Lutz Bakery

I love a good, old fashioned bakery and in Chicago they can be hard to find.  This summer we popped into Lutz Cafe and Pastry Shop (2458 W. Montrose) for a special treat and we were not disappointed.  When you walk in the door the first thing you see is several large glass cases filled with all sorts of appetizing treats and then there is that amazing bakery scent that hits you.  Further back into the bakery is a little cafe with a seating area where you can have lunch.  We never made it that far - just couldn't get past the baked goods.  The girls, of course, had a hard time choosing between the cupcakes, cookies, cream puffs, and fancy chocolates.  Ultimately they decided on large decorated cookies.  I had a hazelnut log, which is hard to describe but was really delicious, although quite sweet and rich.  The girls also picked out a cupcake for their dad, which was enjoyed by all.  Lutz has some specialty Christmas treats so we are looking forward to going back in a few months.

Lutz Cafe and Pastry Shop is open seven days a week, most days 7 AM until 7 PM but doesn't open until 7:30 AM on Mondays and stays open until 8 PM on Friday and Saturday.  Lutz also takes online orders at their website http://www.chicago-bakery.com/.

Green Genes

Green Genes, located at 5111 N. Clark in Andersonville, is just beyond cute with the shelves bursting with eco-friendly toys, books, and clothing. I went into this store looking for a baby gift for a friend who was having her fourth and fifth baby.  She pretty much has all of the practical stuff so I wanted to get her something special.  I would definitely say the items in this store are for that type of occasion, meaning the merchandise is on the pricier side, of course you have to pay more for quality and responsible vs. mass produced products.  The store is definitely not just for babies and toddlers, however.  There are lots stuff from Plan Toys, organic clothing in baby and children's sizes, art kits, and lots of reusable lunch items.  I ended up getting a couple of adorable burp clothes for my friend and some eco-finger paint for my son.  I know it will end up in his mouth so it's great to know the paint is all natural.  The saleswoman was super nice and helpful, even going out of her way to track down the price on something that was not marked.  I was able to find parking easily on Clark, however on the weekends parking can be quite difficult in Andersonville.  I will definitely keep Green Genes in mind the next time I want to get a special gift for a new baby or kid's birthday.

Lucky Platter

So hands down the best meal to eat out with kids is breakfast/brunch.  Most kids like breakfast foods, there are always other families dining, and those without kids tend to be more tolerant of the noise and mess.  We recently enjoyed a really great breakfast at the Lucky Platter, 514 Main St., Evanston.  We went on a Sunday morning around 9:30.  We were meeting friends so we were a large group of seven people.  We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table but the wait was much less for smaller parties.  The food was delicious.  I had a make your own scramble and upgraded one of my sides for the apricot cheese flaky.  Totally worth it.  They don't specifically have a kid's menu but you can order one pancake or one egg a la carte.  The girls had pancakes, which they devoured. 

We were able to find street parking about a block down.  The restaurant is open from 7:30 AM until 9:00 PM every day except for Sundays when it closes at 8:00 PM.  We haven't had a chance to stop by for lunch or dinner yet but will definitely do so soon.  For more information see their website http://luckyplatter.com/. 

Splash Landings

Now that all of the outdoor pools have closed until next summer, Splash Landings is is a great option for swimming with your kids in the fall and winter.  Located at 2400 Chestnut Ave. in Glenview Splash Landings is housed within a large complex of buildings that are all part of the Glenview Park District.  The easiest way to access the pool is to park at the back of the parking lot and enter the building near the gym.  There is a front desk in the swimming area where you pay for one time admission, which is $6 per person with children under 2 years free, or purchase a punch card or family pass for discounted per visit admission.  The fall schedule for family swim is currently posted at  http://www.glenviewparks.org/pool-hours-rules/.

When I went with my two daughters we had a great time swimming.  There are two pools.  One is deeper with some of the lanes divided for lap swimming.  The other pool, where we spent most of our time is shallower and has a water slide and some spray fountains.  I believe the pool is zero entry so even a toddler would have a great time here.  My girls love to swim and this is such a nice facility that we had a wonderful time.  It is a perfect place to burn off some energy during the cold months.  The locker rooms were super clean and modern.  In fact the whole pool area was very clean.  There are, of course, male and female locker rooms and then a couple of family changing rooms if you come with a child of the opposite sex.  We are all looking forward to going back this winter

Southport Perfoming Arts Conservatory

Southport Performing Arts Conservatory (otherwise known as SPACE) provides classes in dance, music and drama at their three locations (Downtown, Lakeview, and Peterson).  My daughter takes ballet at SPACE and she LOVES it.  The teacher is super nice and great with kids and parents.  The class is 45 minutes long (length of class depends on age and she is in the 4-5 year old class) and my daughter has a huge grin on her face the entire time.  Not only does she have a good time but I feel like she is actually learning something.  There are about 10 kids in the class which seems like a really great size for this age group. 

