Playground: Indian Boundary Park

We visited a wonderful neighborhood park called Indian Boundary Park!

This park is great for many ages as it has so much to offer - a large, wooden playground, a grassy area with trails, a bird sanctuary, and nature play center. All packed into a city block (even a Fieldhouse and event space is available - some outdoors in their garden with twinkle lights!)

The wooden playground is perfect for kids to exercise their imagination - there are so many towers and tunnels, mixed with money bars, slides, and tire swings. We had a really hard time getting the boys to leave (8 and 6 years old)!

Noteworthy:

• In addition to the wooden "castle" structures, there is a nature play center right next to the playground that has little nooks and crannies for kids: little stone houses, tree stumps to hop through, and tree trunks to balance on.
• The bird sanctuary is a serene little pond covered in wild flowers, where you can see turtles, butterflies, and birds (we even saw baby Canadian Geese!).
• Restaurants - nearby there is a variety of places to eat and a cute little ice cream shop called Lickety Split.
• Being so close to Little India, we wanted to introduce the kids to Indian food. We ended up at Tiffin, which the kids loved and were raving about the entire time (we ordered Lamb Seehk Kebob, Chicken Tikka, and Mixed Grill Platter). It was way too much food but the boys are over the moon to know they can eat more of it tomorrow!

Age Recommendations:
Something here for everyone!  Grab some friends and head out!  It's worth the trip if you are not close by.

Location/Transportation:
2500 W. Lunt, Chicago, IL / Rogers Park
Parking is tight in the area, so you may need to walk a bit to get to the park.
Not easily accessible by train, but several bus lines service the area.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Technically, they tried to give it 10 stars, but that's not how it works.
And then with the Indian Restaurant, they were probably at 100 stars.

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:

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.

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!

Playground: Margate Park

Though this playground doesn't appear on recent "best of" lists for Chicago - it sneaked it's way into our top 10!  The Margate Park Playground was larger than I expected with a lot of structures to climb and slide.

Though it has a bit of wear and tear, it has many more pros: two robust climbing/sliding/swinging structures, toddler area, bathrooms (when fieldhouse is open), water fountain, seating, and tables.

Noteworthy:

• Parking (paid) available at the fieldhouse, playground is adjacent.
• The playground is near lakefront paths and a lot of open grassy areas.
• The Margate Park neighborhood is so picturesque, we enjoyed walking around.

Cost Savings:
Free
Street parking is free, if you can find it. Otherwise, the playground has a small lot at the fieldhouse (fee).

Location/Transportation:
Margate Park, tucked in Uptown
We drove, as it is just off of Lake Shore Drive (Lawrence exit).  The Lawrence exit has a bridge with a "tent community" -- about 25 homeless people -- and while it was unexpected and startling, we felt completely safe.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
This park was great. I promised the boys we would be back.

Playground: Margaret Donahue

The Margaret Donahue playground is fantastic! It has a great water area with a shower tower, water activity tables, and wall spouts.  My kids spent a majority of their time in the water (it is a Chicago summer, after all) and dabbled on the equipment.

The park was well thought out as it is fully fenced in, provides a lot of seating and shaded snack tables, has an open space  for running around, AND areas for bikes & stroller parking!


Noteworthy:
- Great neighborhood: retail stores and restaurants abound.
- Coax kids to wear shoes on the equipment if the water feature is on (making things slippery)
- Southport El Stop has a quaint, enjoyable farmer's market: check here for dates and times.





Cost Savings:
Free!
Bonus: area restaurants offer free kids' meals: Crosby's Kitchen or The Butcher's Tap, to name a few.

Recommend the KidMealDeal App for kid meal deals in your area, as the above may be outdated.

Location/Transportation:
Lakeview / Southport Corridor
Southport Brown Line stop is so close, I highly recommend. My boys loved being on the train.

Kid's Jury: 4.5 stars
As the playground came into view, my 5 year old excitedly called out: "it looks like the city!"

