Travel advise for Milwaukee/Chicago area

[moniot]

We are taking a long weekend and going on a family trip. DS17, DD15 and DD 4 months. We are looking at staying in Milwaukee at a Hampton and doing a few attractions between there and Chicago. My DH wants to go to the Field Museum in Chicago and an Air Museum in OshKosh. My DD found the Jelly Belly center with an outlet mall next door somewhere outside of Kenosha. My DS found 2 restaurants that were on the show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. Frank's in Kenosha and Smoque that is near the Field Museum. We are also thinking about touring the Miller Brewery.

Any advise??? It has been awhile since we traveled with a baby so I would like to stay at a centrally located hotel so we can stay unpacked. Traveling a couple of hours is not an issue.

I haven't done to much research yet on the Field Museum but it looks like there are lots of options for tickets. Any deals? Is it mostly for younger kids?

TIA - Any advise on other places to go and see along the way would be great. We are coming down through Eau Claire and might follow the Lake back up or follow the lake down and come home through Eau Claire.

I thought I could check out restaurants.com for gift certificates if there is anything good in the area.

 

[brewcrew]

I go for a girls long weekend every year to Milwaukee. You might want to go to Sprecher micro brewery. It is a small brewery that brews not only beer but SODA! They make the best root beer! It is very child friendly! Chicago is a beautiful city. You should go to the top of the John Hancock building or the Sears tower. Beautiful views! They also have the pier in Chicago. If you are in Milwaukee try to visit a Stonecreek coffehouse. Locally owned and better than Starbucks, IMO. Have Fun!

 

[SaraJayne]

If you plan on doing EAA, I'd do that on the way to Milwaukee. No sense in backtracking two hours.

Also, there really is no way to "follow the lake". I-43 doesn't go anywhere near the lake (well, not close enough to see anything, anyway).

 

[Psychodisney]

The Field Museum is not just for little kids. You'll love it.
The Jelly Belly place in Pleasant Prairie is a distribution center. They do have a little tour on a tram, but IMOH your teenagers would be bored to death. They'd like the outlet mall though! Another Diners, Drive-ins and Dives restaurant close to the outlet mall(about 10 minutes) is the Shanty in Wadsworth, IL.
In Milwaukee, Sprecher also does free brewery tours....all you can drink rootbeer, etc for the kids when you enjoy your brew.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

The Jelly Belly factory is nothing more than a glorified outlet store with a choo-choo train going around the warehouse. It is like a short guided tour on the inner workings of how the jelly belly is made. It was SO boring for us. If this has changed over the past 5-7 years, please someone correct me! We haven't gone back....
Luckily, we did "other" things that day.
I would suggest going to Gurnee Mills on your way down to Chicago. You can have lunch at the Rainforest Cafe and do a little shopping while you are there.

 

[moniot]

I go for a girls long weekend every year to Milwaukee. You might want to go to Sprecher micro brewery. It is a small brewery that brews not only beer but SODA! They make the best root beer! It is very child friendly! Chicago is a beautiful city. You should go to the top of the John Hancock building or the Sears tower. Beautiful views! They also have the pier in Chicago. If you are in Milwaukee try to visit a Stonecreek coffehouse. Locally owned and better than Starbucks, IMO. Have Fun!

thank you. I think we will check this one out instead. Family friendly is what I am looking for. Thanks for the tip on the coffeehouse. We do love a good cup of coffee.

 

[clh2]

When are you coming to Milwaukee? The Wisconsin State Fair is usually the very beginning of August! Most weekends, there is some sort of fest at the Summerfest Grounds.

I agree about the "boredom" factor for the jelly belly factory tour. Although - I do love the store there.

What about Six Flags Great America? It is very close to Gurnee Mills, which I believe that others have suggested.

 

[moniot]

If you plan on doing EAA, I'd do that on the way to Milwaukee. No sense in backtracking two hours.

Also, there really is no way to "follow the lake". I-43 doesn't go anywhere near the lake (well, not close enough to see anything, anyway).

Yeah I figured we would do EAA either on the way down or the way home. My DD is not to thrilled with this stop. Maybe we should do it on the way down so she doesn't have to think about it.

I can't decide if we should go through Eau Claire or come down through Wasau and cut across. (That would be the follow the lake route vs. through the middle of the state.)

Thanks.