The website, http://www.southportarts.com/, has all of the information on class options, schedules, and fees.  I don't have any personal experience with the music, drama, or upper level dance classes.  However we have been super happy with the quality of instruction and also our daughter's enjoyment with her class.  My guess is that the other class are of the same caliber.

Brown Trout

Kids eat free every night at Brown Trout, 4111 N. Lincoln, which was a good enough excuse as any to take the whole family there for dinner.  The fact that the restaurant puts an emphasis on sustainability and using local products whenever possible was an added bonus.  We went on a Friday when the specialwas a fish fry, which is what both my husband and I ordered.  The fish and chips were quite tasty and came with three sauces for dipping.  The kids menu had all the standard fare with my younger daughter choosing the chicken fingers as usual.  My older daughter loves fish and even though the fish was not on the kids menu the waiter was very accommodating in providing a kid size version for her.  We had a very nice family dinner with lots of eating and not a lot of complaining.

The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays and opens every other day for dinner at 5 PM except Monday when it opens at 6 PM.  Brown Trout also does a Sunday brunch.  Metered street parking is available along Lincoln.  We were there right at opening and the restaurant wasn't busy at all.  The only other diners were a couple of other families.  Even though we were out with the whole family at a nice dinner the bill was very reasonable.  Good food, good price, and a good time.     

Didier Farms

With Halloween getting close now might be a great time to visit a pumpkin patch.  Recently I visited Didier Farms in Lincolnshire (didierfarms.com) with my younger daughter and son on a fun fall morning.  During the Farm's Pumpkinfest, which runs from mid-September through Halloween, there are a wide variety of activities to keep the kids busy.  Of course there are pumpkins of all types to select and take home.  In addition, there is a hay ride that takes you back through a corn field where you will see a variety of scarecrows dressed as favorite characters and spooky scenes, a petting zoo, and carnival rides.  Most of the rides are appropriate for kids probably 8 and younger.  My four year old just could not get enough of them.  Most of the rides, including the hay ride, take 3 tickets, pony rides and camel rides are 5 tickets, and I believe the petting zoo is 7 tickets.  Each ticket costs $1 so the day can get pricey in a hurry if you don't pace yourself.  Everything is completely stroller friendly and babies can go on the hay ride for free if they ride on an adults lap.

The farm is open weekdays from 9 to 5 and weekends from 10 to 5.  Weekends get really busy there but weekdays can also be quite busy since a lot of school groups come for the day.  In addition to the rides there are donuts, hot apple cider, and stuff off the grill for lunch.  My one complaint with the place is that there are no indoor bathrooms so I had to have my four year old watch the baby in the stroller while I dashed into the porta potty and she had to go with the door propped open so she wouldn't be alone in the bathroom and I could still keep my eye on the baby.  Not a huge deal but definitely inconvenient.

When we were at Didier Farms it was quite busy but we never had to wait in line to ride any of the rides and there was plenty of seating at picnic tables when we took a quick donut break.  Since we went, my daughter has been talking nonstop about how much fun she had so we are looking forward to going back with the whole family next year.

Harvest Time Apple Orchard

I have written in the past about how our family visits County Line Orchard in Hobart Indiana every fall for apple picking, doughnuts, and the petting zoo.  County Line Orchard is a big operation with large crowds but we always have a great time and this year was no exception.  We had a lot of grandparent visits scheduled for this fall, however, so we decided to take them to try another apple orchard in the area.  To me, picking apples on a beautiful fall day with your grandchildren sounds perfect and everyone really did enjoy themselves.  We traveled up to Harvest Time Orchard (www.myharvesttime.com) in Twin Lakes Wisconsin.  The drive took approximately one hour and fifteen minutes so it was good that we had the grandparents to keep everyone occupied along the way.

