Trip with grandson to Chicago and Michigan
Mar 10th, 2015, 10:43 AM
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Trip with grandson to Chicago and Michigan
We will be taking our grandson to Chicago this summer. He is 9 years old. We thought we would take a few extra days and go to Michigan, along the lake. Any ideas for fun things to do with a 9 year old boy? Thank you!
Mar 10th, 2015, 02:37 PM
#2
Depending on where you are coming from, you may want to come into the city on Metra or Amtrak.
Leaving Chicago for Michigan is easy. Get on a Blue Water or Wolverine train to Niles and rent a car there to see the lake. You might even head to Mackinac.
Leaving Chicago for Michigan is easy. Get on a Blue Water or Wolverine train to Niles and rent a car there to see the lake. You might even head to Mackinac.
Mar 10th, 2015, 02:49 PM
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To tag onto Tom's question -
Depending on where you are coming from, you could return west (if that's the direction you came from) by taking one of two different car ferries. The high-speed one goes from Muskegon, Mi. to Milwaukee, and the older, slower, one goes from Ludington, Mi. to Manitowoc, Wi. I have taken the older slower one many years ago, and it was a fun cruise, with great views of the lake.
Depending on where you are coming from, you could return west (if that's the direction you came from) by taking one of two different car ferries. The high-speed one goes from Muskegon, Mi. to Milwaukee, and the older, slower, one goes from Ludington, Mi. to Manitowoc, Wi. I have taken the older slower one many years ago, and it was a fun cruise, with great views of the lake.
Mar 13th, 2015, 04:37 AM
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My husband has a meeting in Chicago for 3 days. While there we will go to a cubs game and see the sites. I was mainly trying to do something extra fun for my grandson and let him add another state to his list. I am interested in Michigan and we will have a car.
Mar 13th, 2015, 06:45 AM
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Three days isn't a lot. I'd first take a look at the calendar on the Choose Chicago website and filter it down to your particular days.
One of the days will be already pretty much filled with the Cubs game, if it is a day game. If so, you could go to the Lincoln Park Zoo in the early a.m. and then the game in the p.m.
Does he like robots? The Museum of Science and Industry is a prime consideration. Their special exhibit this summer is "Robot Revolution". Allow the better part of an entire day because this is one HUGE museum.
And, on that same line, if he should like a little friend all of his own, there is a toy store in the Lakeview neighborhood (take the Red Line north to Belmont, then just north on Sheffield) called Robot City Workshop.
I bet he likes dinosaurs, too? Are you going to see Sue at the Field Museum? You might be interested in knowing that one of the foremost paleontologists in the world, Paul Sereno, is a professor at the University of Chicago. One of his discoveries, the Spinosaurus, is being exhibited in D.C. He has his own website - and you may wish to view it with your grandson.
On your way to Michigan. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Indiana Dunes State Park. The Bailly Homestead and the Chellburg Farm/Visitor Center: www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/bcvc.htm
On the way north in Michigan: He might like to climb the Warren Dunes (Harbert area).
Please note: If you want to go to any beach, PLEASE, PLEASE ONLY SWIM WHERE AND WHEN THERE ARE LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY. I cannot stress this enough for ANY area along Lake Michigan shoreline, but particularly those from Indiana into Michigan.
One of the days will be already pretty much filled with the Cubs game, if it is a day game. If so, you could go to the Lincoln Park Zoo in the early a.m. and then the game in the p.m.
Does he like robots? The Museum of Science and Industry is a prime consideration. Their special exhibit this summer is "Robot Revolution". Allow the better part of an entire day because this is one HUGE museum.
And, on that same line, if he should like a little friend all of his own, there is a toy store in the Lakeview neighborhood (take the Red Line north to Belmont, then just north on Sheffield) called Robot City Workshop.
I bet he likes dinosaurs, too? Are you going to see Sue at the Field Museum? You might be interested in knowing that one of the foremost paleontologists in the world, Paul Sereno, is a professor at the University of Chicago. One of his discoveries, the Spinosaurus, is being exhibited in D.C. He has his own website - and you may wish to view it with your grandson.
On your way to Michigan. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Indiana Dunes State Park. The Bailly Homestead and the Chellburg Farm/Visitor Center: www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/bcvc.htm
On the way north in Michigan: He might like to climb the Warren Dunes (Harbert area).
Please note: If you want to go to any beach, PLEASE, PLEASE ONLY SWIM WHERE AND WHEN THERE ARE LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY. I cannot stress this enough for ANY area along Lake Michigan shoreline, but particularly those from Indiana into Michigan.
Mar 14th, 2015, 04:40 AM
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Sorry - I forgot to mention a couple of things to you above.
This has been a particularly cold winter. It will take Lake Michigan a good long time to warm. If you are looking for a "beach-type getaway" with swimming involved, mid-June may be too early this year for that type of activity. The lake water temperature might be too cold to be even advisable for swimming, let alone comfortable. So I wouldn't be making too plans for swimming in the lake.
While we are on this subject, when you decide on a location and IF you are planning on swimming, please review the safety information, which is usually posted on the particular area's websites.
For example, here is the information on the Indiana Dunes:
www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm (Under "Plan Your Visit" then "Safety")
http://www.indianadunes.com/indiana-...chigan-safety/
New Buffalo: www.cityofnewbuffalo.org/lifeguards.asp
and so forth.
Secondly, expect Chicago level of cost for lodging and activities. A lot of people from Chicago take weekends up in Michigan and prices reflect that. If you are planning on going over a weekend, most better places require two-night minimum stays. (Although this doesn't apply to you, three-night minimums on holiday weekends are the norm. Hope you don't mind my mentioning this for the sake of others.)
P.S. I trust that you already know that Chicago has many beaches as well. The beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. The Chicago Park District's website has an entire section naming each beach with its amenities and posts the swimming conditions on each (water condition, temperature, the "swim report", etc.) Ditto my comments as above.
This has been a particularly cold winter. It will take Lake Michigan a good long time to warm. If you are looking for a "beach-type getaway" with swimming involved, mid-June may be too early this year for that type of activity. The lake water temperature might be too cold to be even advisable for swimming, let alone comfortable. So I wouldn't be making too plans for swimming in the lake.
While we are on this subject, when you decide on a location and IF you are planning on swimming, please review the safety information, which is usually posted on the particular area's websites.
For example, here is the information on the Indiana Dunes:
www.nps.gov/indu/index.htm (Under "Plan Your Visit" then "Safety")
http://www.indianadunes.com/indiana-...chigan-safety/
New Buffalo: www.cityofnewbuffalo.org/lifeguards.asp
and so forth.
Secondly, expect Chicago level of cost for lodging and activities. A lot of people from Chicago take weekends up in Michigan and prices reflect that. If you are planning on going over a weekend, most better places require two-night minimum stays. (Although this doesn't apply to you, three-night minimums on holiday weekends are the norm. Hope you don't mind my mentioning this for the sake of others.)
P.S. I trust that you already know that Chicago has many beaches as well. The beaches are open from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. The Chicago Park District's website has an entire section naming each beach with its amenities and posts the swimming conditions on each (water condition, temperature, the "swim report", etc.) Ditto my comments as above.
Mar 31st, 2015, 10:45 PM
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I would consider spending more time in Chicago. If you go to Michigan, Saugatuck would be a good choice. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive. You might like Mackinac, but it's about 400 miles. The drive is pretty nice, but it's a hike. And Mackinac Island is not cheap. If you just want to relax for a few days and are open to going to Indiana instead of Michigan, I would highly recommend the French Lick Resort.
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