 

[moniot]

The Field Museum is not just for little kids. You'll love it.
The Jelly Belly place in Pleasant Prairie is a distribution center. They do have a little tour on a tram, but IMOH your teenagers would be bored to death. They'd like the outlet mall though! Another Diners, Drive-ins and Dives restaurant close to the outlet mall(about 10 minutes) is the Shanty in Wadsworth, IL.
In Milwaukee, Sprecher also does free brewery tours....all you can drink rootbeer, etc for the kids when you enjoy your brew.

I think we will forget the Jelly Belly place but I promised my DD the outlet mall. Do you recommend the Shanty? Has anyone been to Franks?

What level of ticket do you recommend for the Field Museum? We also have a baby in a stroller so I don't know how that will go.

TIA

 

[moniot]

The Jelly Belly factory is nothing more than a glorified outlet store with a choo-choo train going around the warehouse. It is like a short guided tour on the inner workings of how the jelly belly is made. It was SO boring for us. If this has changed over the past 5-7 years, please someone correct me! We haven't gone back....
Luckily, we did "other" things that day.
I would suggest going to Gurnee Mills on your way down to Chicago. You can have lunch at the Rainforest Cafe and do a little shopping while you are there.

I will check out Gurnee Mills vs the outlet mall near JellyBelly. Thanks for the idea. We crossed out Jelly Belly from our list of ideas.

 

[moniot]

When are you coming to Milwaukee? The Wisconsin State Fair is usually the very beginning of August! Most weekends, there is some sort of fest at the Summerfest Grounds.

I agree about the "boredom" factor for the jelly belly factory tour. Although - I do love the store there.

What about Six Flags Great America? It is very close to Gurnee Mills, which I believe that others have suggested.

We are going next weekend. Friday to Monday. We thought about Six Flags but all doy out in the heat with a 4 month old in a stroller gave me hives Maybe when she is older. Besides Disney will be her first big trip next spring. Start them young we say.

 

[moniot]

Any hotel recomendations? We love Hampton's. We want to stay somewhere between Chicago and Milwaukee. What is the best way to get the best price?

Can you tell we mostly do Disney trips? Ask me how to do that trip, where we like to stay and eat and what tickets I want and I can tell you. But to plan a trip in my own state and I am clueless. I don't want to spend more that I have to but we do want a nice, clean hotel with a breakfast and a pool.

 

[kittycat9]

Are you a member of a Science Center in your local area? If so, you may be able to get in to the Field Museum for free. If you're not yet, you may consider joining, because it could be cheaper. In addition - you'll be able to access several museums in the chicagoland, and wisconsin area for free while on your trip. As well as some of our Children's museums depending on the accreditation of the center you join at. The stipulation is that the science center you join has to be an ASTC accredited center (the family membership is typically around $125/family/year), and you can only get free access to centers 90 miles outside of your 'home center'. Centers within the 90mile ring are sometimes reduced admission. If you join a center with dual accrediation (ACM & ASTC) - like a children's museum and science center - you can access ALL children's museums in your area and any state, but are still bound by the ASTC 90 mile band.

We have a membership the Children's museum in the city, which is ASTC & ACM. From there, we can go to any children's museum in the country, or science center outside of 90miles from our home. I actually have a children's musuem closer to my home, but chose to purchase the membership at this one because it included free parking at Navy Pier, and the museum nearest to me already has free parking. Also, because we want to frequent science centers in our area, beyond the children's museum - we bought a separate membership at the Museum of Science and Industry. When our kids are older, we'll buy a membership at the Field Museum. In prior years we had an aquarium membership vs. the science center. It's nice having options here, and it's nice that the memberships allow us to use them across the country. Especially since we have family in St. Louis.

So anyway - long story short - consider the family annual pass in your area that allows you to travel to our area and visit the museums here. Then look at your routes, and make stops at other museums as well. Good Luck

Here's the ASTC search form, from here you can search to see what Museums participate in the annual program. http://www.astc.org/sciencecenters/find_scicenter.htm

 

[akcire]

No problems with taking a baby to the Field Museum. It is stroller friendly, and has lots of changing table bathrooms, and even family bathrooms. I took my friends kids there all the time at 3 and 1 years old. The baby actually learned to walk in the hallways with the stuffed mammals. There are large viewing windows with ledges that are the perfect size if you are 10 months old.

Food options at the Field--someone correct me if I am wrong--include a McDonald's and a Corner Bakery (sort of like Panera).

Parking is outside in a paid lot, I think $12. I haven't driven in a long time, normally I just take the train.

You can either get general admission or admission with the special event, since you have 4 paid admissions you probably are better off joining the museum or one near you that has some sort of reciprocity agreement.