Once you get there, if you are going apple picking, do not park your car in the parking lot when you get there.  We made that mistake and unloaded everyone, walked up to the sign that said you must enter the orchard in your car and had to get everyone back in again.  There is a $3 per person charge to enter the orchard but then your entrance fee is subtracted from the apples you pick.  So for example, there were six of us so we paid $18 to go in and then we picked a big bag full of apples that cost $25.  On the way out we owed them $7.  Basically we just paid for the apples we picked.  The apples were plentiful and delicious.  We have been baking with them and just eating them as is.

In addition to the apples, there is a store near the parking lot that sells yummy doughnuts with a variety of toppings from cinnamon and sugar to vanilla glazed to sprinkles.  There were lots of people stopping by just to buy doughnuts.  Plus you can purchase cheeses, sausage, and apple cider.  We also had lunch while we were there that included brats, hot dogs, and pulled pork sandwiches.  There are several places to eat including a terrace that overlooks the orchard.  We enjoyed our lunch but were having trouble finding a spot to eat where the yellow jackets weren't bothering us.  We kept moving but couldn't escape them and ultimately my younger daughter got stung.  She handled it better than I did when I got stung earlier in the summer in our backyard and the incident didn't end up putting much of a damper on our visit.  All in all a great autumn activity.

International Walk or Bike to School Day

Wednesday October 9th is International Walk or Bike to school day!  It's a great way to start a healthy habit with your kids.  The exercise is wonderful plus fewer idling cars in front of schools improves the air our students breath.  I personally love walking my daughters to school to enjoy the fresh air and all of the great conversations I probably wouldn't have with them in any other setting.  For more information go to www.walkbiketoschool.org and celebrate the day!

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream

A few years back the kids got my husband the Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream cookbook for his birthday.  We have tried several of the ice cream recipes in the book and they have all turned out and tasted delicious.  Instead of using egg yolks in her ice cream, as a lot of other homemade cookbooks do, she uses cream cheese, which actually gives the ice cream a nice consistency.

Enough about making the ice cream at home, however, because Jeni Britton Bauer has opened an ice cream shop at 3404 N. Southport. It has only been open a short while and combined with some unseasonably warm weather, this store was crazy busy when we went there this past Saturday.  Like line out the door and around the corner busy.  And the line, at least when we were there, was full of a lot of people who don't normally have to deal with children.  The wait was ultimately worth it for us but you might want to wait a couple of weeks until the newness wears off a little and people have moved on to the next hottest thing.

As we approached the counter we were able to see a list of close to two dozen available flavors listed on the chalkboard. Plus there are shakes, sundaes, and ice cream sandwiches.  My older daughter went with Rainbow yogurt, which was much better than I expected and the younger one went with the super adventurous vanilla in a cone.  I've complained on multiple occasions about the child size being way too big at most ice cream places but they really get it right at Jeni's.  It was just a perfect little scoop on a cone, enough without being excessive.  My husband and I both got ice cream sandwiches.  He got the caramel with salty almonds and I got hazelnut.  Both large and amazingly good.  The cookies on the sandwich are different flavored macaroons that are light, chewy, and the perfect compliment to the ice cream.  The ice cream is not cheap at all.  We definitely thought it was worth it for a special occasion splurge but not for just an everyday run to get ice cream.

Inside the store there are a few tables up front and a few in the back to enjoy your ice cream treat indoors.  When we were there it was so busy we desperately wanted to get back outside once we had paid.  It also happened to be a beautiful day so it was wonderful to eat on the little patio adjacent to the store.  The Brow Line runs right by overhead but the ice cream is so good it won't bother you.

It is generally not too difficult to find pay parking along Southport.  In addition, the store is located right by the Southport Brown Line stop.

Meatheads

We have eaten a couple times now at the only City location (3304 N. Western in Roscoe Village) of Meatheads, a small chain restaurant with locations throughout Illinois.  It is a bit of a hybrid between a fast food and sit down restaurant.  You order at the counter but then your food is brought to your table.  The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken sandwiches, and chicken tenders.  There are a handful of preconceived burger choices plus you can build your own with tons of toppings to choose from and about 10 signature sauces to add.  The burgers come in two sizes, 1/3 lb and 1/2 lb and are really good.  Drinks include the standard soda, milk, and apple juice plus about five varieties of shakes.  Kids meals seem appropriate in size and include hamburger, hot dog, chicken tenders, and grilled cheese.

