Fodor's Around Chicago with Kids,... | Buy

Summary

Each book focuses on 68 terrific ideas for family days, from museums and puppet theaters to skyscrapers and parks. Written by parents who live in the cities they cover, these books are smart about what kids like--and about what parents need. All the details for planning are included: addresses, phone numbers, admission prices, and age-appropriateness. "Hey, Kids!" info boxes provide fun facts and interesting trivia about the destination, and "Kid-Friendly Eats" features recommend three or four places to grab a bite to eat nearby. With their appealing trim size, these compact guides fit perfectly in a tote bag. Colorful graphics and flip art that animates as readers turn the pages--fun for both parents and kids. Perfectly priced at just $10. Fun to read and easy to use, these handy little guides make it easy to plan an enjoyable, hassle-free day with children in the country's most popular cities. They're perfect idea books for every city parent and grandparent, and indispensable aids for families on vacation.

Author Biography

Nancy Maes, author of the Chicago Tribune's "Family Fare" column, is also the mother of two young children.

Welcome to Great Days!
Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
American Girl Place
American Police Center and Museum Art
Institute of Chicago Balzekas
Museum of Lithuanian Culture
Bronzeville Children's Museum
Brookfield Zoo
Buccaneer Pirate Adventure Cruises
Caldwell Woods
Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago Children's Museum
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago Duck Tours
Chicago Historical Society
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Chicago Music Mart at DePaul Center
Chicago Playworks
Chicago Tribune Freedom Center
Chicago Trolley Co. Disney
Quest Diversey Miniature Golf
Double Decker Bus Tours
DuPage Children's Museum
DuSable Museum of African American History
ECHO Ed Debevic's Short Order
Deluxe Eli's Cheesecake World ESPN Zone Field
Museum of Natural History Frank Lloyd
Wright Home and Studio Garfield Park
Conservatory Grosse Point Lighthouse
The Grove Hancock Observatory Harold Washington Playlot Park Health World
Indian Boundary Park
International Museum of Surgical Science John G. Shedd
Aquarium Kohl Children's Museum
The L Lakefront Bike Way Lattof YMCA
Let's Dress Up
Lifeline Theatre
KidSeries
Lincoln Park
Zoo Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
Mitchell Museum of the American
Indian Museum of Broadcast Communications
Museum of Contemporary Art
Museum of Holography
Museum of Science and Industry Navy Pier
New Maxwell Street Market
North Branch Bicycle Trail
North Park Village Nature Center Oriental Institute Museum
Peace Museum
Pedway Peggy Notebaert
Nature Museum Rainbow Falls
Water Park
Rosenbaum ARTiFACT Center
Ryerson Woods Sears Tower Skydeck Six Flags Great America Skate on State Skokie
Northshore Sculpture Park
Thomas Hughes Children's Library Games Thematic
Index
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Supplemental Materials

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Excerpts

Welcome to Great Days!

Between pick-ups, drop-offs, and after-school activities, organizing a family's schedule is one full-time job. Planning for some fun time together shouldn't be another. That's where this book helps out. In creating it, our parent-experts have done all the legwork, so you don't have to. Open to any page and you'll find a great day together already planned out. You can read about the main event, check our age-appropriateness ratings to make sure it's right for your family, pick up some smart tips, and find out where to grab a bite nearby.

How to Save Money
Taking the whole family on an outing can be pricey, but there are ways to save.
Always ask about discounts at ticket booths. we list admission prices only for adults and kids, but an affiliation (and your ID) may get you a break. If you want to support a specific institution, consider buying a family membership up front. Usually these pay for themselves after a couple of visits, and sometimes they come with other good perks -- gift shop and parking discounts, and so on.
Keep an eye peeled for coupons. They'll save you $2 or $3 a head and you can find them everywhere from the supermarket to your pediatrician's office. Combination tickets, sometimes offered by groups of attractions, cost less than if you pay each admission individually.
Try to go on free days. Some attractions let you in at no charge one day a month or one day a week after a certain time.
Good Timing

Most attractions with kid appeal are busy when school is out. Field-trip destinations are sometimes swamped on school days, but these groups tend to leave by early afternoon, so weekdays after 2 during the school year can be an excellent time to visit museums, zoos, and aquariums. Outdoors, consider going after a rain -- there's nothing like a downpour to clear away crowds. If you go on a holiday, call ahead -- we list only the usual operating hours.

Safety Catch

Take a few sensible precautions. Show your kids how to recognize staff or security people when you arrive. And designate a meeting time and place -- some visible landmark -- in case you become separated. It goes without saying that you should keep a close eye on your children at all times, especially if they are small.

Excerpted from Chicago: 68 Great Things to Do Together by Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. Staff, Nancy Maes
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.