 

[moniot]

Are you a member of a Science Center in your local area? If so, you may be able to get in to the Field Museum for free. If you're not yet, you may consider joining, because it could be cheaper. In addition - you'll be able to access several museums in the chicagoland, and wisconsin area for free while on your trip. As well as some of our Children's museums depending on the accreditation of the center you join at. The stipulation is that the science center you join has to be an ASTC accredited center (the family membership is typically around $125/family/year), and you can only get free access to centers 90 miles outside of your 'home center'. Centers within the 90mile ring are sometimes reduced admission. If you join a center with dual accrediation (ACM & ASTC) - like a children's museum and science center - you can access ALL children's museums in your area and any state, but are still bound by the ASTC 90 mile band.

We have a membership the Children's museum in the city, which is ASTC & ACM. From there, we can go to any children's museum in the country, or science center outside of 90miles from our home. I actually have a children's musuem closer to my home, but chose to purchase the membership at this one because it included free parking at Navy Pier, and the museum nearest to me already has free parking. Also, because we want to frequent science centers in our area, beyond the children's museum - we bought a separate membership at the Museum of Science and Industry. When our kids are older, we'll buy a membership at the Field Museum. In prior years we had an aquarium membership vs. the science center. It's nice having options here, and it's nice that the memberships allow us to use them across the country. Especially since we have family in St. Louis.

So anyway - long story short - consider the family annual pass in your area that allows you to travel to our area and visit the museums here. Then look at your routes, and make stops at other museums as well. Good Luck

Here's the ASTC search form, from here you can search to see what Museums participate in the annual program. http://www.astc.org/sciencecenters/find_scicenter.htm

This is very interesting. We don't have anything near us. But what if we bought a family membership at the EAA museum in Oshkosh or there was one in Appleton does that mean we could use that to get into the Field museum and other museum on the list?

If so I will start checking prices. We are just outside the Duluth Superior Area so nothing close. I should check MN though also.

The Children's Museum in Duluth is listed. I will make some phone calls on Monday and make sure that if I buy a family membership there we can get into at least the EAA and the Field Museum. I will look for other also along the way.

Thank you Thank you Thank you. I love the people here, it is the first place I turn when I need advise.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I think we will forget the Jelly Belly place but I promised my DD the outlet mall. Do you recommend the Shanty? Has anyone been to Franks?

What level of ticket do you recommend for the Field Museum? We also have a baby in a stroller so I don't know how that will go.

TIA

I've been to Frank's. Love it, but it's small and can get busy, especially on a weekend. I think they only take cash too.

 

[imsayin]

Any hotel recomendations? We love Hampton's. We want to stay somewhere between Chicago and Milwaukee. What is the best way to get the best price?

You might want to break up your hotel stay between the 2 areas.

Or:
Gurnee, IL is half way between Milwaukee & Chicago. 45 minutes to Chicago (without traffic) and about 50 minutes to Milwaukee. Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall is there. Prime Outlets in Pleasant Prairie is about 15 minutes north of Gurnee. I would look at the malls online & decide which stores you like better. Gurnee Mills (indoor) is bigger, but Pleasant Prairie (outdoor) has a few different stores - Coach, Under Armour, etc.

The Shanty is right on Route 41, convenient location.

 

[2minnies]

If you are looking for Hamptons in the Milwaukee/Gurnee area, I've stayed at the NW Milwaukee, Airport and Gurnee locations. All have been fine. If you want to take the train to downtown Chicago the station is right outside the MKE airport. Also if you are going to EAA this coming weekend and staying in the area (June 26) Country USA is in Oshkosh June 22-26. You may need a reservation to find a room in the area.

 

[sbgb]

Navy Pier is popular with all ages and they have fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, Millennium Park has sculptures, different event usually involving music, and fountains where children play in the water. Parking can be expensive (between $20 to $30). My one concern is the restaurant Smoque which is near the Northside of Chicago about a 20 minute drive without traffic (there is almost always traffic), I wouldn't call that close to the museum which is south of downtown. Check out the websites for directions and mapquest. There are a ridiculous amount of activities to keep your family on the go.

 

[SaraJayne]

Yeah I figured we would do EAA either on the way down or the way home. My DD is not to thrilled with this stop. Maybe we should do it on the way down so she doesn't have to think about it.

I can't decide if we should go through Eau Claire or come down through Wasau and cut across. (That would be the follow the lake route vs. through the middle of the state.)

Thanks.

If you come through Wausau, you could take I-39 to Hwy 10 East.

Pick up Hwy 45 south off of 10 and that will take you to Hwy 41 and right to Oshkosh/EAA.