Help plan our visit to Chicago (Oak Park, Brookfield: how much, house, neighborhood)

[Canadiangirlwhodrinksbeer]

My husband, our 3 year old and me willl be visiting Chicago in September. We plan on arriving on a Thursday pm and leaving Monday am.

This is our first visit and we are driving.

These are the places we want to visit

Shed

Museum of Science

Tour the Oak Park Frank Lloyd Wright neighborhood

Bike the lakefront trail ( we are bring our bikes)

Lincoln Park Zoo

I am looking for suggestions on what days of the week to visit what attractions and in what order. . Also if you think there is someplace else to add to this trip please recommend.

I was thinking of the Field Museum but my dd my be a bit young for it. Also my husband and I have both been to the museums of NYC and Washington so it may be something we do on our next visit to Chicago.

[Kevin J]

The Wright house and studio are in Oak Park, a suburb about 10 miles west of downtown. Buy your tickets for the tour in advance online. It doesn't matter which day of the week you go, but if you pick a weekday, pick a time in the middle of the day (10-2) so you don't get caught up in rush hour traffic in either direction. And a friendly hint if you're driving, from someone who just drove to Oak Park to do this tour two weeks ago: if you're coming from downtown on the 290 expressway (aka the Eisenhower), the exit ramp you'll need to use is on the LEFT side of the highway, not the right side. I was forced to double back, as was the car in front of me during this entire extra part of my trip.

Otherwise, it doesn't really matter when you do any of these things or in what order. All will be less crowded during the day on Friday than they will be on a weekend day.

If you're going to the Shedd, you might as well go to the Field Museum too, since they're right next to each other. Maybe you could do that and save the Museum of Science and Industry for another day. 3 years old is young for museums in general, so I don't know if the MSI is necessarily a better bet. The Field has a full T-Rex skeleton and a few other things that any kid would appreciate. One thing you should consider is the Chicago Children's Museum, which is on Navy Pier on the lakefront. That could (and should) definitely be combined with your lakefront biking.

[aragx6]

I like Kevin's suggestions, but mostly I like your screen name.

[Canadiangirlwhodrinksbeer]

I like American beer especially Miller High Life which I can't buy in Ontario. I live where Labatts Blue is bottled and most of us here think it taste like the Thames river.

[ChiGuy2.5]

Do you know the dates? The museums have free days in the colder months! Let us know.

Also, how DARE you try and visit Chicago without visiting the Bean in Millenium Park and/or either the Sears Tower or John Hancock Observatory.

[linicx]

How much money do you want to spend?

Free Admission:
Lincoln Park Zoo
Grant Park ~ Buckingham Fountain is huge and it is lighted at night.
Millenium Park.
Chinatown and the food is good
Frank Lloyd Wright self-guided walking tour. No rush hour traffic between 10-2
Daley Plaza /Picasso

Lake Shore Drive is gorgeous early, early Sunday morning before 8am. You get to enjoy several miles of lake with little traffic. The Chicago Water Taxi can take you to Chinatown and back.

Dinner or lunch on the 95th of the Hancock Center is really a great experience, but not all 3y/o kids like the 95th floor of any building.

The Museum of Science and Industry is awesome-ness on miles of concrete. I took a 3 and 4y/o; they were bored within 10 minutes. Parking in Chicago is expensive, and it is also expensive at the various venues.

Most kids love the Shedd and the animal shows and the zoos. The large zoo is in Brookfield. Picasso's gift to Chicago - a large statue - is in Daley Plaza.

When you visit Oak Park to see the architecture there are several parks for kids, the library loves little kids too.