Tag Archives: chicago

Family Travel: Dolls, LEGO and Blues

Could the Mall of America get any better? American Girl fans answered yes and mall officials listened. Come November (just in time for the holidays) American Girl will call the massive shopping center home. Which means your kids have one more location to blow their allowance money on the mega-popular dolls and their mountains of accessories. The new store is making headlines because, according to company execs, American Girl is very selective about where it sells its goods. Company reps say the American Girl store in the Mall of America will span 20,000-square feet, feature two stories and include a … Continue reading →

Chicago on a Shoestring

This is it. The countdown to my favorite event of the summer is on and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Soon I will enjoy an entire day where I don’t count a single calorie or contemplate what a combination of deep-fried pickles, Pad Thai, a Flintstones-sized BBQ turkey leg, alligator nuggets, and chocolate-dipped strawberry cheesecake on a stick will do to my digestive tract. If you too dream of experiencing the epicurean delight, also known as The Taste of Chicago, but your budget is far smaller than your appetite, check out the following Windy City travel deals: A Taste of … Continue reading →

Cruising Chicago and the Caribbean

If you are looking to take to the seas on a Caribbean cruise booking early will allow you to save a ton of money in the long run. Right now Orbitz is offering a great deal on an eight-night Caribbean odyssey from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Thomas for $3,298. (That’s a discount of 40 percent.) The price might sound steep but the ultra-luxe Seabourn Legend is an all-suite ship and your journey will include stops in Grand Turk Island; St. John on U.S. Virgin Islands; Gustavia on St. Barths; Marigot on Saint Martin; Virgin Gorda; and Charlotte Amalie on St. … Continue reading →

Reasons to Visit Chicago During the Summer Months

So, now that you know why visiting Chicago in the spring is such a great idea let’s turn our attention to what the Windy City has to offer during the rest of the year. In the month of June Grant Park becomes a mecca for blues fans. The hugely popular (and always jam packed) Chicago Blues Festival takes place the first weekend in June and the best part—–it’s free! June is also the month when the most decadent food festival in the country takes place. Taste of Chicago runs for 10 days from late June through the July 4th holiday … Continue reading →

Wheelchairs in the Windy City

In a previous blog I mentioned that Chicago was recently named one of America’s most disability-friendly cities by the National Organization on Disability. Not only are all of the city’s public buses wheelchair-accessible, but also each summer Chicago hosts the largest Disability Pride Parade in the nation. To learn more about what the Windy City offers disabled travelers I would suggest ordering a free copy of a new guide called “Easy Access Chicago.” It includes basic visitor information for popular city attractions such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower, along with details on accommodations like … Continue reading →

Springtime in Chicago

I just returned from a family trip to Hawaii, which included connections at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. While there my 3-year-old daughter paid her dinosaur pal a visit in Terminal One and once again ran her little legs off at the “Kids on the Fly” play area. The 2,000-square-foot indoor playground features a two-story control tower, airplane with interactive cockpit and cargo hold, luggage slide, a ticket counter, a helicopter, and my daughter’s favorite feature a pint-sized ice-cream stand where tots can scoop their own mock sweet treats into paper cones. We had more than two hours to kill between … Continue reading →

Windy City Tips for Wheelchair-Bound Travelers

My friend is taking her wheelchair-bound mother to Chicago this Easter and recently asked me for advice on where to go and how challenging it would be to get around. While I have never toured the city or its many attractions in a wheelchair I do know that last year Chicago was named one of America’s most disability-friendly cities by the National Organization on Disability. The honor was given partially because all the city’s public buses are wheelchair-accessible. In addition, each July, the Windy City hosts the largest Disability Pride Parade in the nation as well as AccessChicago, a products … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Travel Destination for Little Girls

Well… that is if your favorite little female is into American Girl dolls. And judging by the doll manufacturer’s stats there are a ton of little girls who love these life-like and expensive (they typically sell for about $90 each) creations–my daughter included. According to Mattel (which makes the American Girl dolls), more than 13 million American Girl dolls have been sold in the United States alone. What’s more, 3 million doll lovers have traveled thousands of miles to visit American Girl Place shops in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and smaller American Girl Boutique and Bistro’s in Atlanta and … Continue reading →

Hotel Happenings: The Big Apple, Chocolate and Trump

February is typically a slow period for New York City lodgings, which means Valentine’s Day lovebirds looking for great deals on hotel rooms can score big this month. (After all, nothing says love more than discounted rates if you live on a fixed budget.) During the entire month of February the city’s tourist board, NYC & Company, is running a new promotion that showcases more than a dozen luxury hotels in Manhattan. It’s very simple: you pay for two nights and get the third free at 17 participating hotels. Plus all guests will receive a VIP package at the Saks … Continue reading →

Winter Family Fun in Chicago

In my previous blog I listed some of the spectacular outdoor activities that await you in Chicago this winter. I failed to mention that the city also offers a host of family friendly events for those of you who can only tolerate the cold for a short period of time (that would be me). I can’t stand the cold (being born and raised in Hawaii does that to a person), but my love for Chicago outweighs my distaste for Mother Nature’s brutal winter assault so my family makes the trip no matter what the weather. We just stick to the … Continue reading →