Chicago has a great bar and nightlife scene but what do you do when you are traveling with the kids? Where do you go? How do you keep them interested while having a valuable Chicago experience?
There are so many options during the entire year even in the winter. There are plenty of things to do that will be fun for the entire family that can fit your budget and what your family might be into.
Maggie Daley Park
337 E. Randolph Dr, Chicago, IL. 60601
Maggie Daley Park WebsiteSummertime / when its nice outside: Want to treat your kids (or yourself) to a world class playground? After you get your obligatory picture at the Bean walk East and cross that snake-like bridge. What was once kind of a boring park has been transformed into a super cool playground and picnic area that spans over 20 acres!
Want to treat your kids (or yourself) to a world class playground? After you get your obligatory picture at the Bean walk East and cross that snake-like bridge. What was once kind of a boring park has been transformed into a super cool playground and picnic area that spans over 20 acres!
Summertime / when its nice outside:
Want to treat your kids (or yourself) to a world class playground? After you get your obligatory picture at the Bean walk East and cross that snake-like bridge. What was once kind of a boring park has been transformed into a super cool playground and picnic area that spans over 20 acres!
Wintertime:
This ice rink is actually an ice trail! Rather than being just the usual hockey style rink this has twists and turns as well as some ups and downs! I’m terrible at ice skating but this is a lot of fun. They have a rail to hold on to if needed. See you at the rail.
Fun facts:
You are playing on the roof! Yep, you might be hanging out right over where you parked. Maggie Daley and Millennium park are both roof tops! They cover parking garages and train stations! The membrane that keeps the water out of the parking garages below needed to be replaced. That was the perfect time to update the park to what it is today!
Gobbert’s Farm (About 30 miles Northwest of Downtown Chicago
Gobbert’s Farm: Barrington, Illinois 40 W. Higgins Rd. South Barrington, IL. 60010 1-847-428-6727
Amout 30 miles Northwest of downtown Chicago is Gobbert’s Farm. This place is amazing and I make it a point to get here every year.
Barrington:
Goebbert’s has been in the farm market business since 1948. George Goebbert started a roadside vegetable stand in Arlington Heights. In 1972, Jim Goebbert bought the 40-acre farm in South Barrington and moved his family. Jim’s three children started selling pumpkins on the roadside in 1973. It got so busy one Saturday, Jim had to close the Arlington Heights stand, to come home and help with the pumpkin sales. The fall festival was born.
In 1979, Jim made Goebbert’s a destination farm by having the fiberglass pumpkin, “Happy Jack” made for the silo. Happy Jack measures 18ft wide, 15 ft tall and is a landmark for many people.
Hampshire:
In 1985, Jim purchased a second location in Hampshire IL.. This 200-acre farm is open to the public in late Sept. thru Oct. for the fall festival. The rest of the year, we are busy greenhouse growing and farming vegetables that we sell in South Barrington. Jim & Esther have retired and their sons Lee & Lloyd along with their wives run the farm.
Today we employ 250 plus people at Goebbert’s during our peak seasons yet we are still a small family run farm.
Navy Pier
Its cool to trash talk Navy Pier. Most locals never go there and when they do its when they have someone in from out of town. Look, Navy Pier is as good or as bad as you make it to be. The food choices have greatly improved. The air conditioning in the theater feels great on a hot summer day. Not everything needs to be an Instagramable moment – Just finding a bench at the end of the pier and watching the boats and birds can be one way to have a great afternoon.