The dining room is very comfortable and clean with plenty of high chairs.  On one wall of the restaurant is a chalkboard that currently includes the schedule and scores of recent, local high school football games, which gives a nice neighborhood feel.  Employees are super nice and friendly.  We have never felt rushed and are always checked on throughout our dining experience even though there are no waiters or waitresses.  Kids are given wicky sticks to play with while they wait for their food even though we've never had to wait more than 10 minutes.  The restaurant is located in a strip mall in Roscoe Village with plenty of parking out front.  We've always had enjoyable lunches at Meatheads although the spelling of the name did have my older daughter requesting to go back to Methheads sometime soon.

Margie's Candies

It has been years, way before the kids were born, since the last time we went to the original Margie's Candies at 1960 N. Western.  Remembering the amazing ice cream we had there and having a few things to celebrate we decided to visit the other location in Ravenswood at 1813 W. Montrose.

When you walk through the door of the cramped store (don't attempt to bring a stroller in!) you are greeted by so many delicious looking treats it is very difficult to choose.  We all thought we were going to get ice cream but a few of us were very tempted by the chocolates, candies, and slices of pie.  In the end, however, we all settled on ice cream treats.  A sundae for my husband, a chocolate chip milkshake for me, and scoops of cotton candy and vanilla ice cream in cones for the girls.  Everything was huge but totally delicious.  All of the ice cream is hand made and there are about a dozen flavors to choose from plus lots of great topping choices for sundaes and banana splits.  My one complaint is that there is not really kid sizes so many daughters ended up with way more ice cream than they needed.  My younger daughter could only eat about half of her cone and most of it melted all over her.  She thoroughly enjoyed it, however.

Inside the restaurant there are about five small, tightly packed in tables with waitress/waiter service.  Otherwise order at the counter.  We were there on a nice afternoon so we ate at one of the tables out front.  In addition to all of the fabulous treats, Margie's also serves a limited menu of sandwiches and salads.  Metered street parking is fairly easy in this neighborhood and Margie's Candies is right off of the Montrose stop on the Brown Line.  The restaurant is pretty much open all day, seven days a week.  Check the website, www.margiescandies.com for exact hours for each day.

The vast array of dessert options at Margie's Candies, make it a great place to take a group.  Everyone will walk away happy and extremely full.

Pump It Up

We recently went to Pump It Up, which is a big warehouse full of inflatable jumpy houses, similar to Jump Zone which I have previously blogged about.  My older daughter has been dying to get back here ever since she went as part of a camp field trip.  Pump It Up is located at 821 W. Eastman (plus locations in the suburbs) near the North and Clybourn red line train stop.  At the website, pumpitupparties.com, there is a schedule that gives the hours each day and the age group that can jump during that time.

The Pump It Up building is quite large but divided into several different arenas and party areas so that the space your child is jumping in isn't super large.  This limits your child's jumping options since there is only about 4 or 5 inflatables for them to bounce in, however I like that you don't really feel like you will ever loose your child even if they are not in your sight line.  My daughter's great love of Pump It Up comes from the climbing wall located in one corner of the arena.  Three kids can climb at one time and a worker puts each kid in a harness and makes sure they are safe as they climb up to the top.  I can not even tell you how many times my 7 year old went up that wall.  The 4 year old tried a couple of times and did alright but the foot and hand holds were spaced in ways that made it a little difficult for someone of her height.  She had lots of fun bouncing and going down slides. 

There are plenty of benches for parents to sit on. There is no food available for purchase. Reservations can be made online ahead of time for a specific time slot. Depending on when you are there, admission ranges from $10 to $12 per kid. Pump It Up has evening jumping in the dark called Glow Bounce, which sounds super fun, unfortunately most of the time slots are too late for my kids

There is free parking right in front of the building and parking across the street in front of the British School is available when school is not in session, such as one the weekends.  Also there is a parking garage around the corner plus the North and Clybourn stop is only a couple block walk.

These type of places are really great as we approach winter and need some indoor options to blow off steam.  It's good exercise and lots of fun!
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Family Vacation in Western Michigan

This summer we decided to vacation on the other side of the lake in Michigan.  This seems to be a vacation that most Chicago residents take in the summer and we are by no means experts of the area but we wanted to share some of the fun things that we did.  The drive to the first town we went to, St. Joseph, was about 2 hours, just the right amount to feel far enough away from the City and not too far for everyone to go crazy in the car.  We love the first rest stop once you cross the Michigan border because there is a great playground for everyone to stretch their legs.  

