Garden Patch Farms is closed. Click here for other pick-your-own locations. Garden Patch Farms – website Today I’m welcoming our very first guest poster, Mary Whalen! Mary is a mom with two daughters (2 1/2 and 5) and a husband of 8 years. Before her job as mommy, Mary was a technical writer and instructional […]
Archives for 2011
Millennium Park
August 25, 2011 By
Millennium Park – website Location: 201 E. Randolph Street, between Michigan Avenue and Columbus, Chicago Admission: Free Parking: The Millennium Garage has entrances on South Columbus between Monroe & Randolph. $14 – Early Bird: Monday – Friday (In between 5 – 10 a.m. Out by 7 p.m.)$19 – 0 – 3 hours$21 – 3 […]
Moore Park Playground & Sprayground
August 19, 2011 By
Moore Park Playground & Sprayground – website Location: 801 Geneva Dr, Geneva Phone: Geneva Park District – 630-232-4542 Hours: Mon – Thur 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Fri – Sun 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Admission: FREE Parking: There is a large parking lot with free parking. Bathrooms: There is one outhouse […]
Comic Con Family Day
August 18, 2011 By
Comic Con Family Day – website I posted some information about Comic Con before we attended; this is my follow up with more information and our experience. Comic Con is gone from Chicago for this year, but will be in mid-Ohio, Austin, New Orleans, Toronto, the Big Apple, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Dates can […]
Family Fun Festival at Millennium Park
August 17, 2011 By
Family Fun Festival at Millennium Park – website This post is a bit late – this is the final week of the Family Fun Festival. The Family Fun Festival goes on all summer and it’s been on my list of “Things to do right now!” since it started in June, but somehow it’s suddenly August. […]
Giddy Dip ’ems Review and Giveaway
August 13, 2011 By
Giddy products are no longer available. This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Jackie! Thanks to everyone who entered and especially to giddy! Giddy Dip ’ems Review & Giveaway – website I was recently asked to try a new snack: giddy dip ’ems. Giddy dip ’ems come in four flavors: Strawberry, Tropical, Sour Apple, […]
Comic Con Family Day (pre-post)
August 12, 2011 By
Comic Con Family Day (pre-post) – website Comic Con has arrived in Chicago and their Family Day is Sunday, August 14. We’ll be there; will you? Here’s some information you might want: Location: Donald E Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont Hours: Comic Con opened on Thursday, August 11 and runs until Sunday, […]
Overnight Getaway – Hilton Indian Lakes Resort
August 9, 2011 By
Overnight Getaway – Hilton Indian Lakes Resort – website Location: 250 West Schick Road, Bloomingdale, IL 60108 Phone: 630-529-0200 Parking: There is free parking in the large attached lot. Check-in & check-out: Check-in is at 3:00 pm. Check-out is at noon. Price: I depends on the date and room type (obviously), but rooms can start […]
DIY I-Spy Travel Game
July 31, 2011 By
DIY I-Spy Travel Game A couple weeks ago I did a post about Chiquita’s new crushed fruit snack product. We finished them and I rinsed the bottles to put them in our recycling bin, but they were kinda cute, so I left them sitting on the kitchen counter. I was trying to decide what to […]
Survey & Legoland Giveaway
July 30, 2011 By
Congratulations to Heather, winner of the 4 Legoland Discovery Center passes! This giveaway is now closed, but I’m always open to hearing your feedback or suggestions: toddlingchicago@yahoo.com. Thanks to everyone who participated! Giveaway – 4 Passes to Legoland Discovery Center I’m always looking for ways to improve Toddling Around Chicagoland so I’d like to learn […]
Cirque du Soleil OVO giveaway
July 29, 2011 By
Congratulations to the winner, Laila! Thanks to all who entered & especially to the great people at Cirque du Soleil! This giveaway is now closed. OVO Giveaway I’m so excited to be giving away two tickets to OVO! This pair of tickets is for the Wednesday, August 10 show at 8:00 pm, at the big top tent […]
OVO by Cirque du Soleil
July 28, 2011 By
OVO by Cirque du Soleil – website Location: The Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) in the parking lot of the United Center, 1901 West Madison Street, Chicago Phone: 800-450-1480 Booking Assistance (booking fees are higher via phone) Hours: The show runs through August 21, 2011Sundays: 1:00 pm, 5:00 pmMonday: No shows Tuesday […]
Overnight Getaway – KeyLime Cove Resort
July 24, 2011 By
KeyLime Cove Resort has closed, but recently reopened as Great Wolf Lodge. Click here for additional overnight getaway locations in the Chicago area. I’m adding a new feature to Toddling Around Chicagoland – Overnight Getaways. With the current economy I know a lot of families are forced to downsize their vacations, or eliminate them altogether. […]
Cirque Shanghai Extreme
July 19, 2011 By
Cirque Shanghai Extreme – website Location: Pepsi Skyline Stage at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave, Chicago Phone: 800-745-3000 (to purchase tickets) Hours: The show runs June 29 – September 5. Sunday 12:00pm, 2:00pm 5:00pm Wednesday 2:00pm […]
Chiquita Swap Your Snacks Mission – #CrushedIt
July 14, 2011 By
I’m always on the lookout for new and healthy snacks for me and my family. We’re on the go a lot so convenience is important, too. Chiquita has a great new crushed fruit snack product so I was anxious to try it out. I picked up several bottles at Dominick’s – they had banana & […]
Bébé Paluzza Giveaway
July 11, 2011 By
*** Congratulations to Amanda & Patricia, who each won 2 tickets to Bebe Paluzza!This giveaway is now closed! Bébé Paluzza Maternity and Baby Show Ticket Giveaway I haven’t attended a Bébé Paluzza yet, but here is the information I received about it: Bébé Paluzza, the largest Maternity, Baby and Toddler Show in the USA is […]
Protect your kids from bugs – Avon giveaway
July 11, 2011 By
*** This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to shala_darkstone for winning this incredible Avon prize. Thanks so much to all who entered and a special thanks to Joslyn’s Avon Office!Avon giveaway & discount My friend Joslyn is a Avon representative and she is offering a fabulous giveaway – everything you need to protect your kids […]
I & M Canal Bike Trail
July 7, 2011 By
I & M Canal Bike Trail – website The I & M Canal Bike Trail is 2 looping trails (11 miles total) with a parking lot in the center. Location: Willow St. & Old Willow Spring Road, Willow Springs (approximately) Driving directions: At the intersection of Archer Road and Willow Street in Willow Springs, head […]
Ranger Up Healing Benefit – Sgt. Brad Hojek Jr.
