There are practical reasons to visit a city in wintertime, as well. There are fewer crowds when it's cold, and hotels frequently offer attractive weekend rates. Museums, theaters, shops and restaurants are all indoors, anyway. Public, indoor athletic facilities are springing up like mushrooms, and you'll really make your kids happy if you choose a hotel with a pool. The bottom line is that cities are exciting and fun, no matter what time of year it is. So, on your next family getaway, plan a trip to Chicago--the quintessential American city, remarkably friendly and full of plenty to see and do.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
When I was a kid, I went to Chicago every summer to visit my grandmother. My favorite place was the Museum of Science and Industry, where I could see myself on television, listen to my voice on the telephone, hurtle down a dark shaft on a train ride through a coal mine and, best of all, admire the most beautiful dollhouse in the world, Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle.I finally took Victoria, my daughter, to Chicago when she was almost 10; I was curious to see if she would be as enthusiastic as I was at her age. She liked the coal mine, which hadn't changed, but as a veteran of umpteen theme-park thrill rides and simulators, she was less impressed than I had been. We both loved Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, a room-sized manor house with fantasy-themed rooms such as King Arthur's Dining Room, the Princess' Bedroom, and the Magic Garden, where Cinderella's coach is parked.
Not surprisingly, Victoria was most drawn to the more cutting-edge exhibits, especially "Imaging: The Tools of Science," where I literally had to drag her away. She would have stayed for hours, contentedly watching her face transform on screen at "Face Net" or virtual-journeying above the earth's surface on "Planet Sphere." But we had an appointment that wouldn't wait: It was the day of a rare total eclipse of the sun, which we planned to see at the Adler Planetarium. It seemed like half of Chicago had the same idea; the gathering on the lawn outside the planetarium felt like a big party. Lots of people offered to share their special viewing glasses with us, and we could also observe the eclipse on a television monitor.
Another of my memorable childhood adventures was a visit to the regal Marshall Fields department store on State Street, in the Loop. This once-proud commercial and cultural center, which had become down-at-the-heels, has been restored to its former glory. The store has new lampposts, wrought-iron subway kiosks, and trees and planter boxes, all evoking its 1920s heyday.
We also visited the John G. Shedd Aquarium. We arrived at feeding time, and Victoria thought it was cool to be able to talk to the divers inside the tanks. Even better was the marine-mammal Oceanarium, with beluga whales and Alaskan sea otters. Whale and dolphin demonstrations are presented here in a large amphitheater overlooking Lake Michigan.
Chicago's top-ranked year-round attraction is the Navy Pier. Its huge Family Pavilion houses an IMAX theater; the Crystal Gardens, an indoor botanical park with dancing fountains; and many shops and eateries. The Chicago Children's Museum is here, as well. With limited time, head for the popular exhibit "Amazing Chicago." At this kid-sized city in microcosm, children can create pastiches and drawings at the mini Art Institute and craft architectural models at their own Sears Tower. Next to the Family Pavilion, the Navy Pier Park has outdoor skating all through the winter; in warm weather there's a Ferris wheel, a carousel, an outdoor theater and more.
CHICAGO CONTACTS
Chicago Office of TourismChicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington Street
Chicago, IL 60602
312-744-2400
Museum of Science and Industry
57th Street and Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
773-684-1414
Marshall Field's
111 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60602
312-781-1000
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
312-939-2438
Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-595-5100
CHICAGO HOTELS
The Palmer House HiltonA Chicago classic renowned for its beaux arts architecture, this hotel is within walking distance of lakeshore attractions and downtown shopping. Kids under 18 stay free when sharing a room with parents. Children appreciate the indoor pool. Call 312-726-7500 or 800-HILTONS for more information.
Summerfield Suites Hotel--Downtown Chicago
This hotel offers reasonably priced suite accommodation near Chicago's fashionable Magnificent Mile. Rooms come with complimentary buffet breakfast. Up to two kids under age 16 stay free in the suite. Call 312-787-6000 or 800-833-4353.
CHICAGO FUN FACTS
The Chicago River is the only river in the world that flows backward.The Adler Planetarium was the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere.
The Harold Washington Library Center, with more than 2 million books, is the world's largest public library.
Travel writer Joy Anderson has been city-struck since her early childhood in New York City.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change.