As we drove up the western side of Michigan our first stop was the beach town of St. Joseph.  It was around lunch time when we got there, so we stopped at the Neon Grill, which is a drive through only restaurant serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries.  The location of the restaurant, 2650 Niles Ave., is tipped off by the Chevy parked on top.  I had seen an article in Travel + Leisure where someone had said the Neon Grill has the best burgers they have ever had.  I'm not going to say they were that good but the restaurant is definitely worth the trip if you are in the area.  There are a couple of parking spaces next to the restaurant and that is where we ate since there is nowhere to sit inside or out.  Might have been fun to take to the beach or scenic lookout but the car worked too. 

Next we went to the beach where I believe we paid $8 to park.  The big draw for us was across the street from the beach at the Silver Beach Carousel (333 Broad St.).  After taking several spins around (there was never a very long line so the girls were able to get off one ride and right back onto the next one) we went next door to the Whirlpool Compass Fountain, which was an unexpected highlight.  The fountain level was constantly changing creating a fun area to splash around in.  The girls got totally drenched and we had to drag them away to go to the beach.  When we got to the beach the girls were blown away by the fact that there was a playground in the sand.  The beach is large, family friendly, and clean with a good bathrooms with plenty of room to get changed.  There is also a children's museum near the carousel, which I have heard is really good, but we were more interested in doing outdoor things the day we were there. 

On the second day of our vacation we drove up to the town of Holland.  While there, we went to Nelis' Dutch Village and Windmill Island.  You can buy a combo admission pass that gets you into both attractions and saves you a few dollars.  We were able to do both in one day without too much trouble.  First we went to Nelis' Dutch Village, which the girls really enjoyed but I probably would have skipped if I didn't have children.  As the name implies this is an old fashioned village with a farm house, wooden shoe carver, cheese maker, and Dutch dancing performances.  In addition, there is a slide in the shape of a wooden shoe, a carousel, swing ride, zip line, and self propelled cars for the kids to ride on, all included in the admission price.  Every 20 minutes there is a presentation in one of the village buildings and, because my daughter wanted to get answers to every question on the scavenger hunt provided at the entrance (she was promised a prize if it was completed), we went into most buildings and stayed quite a bit longer than we expected. 

We went to Windmill Island next and since it was toward the end of the day we didn't stay super long but I would say it is worth the visit.  There is a nice playground for the kids to play and a carousel.  The big attraction, however, is the 250 year old DeZwaan Windmill.  It is a working windmill but when we were there it was undergoing repairs that are supposed to be completed by the end of the year.  A free (or at least included with admission) tour is provided at the windmill by costumed guides.  It is an interesting tour and worthwhile but there is definitely a lot of stairs to climb which could be difficult for a small child or if you are carrying a 20 lb baby like we were.  There is also a Dutch dancing presentation that is done in front of the windmill.

We stayed in Holland for dinner at New Holland Brewing.  This restaurant is huge and totally kid friendly in addition to offering a large selection of their own beers on tap.  The menu includes salads, sandwiches, and pizza.  The kid's menu is decent with the usuals plus grilled chicken, steak, and a chef's plate with apples, cheese, pepperoni, celery, and carrots.  My kids had cheese pizza of course.  The food was pretty good and beer was very good.

On our last day we spent the morning at the beach in South Haven.  We went to North Beach because South Beach was closed during the time we were there.  Since we have had an unseasonably cool summer this year it was quite chilly and breezy during our visit so we didn't do too much swimming but we had a nice picnic and an enjoyable day. 

That afternoon and evening we headed out to Fenville for some peach picking and dinner.  Crane Orchards, www.craneorchards.com, had a great orchard of peach trees for us to pick from in addition to some summer apples.  Across the street is Crane's Pie Pantry Restaurant and Bakery.  We were going elsewhere for dinner but we did take home a rhubarb-raspberry pie, one out of about 10 choices of pie flavors.  It travelled home with us the next day and still tasted really good when we had the chance to eat it.

After the orchard and pie shop, we went to dinner at Salt of the Earth, a restaurant that sources almost all of its ingredients from farms within a 50 mile radius.  The restaurant is located in downtown Fenville and street parking was quite easy.  There were a quite a few families dining when we were there, however we did end up feeling a bit self conscious because, although it is family friendly, it is not really the kind of place where people don't care about a screaming baby and we happened to have a screaming baby.  We got through it, however, and the food was excellent.  My husband and I both had different types of wood fired pizza, which were really, really good but the menu also has entrees including chicken, steak, and pork.  I can't remember everything that was on the kid's menu but one of my daughter's had, you guessed it, cheese pizza and the other had pasta with tomato sauce.  The kid's dinners came with the most delicious bowl of Michigan blueberries.  Since it was my husband's birthday we got a bunch of desserts that included a bowl of vanilla gelato, a gelato milkshake, and what they call a wood toasted s'more.  The s'more was huge and consisted of a cake that mimicked a graham cracker, chocolate pudding and a giant toasted marshmallow on top.  It was very good but my favorite dessert was the milkshake.