July 4, 2011 By
Ranger Up Healing Benefit – Sgt. Brad Hojek Jr. – website A few month’s ago, my brother’s brother-in-law (my sister-in-law’s brother) Army Ranger Brad Hojek was serving overseas when he was shot multiple times. Brad was seriously wounded and is still at a rehabilitation center recovering from his injuries. In order to assist with […]
Serious Damage at Garfield Park Conservatory
July 2, 2011 By
On June 30 there was a hail storm in Chicago that caused catastrophic damage to the Garfield Park Conservatory, one of our favorite places to adventure in Chicago. If you’ve never been to the Garfield Park Conservatory, you can view my previous post about it. In addition to the clean up and damaged windows needing […]
Santa’s Village AZoosment Park
June 28, 2011 By
Santa’s Village AZoosment Park – website Location: 601 E. Dundee Avenue, East Dundee Phone: 847-426-6751 Hours: Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm Saturday, Sunday, & holidays, 11am – 7pm Park closed October 30-November 24 Admission: $16.50/person, ages 3 & up; children 2 & under are free. There is an online coupon for $2 off admission […]
OVO Preview
June 26, 2011 By
We recently had a chance to see a very short preview of OVO by Cirque du Soleil, which included a diabolo (juggling a spool on a string) performance and a meet-and-greet with two of the creatively costumed characters. My kids were fascinated by the diabolo performance and the characters, but got a little shy when […]
Little Red Schoolhouse
June 25, 2011 By
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center – website Location: 9800 Willow Springs Road, Willow Springs Phone: 708-839-6897 Hours: March 1-last Saturday in October 8:00am – 5:00pmLast Sunday in October-Feb 28 8:00am – 4:00pm Exhibit buildings open at 9:00 am daily (CLOSED FRIDAYS) and may close up to 1/2 hour before grounds. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, […]
People’s Choice Family Fun Center
June 20, 2011 By
The People’s Choice Family Fun Center – website Location: 2411 Grand Ave, Waukegan Phone: 847-336-5700 Hours: Sun – Thur Noon-10pm Fri-Sat 11am – 11pm Mini golf open Noon-9pm daily. Open 365 days a year. Parking: There is a large parking lot. Bathrooms: There are public bathrooms. There are no changing […]
AMF Bowling
June 14, 2011 By
AMF Summer Unplugged – bowling Bowling is a great way to get your kids out of the house and active for the summer. From May 30 to September 5, 2011, AMF is offering FREE bowling to kids under the age of 16. Register your children on the AMF site and each week they will email you […]
Tates Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shop
June 12, 2011 By
Tates Old Fashioned Ice Cream Shop – Facebook page Location: 25 S. Ashland, LaGrange Phone: 708-352-4848 Hours: 11am – 10pm Monday – Saturday 11am – 9pm Sunday Parking: There is street parking available. Bathrooms: No bathrooms. Handicapped/stroller accessibility: The shop is accessible. During the time we were there a woman came in with a stroller […]
Dealavue.com – Giveaway & special offer
June 6, 2011 By
Dealavue is no longer in operation. *** This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to MELISSA! Thanks to all who entered & a special thanks to DEALAVUE! Giveaway and Special Offer I’m a huge fan of deal sites. As you may have noticed in previous posts, I often use deal sites to do the activities I post […]
Dot and Ziggy giveaway & discount code
May 31, 2011 By
***This giveaway has ended. Thanks to all who entered and a special thanks to the Chicago Children’s Theatre. Congratulations to winner Samantha! Win 2 tickets to see Dot and Ziggy this Friday at noon! A few weeks ago we saw a Chicago Children’s Theater production, Dot and Ziggy, an interactive show geared toward babies and […]
Jelly Belly Visitor Center
May 31, 2011 By
Jelly Belly Visitor Center – website Location: 10100 Jelly Belly Lane, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 (only 12 miles from Gurnee, IL!) Phone: 866-TOUR-JBC Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm daily; tours 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Closed New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. On the second Saturday in December, Christmas Eve, and New […]
The Plush Horse
May 27, 2011 By
The Plush Horse – website Location: 12301 South 86th Avenue Palos Park, IL 60464 Phone: 708-448-0550 Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 9:00 pmFriday – Saturday 8:00 am – 9:30 pmSunday 11:00 am – 9:00 pmThese are Spring hours and will likely be different for other seasons. Prices: A pony cone is available for just […]
