Travel advise for Milwaukee/Chicago area

[tazdeb]

On weekends in the summer there is the Bristol Renisaunce (sp?) fair which is located right on the Il/Wi boarder. If you've ever seen the free credit report .com comercials its just like that. We went last year and its just like steping back in time. They have tons of free cool things to watch and do like jousting, sword fights, puppet shows, and medival games that kids can play. If it doesnt rain its stroller friendly. You can google it for more info. Have fun.

 

[moniot]

It will take more than an hour to get from Gurnee to the field museum. Probably about an hour & 1/2 on a weekend or if you go on a weekday 2+ hours depending on traffic and the time you leave in the morning.

Good to know. I was going by Google Maps so it is nice to hear from someone who knows. Thank you.

 

[moniot]

In Milwaukee we did the Miller tour, (really neat! Your kids should like it even though they can't drink)..also wandered around the stadium, and did Summerfest..a HUGE festival that would be OK during the day..right on the lake. At night it got a little nuts. They have a very nice zoo in Milwaukee also.

We did think about the Miller tour. Didn't know which would be better with a stroller. The other Micro Brewery tour that does the Root beer also is our other choice, can't remember the name off hand but it starts with an S.
I didn't think about the Zoo, that might be fun depending on how much time we have. Thank you.

 

[moniot]

You will love Frank's Diner! The PP was right about it being crowded though. Mornings especially can be really crazy but, that is because their breakfast is so good They are famous for their Garbage Plate(warning, DO NOT order a whole, it is massive!) but, they have other tasty options as well. We also love their cinnamon roll french toast, pancakes and homemade toast. We've only had lunch there once, the burgers were really good.

In our experience the best times to go are off peak eating hours. It is a very popular place for local business men, retirees and college students who seem to be there earlier in the morning or the standard 12-1 lunch hour. My DD and I pop in at 9 or so and get seated fairly quickly. I don't recommend sitting at the outside tables, the atmosphere is just not the same and the tables are right by the street(car exhaust and eggs don't mix). BTW, they are cash only as the PP mentioned. A full menu with prices is on their website.

While you are in Kenosha you can pop by The Civil War Museum($5) and The Kenosha Public Museum(free). You could also take a ride on the trolley and walk along the harbor. All together they won't take long, maybe 1 1/2 hrs?

As others have said, skip Jelly Belly unless you are a HUGE fan. Seriously. If you do feel the need to go skip the tour, you'll see some video clips and lots of storage shelves(a trip to Costco or Sams would be more entertaining).

Enjoy your trip

Thank you for all the good advice. I love the idea of riding a trolley! A late breakfast at Franks sounds like the way to go if we are going to eat there. My DH perked up to when I mentioned the Civil War Museum.

Thanks!!!!

 

[moniot]

Have you checked out the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago? I have kids about your older children's ages, and they much prefer MSI. (actually, my DS17 could be dropped in any gallery of any museum and enjoy it, but he does like MSI better lately) The Field is interesting, but can be very dry. I'd suggest that you at least check out the website for MSI -- msichicago.org. We were there just last weekend with a 17 yr old boy, and 15 and 18 yr old girls -- and they had a blast. There's a coal mine tour (not an actual coal mine, but you definitely see what it's like), a real WWII submarine to tour, a miniature fairy doll castle built by a '20s Hollywood starlet, an IMAX theatre (right now showing something about the Hubble space telescope and a second movie about waves in Tahiti), a very interesting interactive exhibit about -- I'm trying to figure out how to describe this -- people? feelings, reactions, nutrition, etc., and MUCH more. There's an oldfashioned ice cream parlor and a large food court. It's $15 for adults, add $8 for the IMAX. If you're able to figure out the museum membership that may get you into other museums, I'm pretty sure MSI is on all those lists of reciprocal museums. It's south of the city near the University of Chicago campus, which is beautiful -- there's the Oriental Art Museum there, Rockefeller Chapel, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House (open for tours most days) is on the campus as well.

The CityPass that people have mentioned is $65 and gets you into several museums -- probably not what you're looking for.

Have a great trip!

I wonder if we can make time to do both museums. They both would be interesting. The Frank Lloyd Wright appeals to me also. I wish we could spend a week in the area. We are going to have to think about things.

Thank you.

 

[moniot]

On weekends in the summer there is the Bristol Renisaunce (sp?) fair which is located right on the Il/Wi boarder. If you've ever seen the free credit report .com comercials its just like that. We went last year and its just like steping back in time. They have tons of free cool things to watch and do like jousting, sword fights, puppet shows, and medival games that kids can play. If it doesnt rain its stroller friendly. You can google it for more info. Have fun.