We had a really great family vacation.  It was nice to go somewhere close by and still have lots of fun things to do.  I'm sure we will be back sometime soon.      

Hema's Kitchen and a Trip Down Devon Ave.

We recently took our children up to the part of Devon Ave. approximately between Talman Ave. and Western Ave. to let them experience some of the culture of India.  Our plan was to find some delicious Indian food for dinner and then do a little window shopping in the area. 

Our first stop was Hema's Kitchen, located at 2439 W. Devon.  The menu at this restaurant is enormous (really good vegetable section) and took us quite awhile to sort through since we are not super familiar with Indian food.  For the girls we ordered a fried chicken dish that most closely resembled chicken fingers for them.  Yes, I know, very adventurous.  However when it did come, the dish had a lot of spice and yet the girls still ate it.  I was a bit amazed.  The naan was a big hit amongst everyone.  The dishes we ordered for the adults were quite good - spicy but not too spicy and very flavorful.  The service, on the other hand, was not so good but I think it had more to do with our specific waitress than service in general at the restaurant.  Hema's Kitchen is quite large.  We went on a Saturday evening without a reservation (there were six of us plus a baby) and we were seated right away.

After dinner we decided to walk along Devon and check out the shops.  My youngest daughter was totally blown away by the beautiful beaded Indian clothing and jewelry.  Walking along Devon can be a challenge, however.  It's always crowded and there is lots of traffic, which can make parking and crossing the street difficult.  Pushing a stroller would be hard.  There is metered parking all along Devon but we had to park three blocks away on a side street.  At least it was free! 

We went into one store near Hema's and the girls fell in love with some elaborately beaded kids bracelets that were on sale for 25 cents each.  After going through all of them to make sure they had found exactly what they wanted, each girl selected two bracelets.  The staff at the store was so patient and nice to the girls, helping them look through everything.  In the end when my husband tried to pay for their selections we were told we could have them for free.  For sure the highlight of the evening for the girls!  We found the trip down Devon a bit loud and congested but it was definitely a great cultural experience.

Waveland Bowl

When the weather gets super hot, a great indoor activity for the summer is bowling.  I kind of thought my kids were too young to bowl but on a recent rainy day we ended up at Waveland Bowl and I was proved totally wrong.  The bowling alley, located at 3700 N. Western, is quite big, with 40 lanes.  However, when we were there on a Tuesday at 10 AM most of the lanes were full due to the large number of summer camps that were there.  If you call ahead (773-472-5900) they will let you know how booked they are for the day. 

There were plenty of the smallest size bowling balls (8 lbs) available, which is saying something since everyone there was a kid using that size ball.  The kids on our lane had to share balls but it didn't really matter since only one kid can bowl at a time anyway.  There were five kids bowling on our lane and it took us over an hour to play one game.  The ball rolls very slowly when thrown down by a four year old.  Very slowly.  They didn't seem to care, though.  The bumpers were up so we had very few turns without any pins knocked down, which ups the enjoyment factor.  My daughters were each able to get a spare after the ball knocked against the bumpers a few times.  Still counts in their minds.  The girls really enjoyed themselves.  I think they were surprised how much fun it was to go bowling.

The cost to bowl is $1 per person on weekday mornings and then the price increases for the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.  The maximum price at peak times is $5 per person.  The cost to rent shoes is $3.50 per person.  See their website www.wavelandbowl.com for a breakdown of their prices and the hours they are open.  There is a snack bar with the usual snack bar things like soda, popcorn, pizza, and burgers.  You are not allowed to bring in outside food.  Behind the bowling alley is a huge parking lot.

Waveland Bowl also participates in free kids bowling over the summer.  If you go to  www.kidsbowlfree.com you can sign up to receive coupons for free bowling for every week during the summer.  You still have to pay for shoe rental but it can save you a little money.

