What would you suggest doing in Chicago over Labor Day weekend? We will be driving, arriving Friday night late, leaving Monday midday.

Two teenage girls (18 and 15) want to shop, of course. 13-year-old son and husband will also be with us. The 13-year-old likes what most 13-year-old boys like - video games. Husband loves sports and that's about all he loves! He did say he would like to see the buildings.

Any suggestions on a nice area to stay - fairly upscale, low crime area - that would be a good base for the weekend? And things closeby to do?

We will be driving from KC.

The Museum of Science and Industry is excellent, as is the Field Museum of Natural History. If you have a car, Great America amusement park is in Gurnee, about an hour north. Ther's a major mall, Gurnee Mills in the same town.

there is a place (on michigan ave i think) called ESPN Zone. some type of video game arcade. i haven't been, but one of my teens liked it. navy pier is always fun to hang out on.

there is an all suite hotel on north michigan ave near water tower shopping place. we stayed there once. i think it was doubletree suites. there's tons of good hotels in that area and you can walk/bus to shops, museums, etc.

http://www.cityofchicago.org/SpecialEvents/

The Jazz Festival is Labor Day weekend and usually is a good time.

Michigan Avenue, State Street, Oak Street, and various neighborhoods (Armitage west of Halsted, Bucktown, Andersonville) are fun, fairly concentrated areas for shopping.

ESPN Zone does have games and whatnot upstairs, but food is pretty lousy and expensive. Plus, it will be gorgeous outside if the weather is as usual during Labor Day weekend. Try the Architecture boat tour or the double decker busses. Or, even more fun, is to rent 4-person cycle-vehicle to tool along the lakefront or paddleboats in the lagoon near the Lincoln Park Zoo. Navy Pier usually is popular with all age groups and offers good views.

Also, the Museum of Science and Industry might be a good stop for the guys while you shop ... that's the last weekend of the Monster Truck exhibit and the museum also has an impressive set-up with miniature train sets as well as Omnimax theaters. Lots to see there as also is true of the museum campus - Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium/Oceanarium.

What other kinds of activities might interest your family?

Stay downtown near N Michigan Ave. See choosechicago.com
The architecture boat tour is interesting and great for adults and kids. Navy Pier has music and putt putt and boat rides etc. ESPN Zone is just off Michigan Ave. YOu can take the redline to either Wrigley or COmiskey if there's a baseball game easily. Lincoln Park Zoo is a great free walk. See metromix.com for city info also.