These fairs sound so fun. We have one in our area every year that my Uncle works at and I can never seem to get there. Just not enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do.

 

[Pastamom]

I don't think anyone mentioned the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and Discovery World. Both are kid friendly and fun. The Harley museum has a fun restaurant called Motor.

FYI - The last time we went to Gurnee Mills it was not very "kid friendly" at night.

Depending on when your in the Milwaukee area- the Summerfest grounds have great ethnic festivals on most weekends that are kid friendly.

 

[moniot]

I don't think anyone mentioned the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and Discovery World. Both are kid friendly and fun. The Harley museum has a fun restaurant called Motor.

FYI - The last time we went to Gurnee Mills it was not very "kid friendly" at night.

Depending on when your in the Milwaukee area- the Summerfest grounds have great ethnic festivals on most weekends that are kid friendly.

This might be an idea - museum and food in one stop. Thank you.

 

[verlee]

I would reccomend a split stay too. Here are a few of our favs in Milwaukee: Brewer game, Zoo, The lake shore, summerfest grounds for festivals, renissance faire, the Domes, Discovery World museum. Pretty close to that area is Old World Wisconsin. In chicago area: Lego Land, Navy Pier, Shed Aquarium, Field museum, Museum of science and industry, Brookfield zoo...There is a ton to do in Chicago. Have fun you could spend a good two weeks in these two cities.

 

[mapmakerj]

To much info to process and decisions to make before we go on this trip. We are postponing it until the end of July or the first part of August. Thank you everyone for the infomation. I will use it all to plan a fantistic trip.

I hate spending more then I have to and with more time I think I can make it work for alot less.

FYI the annual Airventure (EAA) air show is scheduled for July 26-Aug 1st. If you want an uncrowded visit to the museum, do not come to Oshkosh during this timeframe! I live in Oshkosh right across the highway from the museum and airport. The sheer volume of people and traffic is a nightmare during this time. I love EAA (DH is a private pilot) and we can watch the planes from my house, but the traffic is enough to drive someone to drink! (Hey, maybe I just solved my problem....)

 

[cindycastle30]

If you do visit during the EAA air show it is a really cool thing to see. We are not even into planes or flying but love to go down to Oshkosh to see the planes fly over. I made my kids go with me last year for the afternoon and at first they complained but ended up loving it. We don't pay to go on the grounds we just park in the JC Penney lot that is right across from the runway. My favorite is the blimp, I just about died when it flew right over our house!! Also we didn't find the Gurnee Mall very family friendly even during the day and we are pretty open minded people, there is no way I would let my kids walk around that mall alone. There is a very nice mall in Schaumberg Ill. Also there is an Ikea there which my kids love to visit. The state fair is usually the 1st week in August which is cool to walk around and try all the deep fried goodies. Plus the cream puffs are great!

 

[imsayin]

Also we didn't find the Gurnee Mall very family friendly even during the day and we are pretty open minded people, there is no way I would let my kids walk around that mall alone.

I've let my daughter roam that mall since she was a young teen, and I lean toward being over protective.

 

[Zachsmom4]

I would reccomend a split stay too. Here are a few of our favs in Milwaukee: Brewer game, Zoo, The lake shore, summerfest grounds for festivals, renissance faire, the Domes, Discovery World museum. Pretty close to that area is Old World Wisconsin. In chicago area: Lego Land, Navy Pier, Shed Aquarium, Field museum, Museum of science and industry, Brookfield zoo...There is a ton to do in Chicago. Have fun you could spend a good two weeks in these two cities.

I would stay away from Old World Wisconsin as of right now, since it pretty much is in shambles from a tornado yesterday. Luckily none of the buildings were seriously damaged. The landscape is a different story, which is too bad. It was a very beautiful area.

 

[yoopermom]

Old World Wisconsin is absolutely fabulous, living history. My SIL is a curator at the Kenosha museum, and it's free to the public (which is amazing in this day and age). They have a "regular" building, and she has personally done much of the work on the Civil War museum. It's VERY interactive, and not a "stuffy old museum". Downtown Kenosha has a little dive of a drive in called Big Star that has the most fabulous greasy cheeseburgers ever. I would also recommend any of the ethnic festivals going on at the lakefront in downtown Milwaukee, they're all fun. We have lots of county fairs all summer long, so consider one of those for old fashion country fun, too.

I would DEFINITELY stay in Racine/Kenosha for part of the trip, then IL for the other part, it's quite the drive, and right now the expressway is all ripped up from the airport south of Milwaukee almost to the Kenosha line.

Terri

 

[Psychodisney]

I don't let my teenage boys go there alone. There has ben gang activity and last week a 19yo girl was abducted and raped.
I much prefer the outlets in Pleasant Prairie.