Chicago Area Special Needs Santa Guide
Visiting Santa at a crowded mall can be overwhelming for any child (or even adults), and especially challenging for children with special needs. These events are designed with children with special needs and their families in mind. Events vary, but they attempt to accommodate sensitivities to crowds, noise, and lights as well as physical needs. […]
Chicago Area Santa Guide
Get those wishlists ready because Santa is in Chicago! As kids tell Santa what they want for Christmas, it’s a great time to get some great photos for your holiday cards, photo albums, and to post on social media. Many locations even offer special events for things like holiday pj’s, ugly sweaters, and pets for […]
Indoor Trick-or-Treating in the Chicago Area
You can never tell what to expect from the weather in the Midwest on Halloween and this year proves it because it’s supposed to snow! Sometimes it’s nice to be warm and cozy inside, and on a Halloween like this it’s especially nice. This list includes many of the places you can trick-or-treat inside in […]
Chicago Area Apple Orchard Guide 2019
I’ll confess that I’m not a huge fan of fall. It’s fine and all, but I prefer spring and summer and I’m not enthusiastic about the approach of cold weather. However, I LOVE apple picking. It almost makes up for the fact that summer is ending. It’s a tradition in our family to go apple […]
Free Chicago Museum Days – Summer 2019
July means we’re well into summer. Are you making the most of it? Get out there and enjoy the rest of your summer days with renowned art, historical artifacts, and technological exhibits and enjoy the sights of the Chicago area. Some attractions can be pricey, especially when you’re paying for a whole family, so free […]
Fourth of July Parade & Firework Guide – 2019
I don’t know about you, but we’re just about falling into our summer routine when the Fourth of July comes along to shake things up. I love it! Not only do I love celebrating independence and freedom, but it’s a kick in the butt. It’s a reminder that summer is filled with amazing opportunities for […]
Chicago Area Berry Picking Guide 2019
Who doesn’t love a nice, juicy berry? You can buy them at the grocery store, but it’s a chore to go shopping and you often find the strawberries (or raspberries, or blueberries) are just not that fresh. Treat yourself and your kids to super fresh, ripe berries right off the vine at one of the […]
Chicago Area Baseball Clubs for Kids
It’s baseball season and lots of the local baseball teams have clubs for kids. Kids get souvenirs from the team and tickets to attend games for a fraction of the price you’d pay purchasing them separately. The Chicago White Sox even have a free kids club! Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox Kids Club – Free […]
Chicago Area Easter Egg Hunts
The green buds are popping out of the ground, Daylight Savings time has arrived, and Spring is just around the corner. That means the Easter Bunny is on his way too, and he’s stopping at several spots in Chicago and the suburbs to hide eggs along the way. Many of the hunts and events listed […]
Chicago Area Easter Bunny Guide
It’s almost Easter so it’s time for the annual photos with the fluffy symbol of Spring. The Easter Bunny will be making stops at these locations in and around Chicago for photos before he hops away on April 21. If you’re a family with a child with special needs, scroll to the bottom for information […]
St. Patrick’s Day Family Events 2019
Everybody is Irish on St. Patty’s Day so don some green and embrace the luck of the Irish hunting for clovers, attend a parade, or watch a waterfall turn green. I do my best to provide accurate, up-to-date information, but it’s always best to call first to verify information as details can change and events can be […]
Skiing, Snowboarding, and Tubing Near Chicago
Embrace winter with a day of skiing, snowboarding, or tubing. Here are some great places not too far from Chicago to where – depending on your skill and comfort level — you can glide gently or zoom down some hills. All of these locations can help out Mother Nature by making their own snow! Weather […]
Asleep with the Fishes and Other Museum Overnights in Chicago
A new year is a great time for new experiences and several local museums offer you a chance for new experiences and perspectives by staying open overnight for sleepovers. Grab a sleeping bag, toothbrush, and jammies and reserve your tickets now. Many of these overnights will sell out quickly, so it’s best to reserve your spots […]
Illumination at the Morton Arboretum
Illumination is an amazing light display at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle for the holidays. Illumination will be open until January 1, 2019. This is an outdoor attraction so dress for the weather. Our experience below is based on our 2017 visit, but other information has been updated for 2018. Location Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois […]
The Polar Express Schedules Stop at Chicago Union Station
The Polar Express has arrived in Chicago! Rides are scheduled from now through January 1, 2019. The Polar Express is a VERY popular holiday event. It often sells out pretty quickly after tickets go on sale, which in most locations starts in June. The Polar Express at the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin […]
Best Spots for Leaf Peeping Near Chicago
