Vacation with a One and Three Year Old

Disney before 7 is a waste, they don't remember it! lol. I HIGHLY recommend the KOA website (KOA.com) they all have a playground & pool, cabins & are near neat attractions. There's even one near naperville (Oswego or Plainfield, I think) but they're a great value and allow you to get away.
Have fun!
D.

K.,
I have two 5 yr olds and a 4 yr old. We just did Disney this summer for the first time and they were the perfect ages. I think you're right for waiting on that! We went to St. Joseph, MI a few years ago when our kids were the ages of yours. It was only about 2.5 hours from Chicago and we really loved it. If you go downtown you can also pick up a train to get there if you want, although you'll probably want a car.

We loved the beach and pretty much stayed there all day. I have heard the children's museum is exceptional, we didn't go when we were there. We did take our kids fruit picking and they still talk about it, I can't believe they remember it in such detail. We went in August and they had raspberries, blackberries and peaches. I'd like to do that again this year if we can find time. There are so many great places around, I'm sure you'll find something you love!

Check out St.Louis...they have a wonderful zoo which the kids might enjoy and lots of other family things to do. The arch is great, Lacledes landing next door...good restaurants..a great place not too far away.

At their ages, admission to Disney is free. We took each of our daughters when they were turning 2, and they loved the experience. They don't remember a thing, but looking at the pictures is something they never tire of-they are now in their twenties. And I would recommend
Disneyland in California over Florida. The park is not as spread out, so Mom and Dad don't get so worn out. The other parks in Fla. are really not so much appropriate for tiny ones, so there is not too much you can do with them. On the other hand, there are so many museums geared to kids in the Chicago area, you don't have to go far. We found that it made sense to join a zoo or museum every year. The cost for membership is about the same as going twice, so you can go for a few hours, and not feel like you aren't getting your money's worth. The membership at the Museum of Science and Industry (think Christmas trees, baby chicks, etc) came with IMAX tickets too, and included discounted or free admission to suburban museums too. Check it out.

Hi, we went when my daughter was 3-1/2, and then we went just in May, and my daughter was 6-1/2 and my son 2-1/2, and I was worried about my little guy, but he LOVED it, was amazing.
If you got a great deal, heck, the 3 year old would love it, and probably the 1 year old if you decided too, but probably not that great...it is so expensive!!!
Maybe you could go the hotels that have waterparks. They have the 0-depth water. Go to one that is inside and outside maybe? They seem to be having alot of good deals - just google it? We are going to Shipshewana next month (they have an inside one) - so the kids will have fun, but you could also go shopping, and they have great restaurants.
Any place that you pick I am sure they will have smiles on their faces!
Also, if you get lucky, like we did a few times, is we would go to places that we could put the monitor in their room, and we sat basically right outside their room by a fireplace with some wine, so the kids were sleeping in their room, but we were right there - we could see the door. We just called and asked the front desk if they had a room by the "main room" so to speak? Just a thought!!!!