Chicago in July
 

I am planning a late July family vacation around the city of Chicago. We are driving there from Pennsylvania and would like to stay in the city 4 to 5 days, shop, see a ball game and visit museums, but then we have about 4 more days that we would like to visit something else in the area, preferably something connected with Lake Michigan or any other ideas?

I'd say take a lake michigan boat ride from Navy Pier and catch a Blue Man Group show.
If you're going to get Cubs tickets, get them as soon as they go on sale. Tickets will be very tough this year.

Unless you love waiting in line and fighting crowds, stay away from Shedd Aquarium that time of year. It's a great place...just way too crowded!

Thanks for the ideas, the kids are 14 and 18, if that gives you any other ideas.

Another question? After leaving the city, is there a nice "beach" resort along Lake Michigan not too far north, don't want to spend too much time in the car because we have to drive home.

Thanks Chicgal, you are very helpful and knowledgable.

You might consider spending a few days in northern Ohio on Lake ERIE.

Your kids would love the ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME in Cleveland, on the shores of Lake Erie. See the Cleveland Indians play at the gorgeous Jacobs Field. Then have dinner in the Flats, on the river, great for yacht and people watching.

If they like roller coasters, CEDAR POINT has at least 15 and they are GREAT. Or spend a day at the Lake Erie Islands, Put-in-Bay is beautiful and fun to explore.

www.cedarpoint.com

http://www.put-in-bay.com/

www.rockhall.com/

A couple of other things your kids might enjoy - lunch or dinner at Ed Debevic's diner and perhaps the architectual tour by boat.

There are several great posts on teens in Chicago on this site that are very helpful. Cedar Point is pretty much on your way home and is fabulous for teens. Much better than Great America. The Warren Dunes are a good experience. Have fun!

I also like Cedar Point much better than Great America. My family also really enjoys Put in Bay which is on Lake Erie not too far from Cedar Point. You can stay overnight or take the ferry over and do it as a daytrip.

Instead of avoiding the Shedd if you and your family enjoy aquariums, go first thing in the morning, preferably on a weekday. There will still be crowds but they get heavier as the day goes on. If you think you are going to see a lot of museums you might check out the CityPass (only saves you money if you go to most of the attractions listed). The brochure says you avoid most ticket lines.

If you are here on July 31st, make sure you schedule Venetian Night on your calendar, the best fireworks in Chicago.

A couple more ideas for Chicago-Garfield Conservatory (dinosaur exhibit until September), Lincoln Park Zoo which can be combined with a visit to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to see the lovely butterfly garden, a stop by the Cultural Center which is a beautiful building and houses one of the tourism offices. They offer free tours of the loop by el on the weekends in the summer. Check out the free greeter service www.chicagogreeter.com, they can give you a free tour of one of the neighborhoods in Chicago.

The architectural river cruise is great but I thought it might be a bit heavy on architecture for kids and it also doesn't go on Lake Michigan at all. There are many other boat tours that leave from Navy Pier that go out on Lake Michigan, my SIL loved Windy the schooner and there's also a power boat that goes out (Seadog?).

Actually, since your kids are over 11, you would do better by signing up for a family membership online at www.sheddnet.org at $80 which gets you priority admission for 2 adults and 4 kids 18 and younger since admission would be $84 for the four of you and $99 through Ticketmaster once they add on the extortionary $3.75 per ticket "convenience charge".

SW Michigan is definately a good option for that time of you but you better book soon. You don't want to go to Wisconsin because that is taking you even further from home just for the lake and the Indiana Dunes have nowhere to stay worth staying near there. New Buffalo gets pricey so you may want to try Union Pier, Lakeside, or Stevenson (which is where Warren Dunes is.) STart by looking at Michigan.org. As for in the city, if you want to get Cubs tickets, better get them soon or they'll be outrageously expensive through a broker. You can also spend a few hours on Chicago's lakeshore with beaches from Oak Street to North Ave being particularly popular. Also, check out the city of chicago's website for a schedule of festivals and street fairs that might interest you. Taste of Chicago is in early July which is a love or hate thing depending on whether you mind crowds but if you go during the week, it can be fun.