Build A Bear Workshop

My younger daughter turned 4 recently and as a special surprise her sister really wanted to take her to Build-A-Bear Workshop to celebrate.  It seemed like a fun idea, however, we were surprised to find that there are only a few stores in the Chicago area - Navy Pier, Oakbrook Center, and Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumberg.  Since it was a holiday weekend we opted to skip Navy Pier and went to the Woodfield Shopping Center.  Since my kids live in the City, we don't normally get to malls so they were super impressed to see so many stores in one building! 

If you are unfamiliar, as we were, the general gist of Build A Bear Workshop is that you pick the outer shell of a stuffed animal, help stuff it and then customize it.  The stuffed animals range in price from $10 for a plain teddy bear up to $25 for slightly larger or more specialty type items.  Once you have selected your creature it is time to have it stuffed.  As extras (they range in price from about $3 to $8), scent or sound can be added into the stuffing of your animal and every friend gets a little heart included in the middle.  The kids get to push down the peddle to have the stuffing fill up their bear and a store employee stitches the animal together.  At the store we went to the employees who interacted with our children were very friendly and definitely enhanced the experience for them.  In addition, the stitching was done well and we haven't had any problems with it coming apart.

After your stuffed creature is put together, it is time to accessorize.  There is a wide multitude of outfits you can purchase as well as glasses, hats, sports gear, houses, cars ... really just about anything you can imagine.  The last step, before you pay of course, is naming your bear and creating a birth certificate for him or her.  There are a couple of computers in the store where you can enter the information and then print out the certificate.  The bears are packaged in a great carrying box but my girls wanted to take them out immediately so we ended up carrying the bears and these big boxes throughout the mall.

We let our girls add a scent and pick out a dress and shoes for their animals to wear.  I have to say I was a bit taken aback by the price of everything.  It ended up being about $50 per bear.  I guess you are also paying for the experience, and the girls really did enjoy picking out everything for themselves.  We had a great time but given the price it will probably be a once or maybe twice in a childhood experience.

Naper Settlement

The Naper Settlement, located at 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville, is a outdoor historic village that is easily walkable and enjoyable for kids of all ages.  The village consists of about 15 to 20 buildings designed to represent life in Naperville in the mid to late 1800's.  All of the buildings are connected by a concrete walkway that makes pushing a stroller very easy.  The favorite stops for my family were the Blacksmith shop, chapel, schoolhouse, and Martin Mitchell mansion.  At the blacksmith shop the girls were able to see how metal was melted down to make various tools needed during life in the 19th century.  Tours are given of the Martin Mitchell Mansion, which is the carefully preserved original home built on this property, every hour.  It is very similar to other period houses you may have seen but gives good background to the original property owners.  The tour was maybe 20 minutes long but our baby had to duck out early because there was too much standing still but the girls really enjoyed it.  Tours are also given every hour at the schoolhouse, which basically involves the "teacher" talking about what school was like in the 1800s.  This was definitely the most interesting part for the girls.  The chapel is very pretty and was probably my favorite building in the village.  We were lucky that we went in there first because about midway through our time at the Settlement, the chapel was closed for a private wedding.    

In the grassy areas and in front of many of the other buildings were costumed guides who demonstrated games and toys that were popular during this time period.  The girls were able to play a ring toss game, jump rope, croquet, walk on stilts, have a tea party, and play a game that involved tossing a hoop with two sticks (which I believe is called grace).  In addition, outside of the log cabin, we were shown how typical household tasks were completed such as getting water and making clothes.

There is an area on the property with picnic tables if you want to bring your lunch.  Otherwise there are vending machines located in the main building for drinks or snacks.  There are plenty of clean, well marked bathrooms throughout the village.  Parking is free either in a lot behind the village along Porter Ave. or along Webster St., which is where we parked.  In the summer, admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children, and free for kids 4 years old and younger.  The village is open year round Tuesday through Friday 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM and is open for the weekend only in the summer from 10:00 - 4:00 on Saturday and 1:00 - 4:00 on Sundays.

The Naper Settlement is definitely a fun place to go with your family.  The village is just the right size for younger children, who can walk around the whole village and see everything before they get tired.  It is a bit of a drive from the City but really a great way to introduce history to your children.

Swim Class - YMCA and Galter Life Center

My kids have taken a variety of swim classes at all different places since they have been babies and the classes they have taken at the YMCA and at Galter Life Center have been the best.  Both can be hard to get into and expensive if you are not members but both have really quality instructors who want to be there and will get your child swimming the correct way.

