magic Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 We have decided to take our family vacation to Wisconsin Dells and Chicago this year. We are looking for recommendations for the best place to stay in the Dells as well as the best museums and musts in the Chicago area. Our four kids will be 10-16 when we go and we want to stay somewhere that the teen boys will enjoy. Our oldest is planning to go into engineering and loves chemistry so if there is anything pertaining to that in the area, we would be interested. We are not set on just those two areas. We will be driving and do not mind going to surrounding areas- Milwaukee, Madison, Lake Michigan, etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth S Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 No suggestions for lodging, but I know WI Dells is quite commercial. Door County (the thumb part of WI) is filled with neat B&Bs and antique stores . . . which may interest YOU and not the others! I think there are Lego & American Girl Stores in downtown Chicago. Have a great vacation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathmom Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 http://www.msichicago.org/ You should go this museum in Chicago - my oldest son loved it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug's Mom Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 We like Discovery World in Milwaukee. www.discoveryworld.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magic Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 We are planning on going to the Museum of Science and Industry. When I was a kid, we went there every year and I loved it. I want the kids to experience it. I grew up in the Black Hills so I get the commercialism of Wisconsin Dells. I try not to buy into the hype of an area but, if possible, talk to people who know the area.. I know from experience that they best places to eat and visit are not always in the tourist books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Museum of Science and Industry is our favorite museum in Chicago, especially the exhibit of the German U-boat (submarine), which you can tour inside. If you are looking for a place to stay in d.t. Chicago, I'd recommend the Homewood Suites right downtown. They are great for a family and include a kitchen. We stayed there when they were new and had a great offer; they might be a lot more expensive now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windmillmarie Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Def. MSI in Chicago. That's a full day. What other things might they be interested in? I love the Field, but I know that can be boring for some people. Would the Planetarium be of interest to you? I also grew up in Chicago but live closer to Rockford now. There's a little nature museum here too and a nice Children's museum that your older kids might too old for, though my 13 year old still loves it . Bonus is that parking is nowhere near the cost of parking in Chicago! I haven't been to the dells in years. commercial, yes, but it is fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 While down at MSI in Chicago, check out the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. At the Dells, we have repeatedly stayed at the Kalahari. Huge waterpark, indoor and out - safe for the teens to be "free". They have a small indoor amusement park, too. - a huge obstacle course will be great for the teens and older kids. They have a laser tag, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magic Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 We have been leaning towards the Kalahari and I am glad to know that it is a safe place for "teen freedom". I appreciate all the recommendations for Chicago. Our boys are runners, very into outdoors, love math, science, and history. We enjoy visiting historical sites and experiencing the way things used to be. In the past we have followed the Lewis and Clark trail from St. Louis to the Pacific, visited Abraham Lincoln's birthplace and boyhood home, gone to Fort Knox, visited many national and state parks, toured ancient ruins, and more. We have a wide range of interests in our family but we really like doing things that we can experience together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 When are you going (roughly)? Recommendations for, say, now, might be much different than, say, June. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 The Dells is commercial...but without a tourist destination why else would a tiny town in the middle of Wisconsin have dozens of indoor water parks? If its warm weather I recommend checking out the go-karts at Mt. Olympus. I'm not partial to their water attractions (too busy, not unique enough) but you can get a day pass to just the go-karts or go-karts and small roller coasters. Kalahari is good for older kids. My son (14) also likes Chula Vista, but I haven't been there so I can't comment. The Kalahari also has laser tag (okay) and one of those high rope obstacle courses (decent, fun). It's across the street from the outlet mall and a big arcade with smaller indoor rides (Buffalo Phils, I think?). There's also an outdoor theater outside of town which operates in the summer. There are quite a few crappy little attractions. Be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarkd Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Appleton WI has the Houdini Museum. That museum also currently has Da Vinci's machines in motion exhibit. A budding engineer would love it, but not sure how long it is there. Neenah has the paper science museum. In June is the Midwest Renewable Energy fair. We love that one. The Dells also has a great state park and lots of hiking trails. They might enjoy Cave of the Mound. You might enjoy bringing or renting bikes for some areas of the state either the state parks or the rails to trails system. Taking the train for part of the trip, if feasible, could be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magic Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 We are planning to go in July. My daughter and I are hoping to plan the trip so we can be at the Madison Children's Museum American Girl Sale. I did not realize that there was a state park there- we will definitely check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tearose Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 House on the Rock (between Dodgeville and Spring Green) is a fun site (~1 hr from either Madison or the Dells, I'd say). It just really defies explanation--but I've always enjoyed going there with visiting friends and family. If you're interested in Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin is right in that area as well (as someone who really doesn't care about him, though, I think that the admission fee is ridiculously expensive). Also in Spring Green is American Players Theatre, which puts on excellent (outdoor) productions during the summer--be sure to bring bug spray, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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