Recommendations for a Chicago trip?

[Tazicket]

We (me, DH, & DS) have decided to go to Chicago next summer for our family vacation. DS will be 4 at the time of the trip.

Any of you wonderful DIS'ers have recommendations for fun places to eat/see/experience while we're there? It will be the first time in Chicago for all 3 of us as well as our son's first trip on an airplane.

We'll be there for a week and are completely open to suggestions from the experts.

 

[McKelly]

The Children's Museum at Navy Pier is good one......your son would be a great age for that.

 

[DontRushMe]

We go there just for the Aquarium?

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Look into the City Pass which will save you some $ on attractions. If you're staying downtown and will have a car, parking is very expensive. Public transportation is very accessible and safe, so that's what I'd recommend.

 

[FINFAN]

this thread has some good info

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3279571
Since it will be your son's first time on a plane , the first thing I thought of was the Museum of Science and Industry. They have a plane that you can go inside and he may get a kick out of being able to get back in a plane he can move about it, lol.
here's a quick look-see at some of the exhibits
http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/video-preview/
Millenium Park is beautiful and tons of kids love splashing around in the Face/wall Fountains
https://www.google.com/search?q=mil...2xIs-QyASE5YCYDg&ved=0CDkQsAQ&biw=960&bih=529

plan for a beach day~hit Lincoln Park Zoo..and hit the Hershey and Ghiradelli stores on Michigan Ave (and Disney Store too )

 

[Tazicket]

The Children's Museum at Navy Pier is good one......your son would be a great age for that.

Great! We'll add it to the list. Do they have hands-on type activities there?

We go there just for the Aquarium?

DS LOVES aquariums and zoos! We do, too. DS would happily spend all day at the Living Seas pointing out all the fish.

Look into the City Pass which will save you some $ on attractions. If you're staying downtown and will have a car, parking is very expensive. Public transportation is very accessible and safe, so that's what I'd recommend.

That's really great to know. Thanks for the tip! We're looking to stay downtown, since it seems like most of what we'd be doing is in that area. Public transit in our area isn't all that useful, so it will be fun to try something new.

 

[Tazicket]

this thread has some good info http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3279571 Since it will be your son's first time on a plane , the first thing I thought of was the Museum of Science and Industry. They have a plane that you can go inside and he may get a kick out of being able to get back in a plane he can move about it, lol. here's a quick look-see at some of the exhibits

Sorry - I'm on my phone and it's not letting me quote your entire response. But, thanks so much for all of the fantastic information!! We'll absolutely check it all out. The Museum of Science and Industry sounds like a blast! Thanks a bunch for all the great info. Planning a trip is half the fun for DH and me. As much as we love WDW, it'll be neat to explore somewhere new.