Chicago Vacation ?

[aladams2]

We are thinking of going to Chicago this summer with our two DD 8 and 6. We thought about Six Flags, the Aquarium, maybe a show, and American Girl Store. I saw a hotel by 6 Flags called Key Lime Cove hotel and waterpark. Has anyone stayed there? What are your thoughts of this place? What else should we look into possibly doing? We don't want to spend a ton, but want to have a great trip. TIA.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

If you stay at Key Lime, its a LONG drive into the city..

 

[aladams2]

Oh, yeah. I should have said we would stay there for 2 nights and then switch hotels and stay in the city for a couple days.

 

[fireworks fan]

I have been to the Key Lime Cove waterpark. We didn't stay at the hotel, but we had free passes from being Six Flags season pass holders. The waterpark was a lot of fun, and good for younger kids. My kids are 7 and 4, and there were only a few slides my youngest couldn't ride. We went in June and it was very crowded in the middle of the week, and again in September and it was empty. My DD says it was really fun and she liked it

I thought the food was overpriced, but that is to be expected. The staff is very young, and a little less responsible than I would have liked. Two different examples-I found something in the water that shouldn't be there, and told a lifeguard. It took them about 10 minutes to start clearing everyone out-way too long in my opinion. Then my daughter lost an earring there and no seemed to know how to help. We left a message with them about losing a silver sand dollar earring. We got a message back that they had found the earring, and it turned out to be a silver peace sign I lost sunglasses at Typhoon Lagoon two summers ago, and the lifeguard told me if I waited til the park closed, he would dive for them for me. It took him multiple tries and lots of found coins, but he did get them for me. This is a lot longer than I expected-hope it helps

 

[scrappingizlife]

We took DS to Key Lime Cove for his 10th birthday. He loved it. The rooms are clean, and they have bunk beds. I would definitely recommend it.

If you're doing the aquarium, the Planetarium is right there, and the Field Museum. Navy Pier downtown is fun as well.

In Schaumburg there's Lego Land and Gameworks.

 

[ceecee]

The Field Museum and there is a Children's Museum. Navy Pier is lots of fun and so is AG Store. There is a Hershey store downtown as well.

 

[deerhart]

If your going over a couple of days and want to hit multiple museums (without the extras) then look at a city pass.

For $69 it covers admission to Shedd, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Adler, and either the Hancock observation or Skydeck Chicago.
http://www.citypass.com/city/chicago.html

There is also a Go Chicago Card
http://www.smartdestinations.com/chicago-attractions-and-tours/_d_Chi-p1.html?pass=Chi_Prod_Go

It will be difficult to do multiple museums in one day. MSI is enourmous and you can really spend two full days there. The Field museum takes about a day and a half, hence why we haven't yet gotten to Shedd *sigh* We tried to do Shedd and Field on the same day and just couldn't

 

[sherry7]

I used to live in the Chicago Burbs eons ago.

Definitely go to the Brookfield Zoo. It's very nice, and worth the short trip. On the other hand, the Lincoln Park Zoo (closer to the city) isn't so nice.

How about the observation deck of the Sears Tower? (It has a new name now, but it will always be the Sears Tower to me. )

Be aware that Chicago summers are MISERABLE...hot and very humid.

 

[Minnesota!]

What about transportation (with kids) in Chicago? We are thinking of taking the train that way. Last time I went (pre kids) I just cabbed it. But now - I don't want to haul carseats, etc.

Where can I stay that's:

1. Reasonably priced
2. close to the major attractions (aquarium, Navy Pier, etc)

?

Thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

I used to live in the Chicago Burbs eons ago.

Definitely go to the Brookfield Zoo. It's very nice, and worth the short trip. On the other hand, the Lincoln Park Zoo (closer to the city) isn't so nice.

How about the observation deck of the Sears Tower? (It has a new name now, but it will always be the Sears Tower to me. )

Be aware that Chicago summers are MISERABLE...hot and very humid.

Really? My sister lived in Lincoln park up until a few years ago, and we really enjoyed the zoo, especially since it was free!

