Tag Archives: chicago

10 Best Family Travel Tips

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If you plan to drive on your next road trip, take along our travel tips to help kids work off some of that pent-up energy during the trip.

Besides using one of their guidebooks to get unique ideas for places to go, here are some other suggestions we offer.

  1. PLAN  2 – 4 ACTIVITIES within a one hour drive time of each other. Base you choices on the season of year.
  2. Know DIRECTIONS & PARKING INFORMATION before you leave. In addition to the site’s website, GPS are good resources for directions.
  3. If in doubt, MAKE RESERVATIONS, especially for tours. Find out what is SUGGESTED TO WEAR, especially for factory or transportation tours. When in doubt, DRESS DOWN and DRESS IN LAYERS.
  4. For the road, PACK SNACKS and BEVERAGES.  Also, PACK TRAVEL GAMES & TOYS and plenty of TOILETRIES. Click on the graphics below for some great suggestions like Travel Bingo, Magnetic Games, and Invisible Ink Books.
  5. If your budget allows, have the VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A TV/VCR unit
  6. PLAN PICNICS along the way. (Allow time for a rural/scenic route to take advantage of free, clean picnic facilities).
  7. Choose FAMILY FRIENDLY LODGING.
  8. HISTORY is easy, if you SNEAK IT IN! Engage your kids by learning state facts (people, places, history, etc) using fun and educational activity books found at many gift shops.
  9. Gravitate to MUSEUMS that are HANDS-ON.
  10. SOUVENIRS are fun for kids to pick out and keep as a MEMORY of your visit of favorite places. (They can even be practical, too!)

15 More Places Every Kid Should See Before 15

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Wondering where to take the kids this summer? Budget Travel has some great ideas and is pleased to unveil 15 More Places Every Kid Should See Before 15. (2 of them are favs from the KIDS LOVE ILLINOIS book)

Last year, Budget Travel chose 15 places they thought every kid should see before they turned 15. This year, they took it one step further and invited readers to weigh in on their favorite kid-friendly destinations.  The editors then used the reader-generated nominations (562 to be exact) to create the 2012 list.

What made a destination worthy of inclusion? It needed to be fun, educational, and especially magical through the eyes of a child. It needed to inspire adults to tap back into that childlike sense of wonder. And it needed to have universal appeal.

In case you were wondering…my fav pick of the 15 is from our KIDS LOVE ILLINOIS book…Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield…Disney does Lincoln…overloaded!

KIDS LOVE ILLINOIS UPDATES – Open Books in Chicago

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-from a friend in the Chicago area

I’m sure you are aware of all the well-known cultural destinations in the Windy City – the museums, Wrigley Field, Millennium Park, Sears Tower, but there is one little-known gem that I want to put on your radar. In the heart of Chicago’s River North area, Open Books is a cultural experience that has been described as a Wonka Wonderland of Books.

The award-winning bookstore provides a vibrant, fun, creative place for guests of all ages to read and play. Adult visitors can browse through a selection of 50,000 books and relax on the oversized couches, while kids can enjoy flipping through the 10,000 children’s books and playing in the children’s corner.

Travelers can even feel good about spending their money (books average between $3 to $5), which we know can get tight during vacations, because book sales support the Open Books literacy program. The store funds 50% of Open Book’s literacy programs which pairs volunteers with Chicago Public School students to help them with reading and writing – thousands of volunteers- 4,000 students. There is so much more to say about the store, but I don’t want to bombard you with information. Feel free to check out the website whenever you have a free moment: http://www.open-books.org/.

LODGING AND DINING: CHICAGOLAND

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Jenny and I were off to Chicagoland to speak at a Homeschool Conference and came across A new place to dine and lodge. Whether you’re flying in (these are close to the airport) or driving in like us, this is a good area to base from. If you are driving in, you might want to take I-290 as I-90 is great scenery (downtown Chicago from the Sears Tower side) but loads of traffic!

DOUBLETREE HOTEL CHICAGO – Arlington Heights

As you enter the lobby and checkin, you’ll be greeted by friendly staff, yes, but even better – the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies! Each evening around checkin time, they bake their famous cookies (people love them so much they now ship them in tins) to give to guests as a welcome gift. If that doesn’t “grab” the kids attention, maybe the Fluffy bed and pillows in your room (popular Sweet Dreams pillows and plush top bedding) or the nice indoor atrium pool area and walking courtyard green space will. Just outside the fitness and pool area is a snack bar called Cravings – open 24 hours for late-night snack craving purchases. If you want, you can take the complimentary local area shuttle to the nearest Metra station and board the transit into downtown Chicago without the fuss (and expense) of parking.

The Birch River Grill Restaurant on the property was very good. (serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily) When you first walk in, it gives you a cozy feel…with a glowing fireplace one might find in a fishing lodge. A friendly wait staff and the smell of delicious food greet you at the entrance. They serve inspired

Girls Night Out

American dishes in generous portions. Everyone is sure to find something that they would enjoy to eat, from Granny Apple & Onion Soup (which is topped with cheese and fresh baked crisp apples) to even the simplest and cheesiest Mac & Cheese.  Signature meat entrees include Grilled Pork Tenderloin Served with real smashed potatoes and rustic cranberry apple sauce or grilled, rubbed steak served au jus.  Even the desserts are amazing, from a yummy carrot cake for two to the chocolate lover’s favorite Chocolate Temptation Cake (even the name makes you tempted to get it!). And, the Doubletree Cookies & Milk is the classic ending to Doubletree dining. Who would think a city known for pizza and beef would also have so many Southern twists (ex. Sweet potato fries or fried green tomatoes) and East Coast turns (crab cakes).

FOR MORE TO THE STORY: visit KIDS LOVE ILLINOIS UPDATES