It is a beautiful playground, with the standout features being the water area and city-scape view. The equipment was good, but slippery when wet (which is always, when the water is turned on). We saw many kids (including mine) injured as a result.

Playground: Ward (Aaron Montgomery) Park

Ward Park is in a serene area nestled along the river, with a beautiful view of the city.  It has a lot of options to play on: rolling hills, monkey bars, swings, slides, teeter-totters, spinning & climbing structures, and a water feature.

Noteworthy:
- Great outdoor seating with shade umbrellas
- Dog park nearby
- Next to Erie Cafe, which has outdoor seating along the river.
- There was a little hot dog stand on the corner which provided our dinner and everyone loved sitting on a small hill with our feet in the grass.

Cost Savings:
Free!

Location/Transportation:
River North
- El Stops: Chicago Brown/Purple line
- There was parking adjacent to the park, which it looked like a lot of patrons used.  Not sure on cost.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
Great park, great location.

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: Mary Bartelme Park

Mary Bartelme Park is an oasis for the neighborhood whether you have kids, dogs, or none of the above.  The park takes up a full city block and includes a robust playground, artwork doubling as misters, dog park (not pictured), and plenty of grass for picnics & ball.

The playground is fenced in, which is great until they figure out how to get out. Truthfully, my husband couldn't figure out how to get in, so our 5 year old showed him how.

The park is located near a Starbucks, and it seemed each family had made a pit-stop there on their walk over. Wishbone restaurant is walking distance or you can head a few blocks over to Greek town for a myriad of (greek) options. Another bonus option: A pop-up juice stand is frequently spotted there, and food trucks seem to meander past from time to time.






Noteworthy:

• There are a lot of climbing structures, with a unique feature of rubber mats to climb and jump around (top collage, middle photo).
• Toddler area has 2 slides and a few teeny hammocks (we think, not quite sure their function).
• Two rope areas - the web is pictured below; and the other is a series of ropes to climb through.
• There is some picnic seating within the playground or you can BYO blanket to sit in the grass.
• No bathrooms, which may also explain all the Starbucks fans / "visits."
• What is behind the name Mary Bartelme? First Illinois judge and much more.

Cost Savings:
Free!...unless you don't luck out with the parking.

Location/Transportation:
West Loop
Green Line Morgan Station is a 10 min walk, though we typically drive.
Parking: We haven't had issues - some streets are free; others zoned or metered.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
We love this park because we love to climb and use our scooters and bikes on the pathways.

Playgrounds: South Loop Playground Run-down

With so many parks in the South Loop, it is the hard to know which direction to travel. Below is the locals run down of our preferred (park titles are linked to addresses/information):

Mary Richardson Jones Park (AKA School Park)
Reason to go: Play areas for all ages, quiet area/community, Close to public transportation.
Had no idea there was an official name for this park other than "school park" until I looked it up just now.

This is great for all ages, as it has 3 sections:
1. Area with swings and a pretty good sized grassy knoll.
2. The west side is a toddler area with a train, station, a small slide and small riding cars.
3. The east side has a jungle gym area with slides and a variety of climbing and monkey bar options.

It is pretty easy to watch both kids and have them both happy.

Notes: 

• No bathrooms on site. 
• With zone restricted parking throughout, recommend public transit.  Easily accessible 5 min walk from Roosevelt Red Line; Orange Line; and Green Line.

Coliseum Park (AKA Space Park)

Reasons to go: climbing structures, unique, merry-go-round
This playground was transformed from a teeny tot playground to a more advanced playground with climbing structures and a turtle swing (not sure if this is the technical term). To access the larger slide, kids have to climb a spiderweb of ropes and/or a slender rubberized mat.

Notes:

• Some of the play options are 1 person at a time (turtle swing, turning seat thing), so there is a high demand for these and interesting parent/community dynamics can be a result.
• If it is rainy or misty, the structures can get slippery.  Be careful.  
• No bathrooms on site.

