Looking for Ideas for a Trip to Chicago with My Daughters.

I would recommend going to Cranbrook and getting there $60 membership pass, it will also get you into all those great museums everyone mentioned for FREE!

There is an American Girl store that is 4 floors. Very impressive even if they aren't into the dolls.

Hi J.
The museum of science and industry is great! I have taken my daughter and some friends there as well as my girl scout troop. It is very hands on. Unlike most museums, there are things to touch and play with, buttons to push to make things move and to hear about it. Check them out because I think they still have 1 day a week that is free admission. We always set up our visits on those days. BTW the flight simulator ride is addictive!! lol My gs troup and I kept gettin back in line to do it again! I hope you and your family have alot of fun in Chicago.
V.

HI, J.:

Saw the Cirque Shanghai show this past weekend at Navy Pier. Your girls (and you) will love the acrobatics and costumes. Crowd loved every minute of it; it was very exciting and fast paced. Keep in mind that while it was under a huge tent that it is outdoors and can be cold/windy in the evening.

Have a great trip!

Nancy :)

I hear there is a huge Harry Potter exhibit at the Science and Industry museum and we loved the Natural History Museum. There is always a ton of stuff on Navy Pier. We went to the museums one of the days and took a water taxi(it was beautiful) over to Navy Pier to enjoy the fireworks and dinner later in the evening.
We also loved walking the mile--just to window shop.
We loved the Springhill Suites hotel. It had continental breakfast every morning, which was wonderful. It is a little further away from Navy Pier, but we did walk back to the hotel from Navy Pier the night we went. It was closer to Hard Rock, the mile, the river and Rainforest Cafe.

If you are going to go for more than a weekend, consider one of the Go passes to get discounted rates to the museums and such.

I think that they are old enough to enjoy the Science and Industry Museum. Very interesting with lots of hands on stuff for kids - at least it was 10 years ago when I went.

don't know how you plan on getting there but my kids loved taking the train (takes the same amount of time or less from the Detroit area at least) and then you don't have to pay for parking and most stuff is walking distance.....the fountain from "married with children" (can't remember the name of it right now) is in the park right there and it is free (always a bonus in my book), the field museum, there is a hands on museum in Navy Pier and the rides on top, try breakfast at the Bongo Room (it is an experience), there is the Gerhadeli (sp) chocolate store that has a soda fountain in it and a Hershey's store (both over on the mile), and go to the top of the Sears tower

hope your trip is memorable
K.

The Field Museum, which is close to Shedd's. I think the Lego place would also be great.

I do not travel to Chicago often, so I can't help with suggestions there except for the McDonald's right in down town. It's the neatest McDonald's I have ever seen. Lots of glass walls, they have an old car there that belonged to Elvis. My kids got a kick out of that place and keep asking to go back.

The best advice I can give ya, is if your driving a distance and need suggestions to keep the kids occupied, Hasbro makes a video system for kids called VideoNow Color or XP and you can pick it up used from sellers on eBay. I just picked up an auction with 2 systems, 2 head phones, 1 car charger, cases for each system, 3 cases full of like 38 PVD's which are like DVD's but only work with this system. The shows are many including The Amanda Show, Sponge Bob, Scooby Doo and many other Nickelodean shows. I got all of it with delivery for like 90 bucks and it will help with our long car rides to keep my kids content.

M. in Camden, MI

The only way you will get a hotel near Navy Pier for $160 a night is to use PriceLine. My husband surprised me for my 30th birthday there and he got us a room for $180. The hotel was normally $260 a night. He said you can request a certain area and certain amenities when you search.

Hi,

I don't really have any ideas for activities but if you are looking for really great rates on hotels try www.hotwire.com or www.bookit.com. They have great rates for hotels so that you can put your money to better use while on vacation.

Have fun!

We are actually going there in a couple weeks. We got a great hotel deal for $89 a night in the Loop with an indoor pool. We used Priceline. We are planning on going to Millennium Park, Chinatown, Sears Tower, Navy Pier, and Shedd's Aquarium. We had the Museum of Science and Industry on our list, but I think my kids might be a little too young for it yet. Navy Pier itself has a ton of things to do. I'm sure you will have a great time. Have fun!

Here are a few links to some of the places I mentioned:
http://www.navypier.com/
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/
http://www.msichicago.org/
http://www.theskydeck.com/
http://www.chicagochinatown.org/cccorg/home.jsp
http://www.millenniumpark.org/

The Field Museum.The children Museum.The Museum of Science & Indusrty.Lincoln park Zoo,ESPN zone,Buckingham fountain and Millennium park are great places that children of all ages enjoy. Have a great time.

Don't miss the Museum of Science & Industry! Better than it sounds!
http://www.msichicago.org/nc/visit-the-museum/plan-your-v...

I have gone on 2 trips with my children when they were 5th graders to Chicago. The Field Museum was a flop - really no hands on for the kids. The Museum of Science and Industry is absolutely WONDERFUL!!!! Also, the Lincoln Park Zoo is alot of fun.

Hope you have a Great trip!

Lincoln park zoo is free and has different exhibits than the Detroit Zoo. We had a really good time there even though it was raining!

The Hilton Garden Inn is wonderful! Indoor pool, super clean, and super close to Navy Pier and shopping. Also, right in front is an subway stop so if you are planning on flying in, you could just take the subway to the hotel.

A great fun place to go to breakfast is called the Grand Leux. It's super cute, has fun food and drinks, and you must order either the cookies or chocolate cup cakes to go! The staff at the Garden Inn gave us directions and you'll need to get there at around 10am so you don't have to wait in line.

Have fun and good luck!

There is a Best Western close to there... it was very very reasonable and included parking. Nothing fancy...but it was clean and had a pool.