It's a city known by many names: "Chi-Town", the "Windy City", the "Second City," and the "City of Broad Shoulders." Vibrant and on-the-move, Chicago is the ideal long weekend escape for families looking for nonstop fun and adventure with an educational twist.
Day 1
For a fun and inexpensive tour of the Loop, the historical center of Chicago's downtown, hop on the "L". For $2.75, the orange line will take you on an up-high spin around the heart of the city. Get off at the Adams stop and you're just steps away from the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, one of America's premier art museums. Take in the impressive collection of American and Impressionistic Art, and be sure to visit the lower level Kraft Educational Center, where interactive exhibits will allow children to experience art up close and personal.
Across the street, 24.5-acre Millennium Park is a center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. Check out your reflection in the giant bean, a.k.a. "Cloud's Gate" and splash around in the ever-changing Crown Fountain.
Walk back west down Adams towards the hard to miss Willis Tower, the 4th tallest building in the world. Elevators will whisk your family up to the sky deck, where, on a sunny day, you'll see as far as Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Cap off a busy day of sightseeing with a visit to 10 PIN, the bowling alley located within in the Hotel Sax and adjacent to the House of Blues concert venue. With 24 long lanes, it's never crowded (at least during the kid-friendly hours, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.). Lane bumpers ensure that there will be no too-sore losers. You can catch up on all the latest music videos by artists you've never even heard of before and you can order a thin-crust pizza ai quattro formaggi and gourmet s'mores for dessert, instead of the usual bowling-alley fare.
Day 2
The Lincoln Park Zoo, located within the verdant Lincoln Park, is a delight for children and adults of all ages. Take a stroll through this oasis of flora and fauna, one of the oldest zoos in our nation. Not to be missed is the Pritzker Family Children's Zoo, where children can get up close and personal with busy beavers, climb a giant tree, and cool off in an interactive fountain. Refuel with ice cream cones from the landmark Café Brauer.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings from April-October, visit the Green City Market, Chicago's very own fresh-air market featuring organic fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and more, located on the southwest end of Lincoln Park. Grab the fixings for a picnic and take advantage of the market's free entertainment and cooking demos.
Trolley on over to the Shedd Aquarium, where you'll dive into the fascinating undersea world of sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and more. Interactive exhibits and slimy, swift creatures will peak everyone's interest. Don't miss the hourly Caribbean Reef Dive at the central rotunda: where you can talk to one of the aquarium divers while she feeds more than 300 animals.
Afterwards, head on over to nearby Chinatown, the 3rd largest Chinese neighborhood in the United States. Chinatown Square Mall, located at 2133 South China Place at 22nd Street, features numerous cafes and boutiques. Bright and Colorful, Joy Yee's is the perfect spot to dine and watch the world pass by (outdoor seating is available). While the menu features a long list of delights don't miss a sample of Joy Yee's specialty, Bubble Tea, a.k.a. Boba Tea, a fruit flavored dotted with tapioca pearls that will remind your kids of mini balls of jello. Send your kids off to search for their representative animal among the twelve Chinese Zodiac animal statues, located in the middle of the Mall. Kids will also enjoy climbing the stairs of the two pagodas.
Day 3
Start your day with a guided Chicago Architecture Cruise organized by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. CAF-certified expert docents interpret the world-class architecture along the Chicago River during a 90-minute, narrated river cruise. This tour spotlights more than 50 architecturally significant sites where you will discover a new perspective on the city. Drinks and snacks are available on board.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is the perfect museum to introduce your children to thought-provoking, vibrant and colorful world of modern art. Enjoy the 20 minute "Highlights Tour", the perfect timeframe for children, and then wander to your heart's content. The outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to enjoy a take-away picnic lunch from Puck's, the gourmet, in-museum café. Kids will be able to let off some steam at the outdoor play park just across the street from the museum.
Michigan Avenue is a shopper's paradise. Kids will love the Disney Store, at 717 N. Michigan Ave. and American Girl and the Lego Store, both located within WaterTower Place at 835 North Michigan Avenue. Cap your stroll off with a visit to the historic Old Water Tower (800 N. Michigan Ave.), built in 1869 and a survivor of the devastating Chicago Fire. It now houses a visitor information center and the small park nearby is the ideal spot to catch a breath before continuing your shopping jaunt.
For information on accommodations in Chicago, or for further information on tourist attractions, dining and more, visit the official Chicago Board of Tourism's website at ExploreChicago.com.
Amy Bocchetta - Amy Bizzarri is a writer, a teacher, and a mom. Her stories tend to focus on family adventure travel and green/eco-friendly destinations, ...
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