Autumn announces itself with yellows, oranges, reds, and purples and it’s officially here. Take the kids out to explore all the changes autumn brings and enjoy the beautiful foliage at these four spots near Chicago: Chicago Botanic Garden With 26 different gardens on over 300 acres, you’re sure to see plenty of autumn foliage at […]
8 Things to do with Leftover Halloween Candy
Halloween is over and you’re probably either feeling sick from all the candy you ate last night, or you’re munching on it for breakfast (hey, you’ve got all day to work off those calories!). In my house we’ve got a TON of candy – the kids got lots from trick-or-treating and we had a lot […]
Halloween Candy Buy Back
Halloween means lots of fun – costumes, parties, trick-or-treating – and lots and lots of candy. If you’re looking to save your kids (and yourself) from the sugar and tooth decay, why not “sell” it? Through programs like Operation Gratitude and Packages4Patriots, dentists volunteer to “buy” Halloween candy from kids for money (generally $1 a […]
Chicago Area Trick-or-Treat Hours
Halloween is the craziest holiday and I love it. Dress up like someone (or some thing) else and go door-to-door asking for treats. Does it get any better than that? Get those costumes ready and find out trick-or-treat hours for your area. Sunday, October 28, 2018 North suburbs Zion – 2-5 pm Northwest Suburbs Round […]
Teal Pumpkin Project with Free Printable Pumpkin Sign
Food allergies are on the rise and Halloween can be a particularly difficult time for families of children with food allergies. To help families who are dealing with allergies, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) is encouraging people to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project. Paint a pumpkin teal, or hang a sign with a […]
Chicago Area Halloween Events
Halloween only lasts one day, but doesn’t it seem like it should be more? I know I prefer to celebrate much longer than that. Looking for Halloween events in the Chicago area? Gotcha covered. Get those costumes ready and enjoy these events all through the month of October. Know of any other fun events […]
Dora and Diego at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The new, hands-on exhibit Dora and Diego—Let’s Explore! opens Saturday, September 22, at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. Join the adventure into the Nickelodeon characters’ imaginative world to take part in a variety of activities to learn about nature and become problem solvers. The exhibit will also incorporate Spanish vocabulary throughout the journey, introducing the language to […]
Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America
Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America offers more scary attractions than ever! Too scared? Visit during the daytime hours for family-friendly thrills.
Top Three Products from the Chicago Baby Show 2018
Once a year, representatives and merchants from around the country spend a weekend in Chicago showing parents and expectant parents products and services for babies and children at the Chicago Baby Show, the largest show of its kind in the country. Expectant and new parents can discover new brands and see new products from established, […]
Free MSI tickets for CPS students
The first day of school is important. There may not be a lot of traditional school work on the first day, but attending helps students and teachers familiarize themselves, gives students a chance to learn rules and routines, and starts out the year with a good routine. Research indicates that the more a child attends […]
Troll Hunt at the Morton Arboretum
You can expect to find lots of interesting creatures at the Morton Arboretum – birds, ducks, squirrels, and now TROLLS. Trolls first made their appearance at the Morton Arboretum in the spring and rumor has it they’ll stick around through the end of 2018. Danish artist Thomas Dambo used reclaimed wood to create these colossal […]
Legoland Discovery Center Annual Pass 50% off (limited time only)
Is there anyone who doesn’t love LEGOs? Probably not. LEGOLAND Discovery Center is a magical place where there are more LEGO blocks than you can even imagine and you can spend the day building, exploring, and even going on rides. LEGOLAND has been a favorite attraction of ours for years and the best way to […]
Chicago Baby Show Ticket Giveaway
The 2018 Chicago Baby Show, on August 25 & 26, 2018 will once again be the largest show for new and expectant parents in the country. Now in its 2nd year, no other event provides a better experience for thousands of expectant and new families from the Chicago area seeking a family-friendly jamboree of top […]
Magical Birthday Parties at CircEsteem
Children’s birthday parties have become a hot topic among parents and the pressure is real. During my childhood parents bought some cake, ice cream, and paper hats and we were pleased as punch. Now parents struggle with questions like: Do I invite the whole class or just close friends? Do I prepare goody bags? How […]
Giveaway: Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 DVDs
Who’s ready for a giveaway? Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation will be in theaters July 13 and to celebrate I’ve got a great prize for a lucky reader: DVDs of Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2! Attention Mummies, Daddies, and little monsters of all kind: Grab your monster sized popcorn and get ready for the […]
