark indoor coaster (note: scared my 6yo and a nearby older child)

48" Height - All of the above and:

• 12 additional coasters/water rides, including The Joker, Goliath, and Giant Drop

54" Height - Everything, including:

• Batman
• X flight
• Superman

Noteworthy:

• The park opens earlier than stated on the website, so arrive early for great parking and faster admittance.
• Upon entry, beeline for the rides you most want to experience - no line; no wait! Most likely you will be able to ride it a few times without a wait.
• We arrived when the park opened, and made it until 6pm before we tired out. Didn't even make it to Hurricane Harbor.
• We came dressed in our swim suits, as there are splash pads and water rides in the normal park. We were glad we did.  Our kids did not enjoy roaring rapids or the yankee clipper (which was sad for the parents).
• Food in the park is expensive, and many smart folks leave the park and eat in their car.

Look at this smart family!!

Cost Savings:
There are typically ways to save on ticket prices, so make sure to check online.

Kid's Jury: 4 stars
Had a great time. Would like it more if costs were lower for kids that can't do many of the rides :) Only complaint.

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!!

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.