 

[ZeroMyHero]

If you want to hit the museums (and you should), a CityPass would really be worth it. Just the Shedd Aquarium alone will run you at least $100 for a family of four and that's without food and special exhibits like the dolphin presentation or shark exhibit. Right off the lake is Museum Campus, which includes the Field Museum (dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, etc), the Shedd, and the Adler Planetarium. Nearby on Michigan Avenue is the Art Institute. MSI (Museum of Science and Industry - very hands-on and HUGE) is NOT on Museum Campus, but is much further south off of Lake Shore Drive. You can't walk there so you'll have to cab it, but it is an amazing museum (as all the Chicago ones are!). Also, Navy Pier has the Children's Museum and the giant ferris wheel, as well as a bunch of shops and restaurants.

For free: don't miss Buckingham Fountain or Millenium Park. I've lived most of my life in the Chicago burbs and I'm still impressed by both. Also, a walk along the lakeshore can help you beat the heat of the often-sultry Chicago summers and you can grab a Chicago-style Vienna Beef dog for cheap but tasty eats.

There's lots of shopping along the Mag Mile (Michigan Ave) and there's always the Willis Tower (which will always be the Sears Tower to me!). Don't miss that, as they now have "The Ledge" on the Skydeck. 103 floors up and you can walk out onto a plexiglass bumpout for an exhilarating look down at the city. Wish I could help with hotel info, but since I've always lived so close to the city I've never stayed down there.

If you decide to come, you'll enjoy it. As you can tell, I love Chicago!

ETA: Oh, and as for transportation, there's the El, buses, and the Metra train if you are going to leave the city to go to Brookfield Zoo (fantastic zoo!). I think there is even a free shuttle to get you to the major tourist attractions around town, but don't quote me on that. The CTA has been having some budget issues lately so maybe that free shuttle isn't so free anymore.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I used to live in the Chicago Burbs eons ago.

Definitely go to the Brookfield Zoo. It's very nice, and worth the short trip. On the other hand, the Lincoln Park Zoo (closer to the city) isn't so nice.

How about the observation deck of the Sears Tower? (It has a new name now, but it will always be the Sears Tower to me. )

Be aware that Chicago summers are MISERABLE...hot and very humid.

Really? My sister lived in Lincoln park up until a few years ago, and we really enjoyed the zoo, especially since it was free!

Lincoln Park Zoo is very nice and, as mjkacmom mentioned, free. It has undergone a lot of renovations recently. Definitely don't skip it if you have the time and you're downtown.

 

[akcire]

We are thinking of going to Chicago this summer with our two DD 8 and 6. We thought about Six Flags, the Aquarium, maybe a show, and American Girl Store. I saw a hotel by 6 Flags called Key Lime Cove hotel and waterpark. Has anyone stayed there? What are your thoughts of this place? What else should we look into possibly doing? We don't want to spend a ton, but want to have a great trip. TIA.

I don't know when you are planning to visit, but if you are going to Six Flags they have a new (in the past couple years) water park at their site called Hurricane Harbor. Now this is an outdoor water park, but this would allow you to stay at any of the local hotels and not spend the extra for Key Lime Cove.

Also keep in mind any of the hotels you will book in the city center, when you are visiting the museums, shopping, etc will have very high parking fees. Some of the downtown hotels charge up to $50 a day for parking. So when you are looking at rates look for ones that have included parking or other specials.

 

[Jajone]

we did both Six Flags and Key Lime Cove last year with our kids, 7,9,and 3. It was a perfect size wterpark for them. A little pricey, but fun. I would skip Six Flags and save the money for the hitel. There are very few rides the kids will be big enough for and much dirtier than Disney. Guess I'm spoiled by Disney. Not to mention there are no fast passes. There is Gurnee Mills mall there with a Disney store and a Rain Forest Cafe too. The food is not super cheap at the hotel, but not terribly expensive either. There are many restaurants near by and the rooms are large enough to do simple meals yourself. The hotel was very very clean and new. We went early July on a weekend last year and it never seemed too busy.

 

[vanreg]

Go to the Brookfield Zoo website.....you can get a zoo pkg (includes room--usually at a hotel W/ a pool and breakfast) plus zoo passes, parking, and lots of extras. We do it every year and save a TON of money....plus it's one of the best zoo's we've ever been to. Last summer, certain days were free...we had free admission at the Field museum...not a favorite. American Girl is great! There is a park along Michigan ave with tall columns with faces on them, water flows over them and they "spit" water every so often...my 3 dd's loved cooling off there. Museum of Science & Industry is also great. Check your library for a book called Chicago with kids....got lots of great ideas from it. Have fun!