YMCA

Our kids have taken swim classes at both the Lakeview (3333 N. Marshfield) and Irving Park (4251 W. Irving Park) YMCA from baby classes up through the more advanced classes.  Both facilities are decent but they are Y's not country clubs so that is definitely what you should expect.  The baby classes are great to take once or twice to get your baby used to the water but are basically the same each quarter.  Your baby doesn't progress because they believe you can't really teach a kid to swim until they are three years old.  There is an entry level class your child starts in at age three or older and then at the end of the quarter they are evaluated by the instructor to determine whether they are ready to pass into the next level.  My older daughter took three quarters to pass the first level and then proceeded to pass the next levels each time she took the class.  For her it was just a matter of getting past her first insecurities and then she really took off.  As she got older, we were fortunate enough to take classes weekday mornings.  There were usually not a lot of other kids in her class and it was almost like having a private lesson.  She would swim up and down the full length of the pool and get to jump off the diving board without having to worry about running into any other swimmers.  The instructors were all very friendly but firm in there teaching, meaning that they did push the kids to succeed.  The instructors always knew my daughter's name, even when we saw them outside of the pool or months after her class had ended, and what she was capable of doing in the pool.

Galter Life Center 

Galter Life Center (5157 N. Francisco) is a fitness center that is partnered with Swedish Covenant Hospital so in addition to having everything you would find at a regular gym they also have a focus on wellness and rehabilitation in addition to providing classes on nutrition and other health issues from doctors at the hospital.  Galter offers aquababies classes for babies with parents in the pool and then classes for older kids as well.  We have not taken any of the aquababies classes but from what I have heard they are a bit more instructive than at the Y where you mostly just play games with your baby in the water.  The older kids classes are generally held in the evening, 4:00 or later even on weekends, which is one of the downsides.  As with classes at the Y, there is generally 3 or 4 students per instructor and then multiple classes going on in the pool.  The instructors are great.  They are very knowledgeable and really good with kids.  There are multiple levels that the kids progress through with an evaluation done at the end of each session letting you know what class to sign up for next.  Locker rooms are definitely nicer at Galter since it is a regular fitness center, however they can be quite busy with regular gym members.      


One of the common themes between these two places is that the progression through the levels has been carefully thought out and is standard.  There is a big focus on technique and learning to do things the right way.  In addition, both facilities always have at least one dedicated life guard on duty during the classes.  Online or in person registration is available for both and Galter also permits registration over the phone.  Our daughters have really become great swimmers who love being in the water thanks to both of these programs. 

Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration (Swedish American Museum)

I have been meaning to take the girls to this museum for awhile and we finally made it there over spring break.  The Swedish American Museum is located in the heart of Andersonville at 5211 N. Clark.  On the third floor of this museum (easily accessible by an elevator located just inside the entrance if you have a stroller) is the Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration.  Upon entering the museum space, a volunteer pointed out to us that one side of the museum is called Sweden and the other side is called America.  Between the two sides is a boat with the aim of showing the immigration experience to visitors.  The museum is small but there is plenty for kids to do from wearing costumes, selling tickets to board the boat, milking a cow, or working in the garden.  On the Sweden side is a century old farmhouse meant to display life in the old world.  On the America side is a log cabin meant to show what life was like for immigrants about one hundred years ago. 

Our little guy slept in his stroller the whole time and there was room for the stroller in the museum, but just barely.  There is not a lot of extra space.  I initially considered taking his car seat out and leaving his stroller in the hall but a volunteer encouraged me to bring the stroller in.  She said I could put it anywhere there was room.  This was completely fine on a weekday afternoon (even though it was spring break) but might not work on a weekend. 

On the day we were there, a large side room was set up for Easter crafts.  This was the highlight of the visit for my older daughter and she spent a long time making a bunny, chick, and witch (a Swedish tradition we were told).  Because the museum is small, I was easily able to keep an eye on one in the craft room and one in the play area while also navigating the stroller. 

The sign at the entrance to the Children's Museum indicates that it is appropriate for children ages 6-12, although younger children are also welcome.  Both of my girls had a good time but it was my three year old who really enjoyed playing there and did not want to leave. 

The museum offers lots of fun events such as family nights, breakfast with Pippi Longstocking, and holiday activities.  Check their website for a schedule  - www.swedishamericanmuseum.org.  Hours for the Children's Museum are Monday through Thursday 1-4, Friday 10-4, and Saturday and Sunday 11-4.  Admission is $4/adult, $3/child or $10 for a family.  Metered street parking is available.  This part of Andersonville is pretty busy, however it only took us a couple of minutes to find a spot.