Mark Twain Park
Reason to go: Quiet, contained area, great for toddlers and younger children.
While this isn't an official park of the Chicago Park District it is very popular for those you can find this hidden gem on the corner of 15th and Prairie.  Great views of soldier field and local trains.

No bathrooms on site.  Recommend walking as parking is very difficult.

Roosevelt Playlot
Reasons to go: Shopping time mixed with play time.
This tiny park packs a solid "play" punch with it's unique playground equipment. It keeps kids of all ages entertained and if you work it right, one of you can sneak off to one of the retail shops and be back before the kids notice. Can even make a day of it if there is a movie you want to see and/or a coffee shop/restaurant that fits the bill.

Notes:

• Bathrooms on site 
• Transportation: free or discounted parking depending on your shopping needs. Also about a 10 min stop from the Roosevelt Train Station.
• The play area is not fully fenced off, so keep an eye on the kids.  We had one escape and run directly into oncoming traffic. Hats off to our friend who literally jumped the fence and grabbed him before any cars came by. We may still owe him some medical bill payments.

Cotton Tail Park
Reasons to to: sandbox, well enclosed
This park has a strong neighborhood feel. The kids like to use the large circle sidewalk to learn how to ride their scooter, bike, or whatever else has wheels these days.  Have yet to witness a hoverboard. In the center of the circle is a large grassy area used for any number of things: sports, parties, etc.

The jungle gym is good, but "quaint." There is also a two level pirate ship and a gazebo.

Notes:

• No bathrooms on site.
• Sandbox toys are sometimes plentiful, but if you want to ensure your child gets a bucket or shovel, BYO.
• Sunscreen. There is a high sun quotient here
• Transportation: parking can be hard to find.

Chicago Women's Park & Garden (Outdoor/Indoor)
Reasons to go: Local park activities, indoor option, historical
This park is comprised of beautiful grass and gardens in the outdoors, nestled along Prairie Avenue -- a historic area of the city.  The Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance does a great job of hosting a variety of events throughout the year and as a result, their calendar entices the community and families to show up in droves!

The indoor area has some climbing and play equipment and is a nice getaway if you are tired of your home and looking for a free option out of the rain or snow (photos below):

It also houses an indoor/outdoor restaurant Spoke & Bird and Kids Science Labs.

Notes:

• Bathrooms on site.
• Transportation: parking is hard to find.

Soldier Field Play Area:

Reasons to go: near the lake, lake front bike path, and museum campus.

We have never taken the kids here, as it is a bit of a hike for us.  The energy in the area is great as there are so many people around and there is a lot to see and do.  Would view this as a great pre or post museum or Soldier Field visit area to go to let the kids run around.  

Notes:

• Location - Nested between the Field Museum and Soldier Field. Not easy to spot from the sidewalk, as it is between rolling hills.
• Transportation - Difficult if there is anything happening at soldier field. Parking is expensive.
• Bathrooms are in the vicinity.

------

Did we miss your favorite or one to also highlight?  Let us know - happy to inspect a new location!

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.

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.

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.

Playground: Mt. Greenwood Park

Spurred by the beautiful weather and a new favorite park suggested by Chicago Parent, we checked out Mt. Greenwood Park.

It was worth the drive!  The park was very popular (yet would guess each and every park or grassy surface was equally packed today) -- ages ranging from babies to grade school.  There were a lot of climbing areas and there is an emphasis on music with some drums and oversized bells / gongs scattered throughout (photos below).  We could have definitely made a full day of this location.

Cost Savings:
Free, easy parking!  Large lot adjacent to the park.

Location/Transportation:
Mt. Greenwood
We drove about 25 min from the South Loop. The trip was slowed by two train crossings; though it was a bonus for the kids. The area is beautiful with a lot of older, stately buildings and a lot of tree-lined streets.


