Where To Get Your Scare On In Chicago

Confession time: My 3-year-old daughter and I put up some Halloween decorations yesterday. Yes, I know, it’s only the second week in September. (Relax, they’re just pumpkin window clings… and she begged me all morning.) Ever since we got her new Halloween costume a few days ago… listen, I refuse to hang my head in shame about this since my daughter had to wear a giraffe costume a size too small last year (she changed her mind twice). I made the mistake of waiting until the second week in October to purchase it and apparently savvy parents in these parts … Continue reading →

More Midwest Family Friendly Travel Destinations

Fall is my favorite time of year. This surprises most people given that I was born and raised in Hawaii (but now live in the Midwest). Typically, they guess that summer is my favorite time of year. I do enjoy the summer months, but since I never got to experience the change of seasons as a child, I appreciate them more as an adult. (Save for the switch to winter.) Each year I make a concerted effort to visit as many seasonal attractions as possible. I target the outdoor ones, but have found some exceptional indoor ones as well. Here … Continue reading →

Chicago’s Must-See Attractions

My love affair with the “Windy City” is no secret. I have raved about many of the city’s unique family-friendly attractions in previous blogs… and I’m not done yet. The following a few more of my family’s favorite “Second City” pit stops: NAVY PIER Navy Pier holds the title of Chicago’s most-visited tourist attraction. And it’s easy to see why. After all, where else in the world can you find a 15-story Ferris wheel, a Shakespearean Theater, a children’s museum, a stained-glass museum, an IMAX Theater, and a miniature golf course sitting on a half-mile man-made peninsula extending out into … Continue reading →

Late Summer Festivals In The Midwest

Today we wrap up our series exploring some of the best summertime family friendly festivals taking place in the Midwest. This latest list of events caters to the true Midwesterner who wants to make the most of those late summer days. Even though some of these festivals take place after the kids return to school that’s no reason to dismiss them. Show up and you’ll find that these wonderful ethnic and art events taking place in and around the Chicagoland area are hard to beat. Port Clinton Art Festival. This annual event features the work of more than 250 artists. … Continue reading →

More Summer Festivals In The “Land Of Lincoln”

Looking back at my previous blogs listing dozens of family friendly festivals taking place this summer in the Midwest you might think that all I do on vacation is eat. Yes, food is at the center of many summer festivals, but as this blog will illustrate there are tons of events, which feature much more than just corn, strawberries, or ribs. Here now are more extremely family friendly festivals taking place this month in and around the “Land of Lincoln.” Ethnic Arts Festival. This art fair features more than 125 artists representing 80 cultures. It also features music, food and … Continue reading →

Summer Events In the Great Midwest

Continuing our series exploring some of the best summertime family friendly festivals in the Midwest… today we turn our attention to some wonderful ethnic and art events taking place in and around the Chicagoland area. Gold Coast Art Fair. The event features the work of 400 artists and also includes live entertainment and food booths. It takes place from August 3-5 on Superior, Huron and Erie streets between Wells and Clark streets. Retro On Rosco. This annual event takes you back in time. A summertime flashback featuring bands playing music from the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. It also includes a … Continue reading →

Even More Midwest Fests

It’s that time of year again… festival season in the Midwest. From the world’s largest food festival, the Taste of Chicago in the Windy City to the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, in Milwaukee. Tis the season to be festing (or feasting). The following are a few more family friendly festivals taking place in Illinois and Wisconsin this summer. ILLNOIS Kicks For Kids. Chicago’s Grant Park will be turned into an enormous kick ball field so elementary school-age children can show off their skills. Proceeds benefit children battling life-threatening illnesses. The event takes place on July 14th. KIDS Zone Festival. … Continue reading →

More Midwest Fests

In a previous blog I provided a run down of upcoming summer festivals taking place in Illinois. Of course, the granddaddy of them all is the Taste of Chicago, which gets underway tomorrow. But, if you can’t make it out for the longtime Chicago tradition or you are simply trying to avoid the massive crowds that converge on Grant Park (think 4 million people in the course of 11 days) check out these lesser known, but still extremely family friendly festivals taking place this month in and around the Land of Lincoln. Naperville Ribfest. The annual event takes place from … Continue reading →

Chicago’s Festival Season

My mouth is watering just thinking about it. My favorite summer festival (okay, my all-time favorite festival) is just a few short weeks away and my taste buds couldn’t be happier (my thighs, well they’re another story). The 27th annual Taste of Chicago kicks off on June 29th and I will once again be making the obligatory drive south to take in the sights, sounds and calories that make this summer event so memorable. The 10-day food extravaganza includes more than 70 restaurants, cooking demonstrations and plenty of activities for the family. And, of course, no Taste is complete without … Continue reading →

Go Lunar In Chicago… Or In Your Own Backyard

If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do with your family Saturday evening—-simply turn your eyes to the sky. For the first time in more than two years, a total lunar eclipse will be visible in clear skies for nearly the entire continental United States, Europe and Africa. A lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. Viewers tend to see the moon’s appearance darken (basically, the eclipse makes the moon appear to be reddish or grayish). Unfortunately for those of you who live on the East Coast of the U.S. the moon will … Continue reading →