Trip Planning Chi-town

[dpuck1998]

Planning a trip to Chicago in a couple weeks. The original intent of the plan was to go for the Chicago air and water show. Well after much time on TripAdvisor Forums I've decided that this might not be a lot of fun vs hassle for our family of 9/7/3 yo kids. So in lieu we are just spending the weekend in Schaumburg. There is a new Lego Discovery center that we will check out and a huge mall across street from out hotel. I know, I know you don't care...but anyway. I need to decide what else to do.

Should we hit Great America? Brookfield Zoo? something else in the area? We don't want to go downtown to the museums since we have done those recently and hope to avoid that area because of the air show.

Also, I need some dinner ideas and thoughts? Texas de Brazil is nearby, some buffet called Todai, PF Changs, etc. We will be there for 4 days and the only plans set in stone are Lego on Saturday and if we do Great America.

Thanks chicago area podcasters and others!!

 

[aaronmckie]

Hmm, for your kids ages... are they the adventurous type? I don't know if Great America is a great idea unless some of them like coasters... which is what the park is mainly about.
Brookfield Zoo is (IMO) the second best zoo in the country (behind San Diego, of course) and is highly reccomended.
Right now I can't think of anything else, but I'll chime in when something pops-in. There are a lot of other people in the area here, so I'm sure you'll get other opinions as well

 

[SamIAm21]

Smart move on the Air & Water Show decision. It's a great event, but it's so crowded it makes Disney on Christmas Day look like three people are in attendance. Besides, if you aren't directly on the beach or in a high rise hotel facing the lake, you won't even see the "water" part. It's also very loud with the jets going over and that might be okay for everyone, but your 3 y/o.

Schaumburg's big mall is called Woodfield and along with the Lego Discovery Center, there is the Disney Doorway to Dreams store. It's a DVC sales location, but it's good for a quick charge of Disney magic and a tour of the Animal Kingdom Lodge DVC. However, you got to really make them believe your interested in DVC or they can be a bit evasive in letting you in there. You might be able to quickly walk through, but if you are interested, you get the "tour".

Brookfield Zoo is a pretty good distance from Schaumburg, I'd guess 30 minutes in decent traffic or more in bad traffic. Great America is a nice park, but it's had its share of troubles like gang fights and line jumpers who cause a ruckus. They have cracked down pretty good this summer and I haven't heard any bad reports coming out of there this year. Medieval Times, dinner show is also not too far from Schaumburg. The food is supposed to be average at best, but the show is okay.

All the restaurants you refer to are in the Woodfield Mall area/complex. I would also suggest Maggianos. If you like Italian, it's some pretty good stuff!

 

[LoveKermit]

The Brazilian restaurant in the mall is like $40-some per person price fixed. I'm sure it's less for kids. We found it noisy and not very intimate. Weber Grill is nice, but get reservations. Rosebud (Italian) is also very good--also get reservations. You may not need ressies for lunch or week night dinner, but don't even try the places on Meacham on a weekend without ressies.

I am doing Six Flags with my aunt and cousins next week. Their kids are 12/15/17, but apparently don't like coasters, but we are going partly because of the water park. But I can give you better water park ideas than that, if you want.

Brookfield Zoo is great.

My aunt's family is also doing a Train Museum. I think it's out west. I can get you details as they are going on Friday.

Also, if the weather is great, you are near Busse Woods. The entrance on Rt. 72 on the south side right after you go under the expressway has paddle boats and stuff. It's something like 5 miles all the way around. But you could walk a little, have a picnic and relax. And except for doing boats--it's free.

There are also fests all over the suburbs all the time. Google the Daily Herald to find out.

Think about Lamb's Farm. Your kids may be too old. I've never been there. It's not as far north as Great America, but we just went that way to the Wis St. Fair and the tollway is under construction. But at off-times should be okay.

And the downtowns along the Fox Valley are nice--St. Charles and Geneva. There's also an outlet mall in Aurora.

OK. I'm done for now.

 

[dpuck1998]

Hmm, for your kids ages... are they the adventurous type? I don't know if Great America is a great idea unless some of them like coasters... which is what the park is mainly about.
Brookfield Zoo is (IMO) the second best zoo in the country (behind San Diego, of course) and is highly reccomended.
Right now I can't think of anything else, but I'll chime in when something pops-in. There are a lot of other people in the area here, so I'm sure you'll get other opinions as well

I do have a 9yo rollercoaster junkie. I looked online and it seemed like the wiggles and bugs bunny lands might be good for the other two. 7yo likes medium rides. I might be able to squeeze in both if I go to Great America on Sunday and Brookfield on Monday.