Noteworthy:

• Two great features new to our family: a metal tunnel slide (middle photo in top collage) and sway fun (collage: far right).  The sway seating was a huge self-propelled teeter-totter. This was a crowd favorite and many kids would rotate to help with keeping it moving and sitting to enjoy the ride.
• There is a huge park near the play ground I was eyeing for a perfect area to practice my son's new training-wheel-free bicycling!
• Has an indoor/outdoor pool, as well as a water feature (wasn't on yet).
• Cute cafe across the street.

Kid's Jury: 5 stars
The kids had to be dragged from the park and really enjoyed their time there.  This is also on the heels of my youngest screaming and angry that he was forced to go outside at all. A Skittle bribe got him out the door and into a better frame of mind. Should have probably brought some skittles to get them out of the park.

Playground: Oz Park

Today's adventure had two goals accomplished: a new train line and new park!

I picked them up early from school and whisked them to the blue line on our way to Oz Park.  While we did get in the first car, with a bonus wave and chat with the driver, this may not have been my best call on transit options.  Because once we were done with the train, we boarded the Halsted bus for 12 stops.  Which may not sound like a lot, but when in the heart of rush hour, and realizing this fact seconds before boarding the bus, my heart sank a little.

And then more as the boys asked every 5 seconds: "is this the stop??"

However, when we did arrive, the boys had a great time!  Oz Park is expansive with a huge grassy hill, the playground, and areas for baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, and football.

Noteworthy:
The park is great for the imagination and climbers.  The unique aspect is that most of the playground is wood.  There are three different areas and all have a mini-castle feel where they loved climbing through each one to figure out how to get to the top.

There was a much larger contingency of older kids at the playground (guessing high school age, but I am admittedly terrible at guessing ages).  However, they were careful around the younger kids and seemed to be a spill-over from the baseball practice that had just finished.

Cost Savings:
Free!  Not too shabby.

Location/Transportation:
Lincoln Park Neighborhood
Took Blue Line to Halsted 8 Bus; then determined that wasn't ideal and took the Red Line back (much faster for us)

Kid's Jury: 4 stars
Asked the 5 year old, what do you wish they had at the park? 5yo: "a two-wheeled bike and a real motorcycle." So aside from unrealistic expectations, they had a good time.
When asked if this was in his top 5 favorite parks, he thought a moment and said "I liked that park and would place it in my top ten."  Not sure if we have been to a total of 10 parks yet, so...
It had a unique feel and I liked the concept, but could see them potentially getting bored there after a longer stint.

Playground: 31st Street Beach Park / Edwin C Berry Park

After reading about 31st Street Beach Park -- or the formal name I have never heard: Edwin C. "Bill" Berry Park -- in RedTricycle, I knew we had to visit.

And it did not disappoint.

The park is beautiful and well maintained.  The area had a lot of unique features not seen at other parks.  And while my kids enjoyed all aspects, my 5 year old focused heavily on repeat missions up the rock climbing wall, while my 3 year old may have worn a path down the long twisty slide.  It was fast moving and my son was not alone in his slide love affair - many kids were there and the giggles were contagious.

The view of the lake is fantastic, it is steps from 31st Street Beach, bathrooms (which should be noted are not open year round), LSD bike/walk paths, and several tables for picnics.

Noteworthy: 

• Bathrooms open on April 22.
• Public Parking is available.  Download the Parkmobile App before you go if you don't want to take your purse/wallet.  Was $2 for an hour, so really inexpensive.

Cost Savings: 

All you pay for is parking

Location/Transportation:
Bronzeville
Can bike, as it is just off of the Lake Shore path.
We drove and didn't have issues finding parking (but were not there during a busy time)

Kid's Jury: 5 stars

I had to promise the kids we would go back as soon as possible so we could leave.
Parents love the size, it is manageble, so while my 5 and 3 year old want to be in different areas - we still felt close to each.  It has a great variety and can't wait to go back!