This is a must for tourists. Think a circular tower of shops. In the center a see through elevator. Our favorite place to eat? The food court. It offers a variety of cuisine and it's just fun to walk through the market and eating area. There's a movie theatre too. A place to rst your feet from all that walking.

Woodfield mall is one of the biggest malls in the Chicagoland area with tons and tons of shops. We love eating at Todai sushi buffet and Rainforest Cafe. Also the layout is very stroller friendly. Each level has access by ramps or elevators. The boys favorite store? A build it yourself remote control car store. Think Build a Bear but for cars. Great for boys of all ages.

Ikea is having a great deal this month (august). Kids eat free. They get to choose from several kids meals - no adult purchase required. My kids love the play area where they provide free babysitting. The area is targeted towards younger children (3-6 years old?) It's also fun for kids to play in the kids furniture section.

I seriously think I could spend a whole week at the field museum and not get through everything. Our favorite exhibits are the animals, the mummies, and the dinosaurs. My kids were in awe at the magnificent size of the dinosaur skeletons. The museum has several free days throughout the year. Parking is pricey so public transportation is recommended.

This is a great tourist spot to take your out of town guests. It has a little bit of everything: shops, carousel, ferris wheel rides, ice skating, boat cruises. We love exploring the Crystal Gardens and going to the children's museum. There are also plenty of restaurants and a food court.