Chicago with 2 kids
 

My wife and I are taking the kids (ages 6 and 8) to Chicago this weekend ... we're staying at the Marriott Renaissance on Wacker. We're planning to go to the Field Museum and either Adler or Shedd ... we're looking for restaurant suggestions, or other cool things to see. We don't want to go out onto the pier, or whatever that area is called. We've done that and didn't like it at all.

Is Field good for kids?

Any good restaurants that don't mind kids? What are considered the best pizza places in the loop area? Bacino's is nearby out hotel, but I don't know anything about it.

T

I don't live there anymore, but while in college I did love the Shedd Aquarium and the science museum. As I recall there was an Apollo capsule at the science museum, which was very cool. However, the Science Museum is further south, near the University of Chicago.

What about a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago? Most famous for its Impressionist works, it houses a great armor collection that kids would like. There is also an area of what are essentially "dollhouse" rooms that my mom just adored. They called it the Thorne Miniature Rooms on the website.

Some highlights(if you can sneak a peek) are the Chagall windows, Picasso's The Old Guitarist, Hopper's Nighthawks and for fun, American Gothic. (Yes, American Gothic is the painting of the old farm couple with the pitchfork.)

If you do go, it might be fun later to buy a copy of the Parker Brothers game Masterpiece.

For pizza, Gino's East is a classic. My brother just went there last month when he was in town and thought it was still great.

If it's nice weather, we loved riding bikes/rollerblades/bike-surrey along the lake when our kids were 14/12.

The Field Museum is good for children and has a good interpretive staff to help make your visit more enjoyable, you may also want to consider the Museum of Science & Industry.

For pizza, there are several possibilities. Giordano's has several locations around town. From the Renaissance there are two that are about a 5-6 block walk. One is on Stetson and South Water Street, and the other is on Randolph and Franklin. Both of these tend to be less crowded than the one on Superior and Rush.

You could also try Lou Malnatti's on Wells and Kinzie, just across the river.

There's a Potbelly sandwich shop outside the back door of your hotel at State and Lake.

If you're planning to use the CTA during your visit, be advised that there is currently a funding struggle between the Illinois Legislature and the transit agencies over bus and rail service in the Chicago area. Current plans call for the elimination of many bus routes on and a fare increase on November 4 if the funding bills don't pass. Check www.transitchicago.com for the latest information.

With kids ages 6 and 8, go to the Museum of Science and Industry. For pizza, Gino's East.

The Shedd is a truly wonderful place - good for all ages! Be sure to take in a show in the Oceanarium.

Havent been to Chicago in a couple of years, but my kids loved to go to Ed Dubevics for a meal (50s style diner with singing waiters). Also, if your kids are girls, there is an American Girl store in the Mag Mile area. The Shedd is our favorite Chicago musuem. the Art Institute is a close second. Have a fun trip.

I would definitely pick the Shedd over the Adler, hands down. I also totally agree that the Museum of Science and Industry is fantastic. The Field is very fun for kids!

I think that FoodLife at the Watertower Place is excellent - a ton of different options in a cafeteria style setting (but the food is much, much better than your usual food court/cafeteria.) It's great because everyone can pick what they want - Mexican, Chinese, Italian, etc.

Ginos East and Giordanos are both famous for their deep dish pizza. As to which is better...it really depends on the person! I personally prefer Giordanos.

Enjoy your trip!

I agree that your kids (and yourself as well) would probably enjoy the Museum of Science and Industry more than the Field Museum.

The downside is that the MSI is one HUGE museum - so I recommend that if you wish to go, get there as soon as it opens and go to the special exhibits first. Then maybe go to one of the Omnimax movies, if you wish. Then enjoy the rest of the day going through the regular exhibits. You'll spend the better part of a day there, so I wouldn't plan anything until evening.

The Museum of Science and Industry has the "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" special exhibit going until January 2008. FYI, George Lucas himself visited the MSI when the exhibit opened.

And, if you have never been there yourself, make sure that you go to the U505 WWII German Submarine. This is the real deal, by the way. Very impressive exhibit and definitely worthwhile to spend the extra $5 pp to board the sub. You have to pay in advance (when you pay your admission) and they do sell out, so if you want to go, get there early.

To get to the MSI - on weekends only at this time of year - pick up the #10 SB CTA bus at any stop on Michigan north of the River or on State Street south of the River.

Just want to reinforce what someone else already said- Go the Shedd Aquarium rather than the Adler Planetarium. Have done them and there is no comparison.

For breakfast and lunch type food, keep an eye out for the Corner Bakery chains. There are a number throughout the city and I thought the food was fine and a nice casual atmosphere.

We moved to Chicago area when my son was 8, he and his friends really enjoy the MS&I, which has many interactive exhibits and the Shedd. I would say those two are my favorite. Because he was into dinosaurs at the time we also took him to see Sue at the Field, other than the dinosaur exhibits he didn't have much interest in the Field except for the McDonald's in the lower level!

In fair weather we love to do the Wendella boat tours on the river but it may be too chilly this weekend for that.

Our favorite places to eat downtown are Due's or Lou Malnoti's for deep dish, Portillo's on Ontario for inexpensive but good eats, as another poster suggested, the Food Life court at Water Tower is good too, everyone can find something they like there.

There is a House of Blues restaurant very close to where you are staying, their gospel brunch may be fun.

In the shops at Northbridge their is a Lego store that most kids enjoy and on one of the levels there is a Potbelly, a Tuscany outpost and several other places to eat. The Cafe at Nordstroms also has very good eats. You order and pay and they bring the food out to you.

Lincoln Park Zoo will probably be decorated for Halloween, so if the weather isn't too bad you can take a bus or cab there. There is an Original Pancake House close to the zoo that has very good breakfasts. Love their bluberry pancakes!

Enjoy your visit!