Tips to planning your family trip to Chicago

When it comes to traveling with kids, not all cities are created equal. Luckily, Chi-Town is one of our favorite kid-approved metropolises, offering loads of fun for the whole family. From the towering T-Rex at the Chicago Field Museum to the Penguin Cove exhibit at the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Windy City is a generous host to kid-friendly adventures. Keep reading for tips on planning your family … [Read more...]

Flyover country road trip: Fun in flyover country

I'm very excited to share that long-time Pit Stops for Kids contributor Kathleen Basi, a proud lifelong resident of “flyover country,” released a road-trip-themed novel this spring, and agreed to share a few places she uncovered in her research. If you’re on a flyover country road trip with kids this summer, check out one or two of these fun stops along the way! 1. Silver Beach … [Read more...]

Midwest road trip: Perfect family-friendly suites in Bloomington illinois

This summer, our family was fortunate enough to discover the Holiday Inn and Suites-Bloomington Airport, for an overnight in Bloomington, Illinois, while on our way to points north for vacation. We thought it was going to be a quick in-and-out, but we found there was quite a bit to do in Bloomington-Normal: a zoo, a wind farm viewing platform, a children’s museum, the Ewing cultural center, and … [Read more...]

Southern Illinois pit stop: Jeremy Rochman Memorial Park

Southern Illinois is an area with many beautiful natural parks, forests, and lakes to explore. Just south of Carbondale, Ill., home to Southern Illinois University, you’ll find a park you won't want to miss if you're traveling through the area. Online, you'll find it listed as "Dungeons and Dragons Park," or by its more official name, Jeremy 'Boo' Rochman Memorial Park. My kids, however, call it … [Read more...]

Exploring Garden of the Gods, Illinois

One of the prime attractions in the Shawnee National Forest, which covers 280,000 acres in Southern Illinois, is Garden of the Gods, a collection of fantastic rock formations that towers above a vast expanse of wilderness. The short hiking trail there makes this a great place to let the kids get up close and personal with nature. The most famous rock formation is called the camel, but there … [Read more...]

Chicago Field Museum tips

We love natural history museums and have visited versions of them all over the country. The Chicago Field Museum is in our top five! We loved this cavernous, elegant museum situated on the Museum Campus by Lake Michigan and Shedd Aquarium. Here’s what we recommend seeing and doing, plus tips to plan your visit: What not to miss: If you have older kids or teens, the top two or three exhibits may … [Read more...]

Where to stay in Chicago: Westin Chicago River North

The moment we entered the elegant lobby of the Westin Chicago River North at the blustery, snowy start of our winter Chicago weekend, we felt awash in warm and hospitality. While our hands and feet warmed up quickly, that cozy feeling never went away. For the entirety of our two night stay, we were met with smiles, helpful staff, beautiful surroundings, and convenient amenities. Here’s why we’ll … [Read more...]

24-hour Chicago winter itinerary with kids

On a snowy November weekend, my youngest son and I found ourselves in Chicago. Our trip there was accidental; we had been en route to Savannah, Georgia when we became stranded at O’Hare during the first snowstorm of the season. After 30-plus hours trying to continue our planned itinerary, our flight was cancelled and rebooked two days later. Rather than sit around waiting to depart, we decided to … [Read more...]

All-American pit stop: shopping at American Girl Place Chicago

Francesca Mazurkiewicz is a Chicago-based travel blogger and working mom of two young children. Along with her family, Francesca is out to prove that she can have it all - a family, a career, and a travel lifestyle. I’m not a girly-girl and never have been. I never played with dolls as a little girl but there is something about American Girl dolls… As a traveler and a history enthusiast, I was … [Read more...]

Key Lime Cove, Gurnee Illinois

The following pit stop is submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com. Heading to Wisconsin, north of Chicago, and stopping to shop at Gurnee? Or perhaps spending some time at Six Flags? We’ve got the perfect place to stay: Key Lime Cove, in Gurnee, Illinois. Key Lime Cove is a Key West-inspired waterpark and destination hotel. It includes a Key West-themed marketplace, restaurant, … [Read more...]