Woodfield is a great place to spend a day when you have nothing else to do. However, it is very large and easy to get turned around. There are lots of ramps and elevators that can get confusing. There are a ton of stores, literally something for everyone. Just remember, you are in cook county and the tax rate is now somewhere around 10%, so it won't be cheap. All in all it is a good place to go to get out of the house and let the kids get rid of some energy. Parking can also get tricky sometimes, just be aware of where you park and don't get lost.

The Shedd Aquarium is such a beautiful and fun place to take your family. There are so many different exhibits to see with such a variety of creatures. There really is something for everyone. We took our son when he was a year and a half old and he just loved watching all of the fish swim around. It is also great for older children, they really can learn a lot about different environments and learn about all of the neat creatures they have there. With any downtown attraction it can get expensive quickly with drinks, snacks, and souvenirs.

Kohl Children's Museum is a really great place to take children to learn and explore. I would say that it is more geared towards the 1-8 crowd and any older than that and the kids might get bored. There are so many interactive activites that interst the kids and different exhibits that get changed on a regular basis. The kids will definatley be tired after at day at the museum.

Just make sure that you get there early, it definatley gets busy and you want to make sure you can get to all of the activities.

I grew up going to Great America and I can say that I have some great memories there. They are always changing and adding news rides and attractions. There are activities for toddlers, however it gets so busy that in my opinion it is better to bring older children. As with any themepark, drinks and snacks are expensive so be prepared. Lines can get long and it is not always the cleanest, be sure to bring sanitizing wipes.

I can honestly say that one of my families favorite activites is to visit Independence Grove and spend a few hours. There are so many different activities available you could spend all day there.

You can swim at the beach, fish, bike, run, walk, canoe, play on the playground or just enjoy the scenery. The entire area is beatutifully landscaped and really a fun place to let your kids run wild. We love just taking walks and getting out into the fresh air.