Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic

Ranking: Value - 4; Dad Fun Factor - 4 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

We hit the Brookfield Zoo last night for a new family tradition of going during the holidays to see the wonderful light display. If you have never been to the zoo at night I would highly recommend it. Going during Holiday Magic makes it even better. I would not advise going if you are keen on seeing any animals in anything other than a cage. The few animals out on display are indoors. The primate house is fair game because they are indoors already. The penguins in oceanic display are all snoozing but the keepers let them into the reef display so you can see the ones awake and active from under water which is a real treat. We've been to the zoo many times but have only seen the 'guins from underwater twice. It's especially cool for the little guys because the birds love the bubble viewing windows and are very interactive.

The light displays are great. There isn't anything unique but when you couple the lights with the park ambiance it is great. One thing we can't figure out is the cheesy laser light show. It's just not good. I think I saw something like it at a rock concert 20 years ago. It was old then too. The dancing lights around the main pond/fountain area is better and more seasonally appropriate. It kept my two year old's attention so that wins a thumbs up. We also went into the Holly Jolly Theater during a dance performance put on by a local troop. It was a good opportunity to eat some $6 personal pizzas and $3.25 cokes (you read that right!). Not the value play of the night. We normally avoid the pricey food at the zoo but the dances kept the boys' attention while we waited and as they ate. It was worth it....I guess.

One animal display I was enthralled with was the Siberian Sheep. They are out in the cold and loving it. I think they are the only ones actually out in the cold. I didn't see another animal braving the 29 F weather. It was neat to see them reveling in the cold and bathed in colored lights. It was a little surreal.

The zoo was a little crowded but not as bad as Memorial Day or July 4th. It also didn't seem that bad since the dark hides the masses. We paid the extra $2 to park at the South entrance which is worth the extra cost. It cut our walk to the displays and accelerated our departure when the cold began to bite.

I feel bad we didn't make the trip earlier in the season. The zoo hosts Santa and Mrs. Claus in the leading weeks before Christmas. The boys always remember and point to the building every visit and ask when they can see Santa again. We obviously missed them this year but will try to make it there to see them in 2008.

For more information take a look at http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/0.asp?shttplink=../pgpages/pagegen.174.aspx&nsection=2

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good Night

We had a very special Christmas this year. Our boys have hit the age sweet-spot. Needless to say we had a great day. My Prime Rib apparently came out great (I loved it but my vote doesn't count).

I just had to share this video of the boys trying out there new toy roller skates. I remember having my own pair like these as a boy. It will make you bust a gut.

Elgin Chuck E Cheese and Red Robin - a tail of two child-friendly eateries

Quick blog entry here. This weekend I discovered the value of a truly good neighbor - a snow blower. My good neighbor Paul came over after I had shoveled what seems like 10 acres of snow (really only 1/10th of the driveway) to offer his snow blower. I reluctantly (as guys do) accepted and whizzed through the driveway, side walks, and some of the street with the ease of Hercules. I'm so close to buying one it's scary. But, alas, I will not. I am too scared of Global Warming turning Elgin into a desert and us needing that same $500 for sun screen.

As for fun with the boys, let me just tell you that thanks to a great coupon we received from one of the many mailings we get we had a terrific time at one Chuck E Cheese's place. Mr. Cheese, for those not familiar, is a pizza place (OK but not great pizza) that is designed for kids. Video games for all ages, play mazes, riding things, Skee Ball, video simulators, you name it. It's awesome. We spent a few hours and only $30 on lunch (pretty pricey 'za) and games and still walked away with hands full of tokens. That was the magic of the coupon. Large pizza, 4 drinks, and 100 tokens for $28. I waited 37 years to visit one and now I love to return. We'll be back. A few notes on the layout. It's crawling with birthday parties on the weekends. Stay away from the area near the stages because that is party central. Lots of waitress, other people's kids, and milling parents not moving in the aisles. Make sure you dress your child in something easy to find in a crowded room and 100 feet away. It's hard to find them in the play area. Also, bring some hand sanitizer for pre-meal cleansing. The bathrooms are close and work but it's cold and flu season so why risk it. They mark your hand and your child's with invisible ink. This prevents the perves from snatching one and they are very serious about the security...at least that's what they let you think. I could not for the life of me read the number on my hand. I'm not sure if it worked or not. I still left with my own boys so no blood no foul.

The second place we tried was a brand new Red Robin on Randall Rd in South Elgin. It's right off Randall in the area where a new Best Buy and Home Despot is. I'll spare you the map this time. We haven't been to one in years (decades for me) so I wasn't sure what to expect. First off, if you don't have kids you want to stay away. It's all about the little people. They have balloons at the entrance for you to take. Need I say more? The food is pretty pricey so I won't say it's going into the permanent rotation but the food is good, well portioned, and fast. We love the fast delivery and they hit it out of the park on our first visit and maybe a double during our second. It really depends on the server. Sorry Tyler, you weren't that great. I think they put something in the onion rings. I swear I'm jones'in for them daily. The down side is the boys like the pizza. Why go here for pizza. No....we did not serve pizza for three meals in one day! Only twice in a weekend thank you!

I give them both thumbs up but the star goes to Chuck E's house.

Fun Chicago Sledding Hill

Ranking: Value - 5; Dad Fun Factor - 4 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 5 out of 5

Let it be know far and wide that boys, big and small, love sledding. This weekend we went no less than three times. Our favorite hill is no more than 300 feet from the house. Needless to say I'm keeping that location a secret. Besides, it's too close for comfort. Our second most favorite place is a lot more public: Randall Oaks Park. If you don't know Randall Oaks you need to check it out. Check the location out on the map to the right. We have never been during the winter before. It is a great place for a pic-nic (we've done that), the kids play areas are nice, and the petting zoo, despite very little petting, is well stocked.

The best part of any sledding experience is not paying for it. We would love to try some of the pay hills, like Villa Olivia, but I'm too cheap. The hill at Randall Oaks is great. It has a nice grade (steepness). It isn't too steep for the little guys and too climb, but it is steep enough to get some great speed. It is shaped like a bowl so you have a lot of space to spread out. However, you need to make sure your little guys keep a keen eye out for sledders come down behind them. Jack stood up to chase his sled and was nailed from behind, ending up on his head, followed by his butt. Momma had a ton of fun taking pictures and Jesse became addicted. Now we have too speed addicts racing down the slopes. It was a good test to see how they will fair with the snow board/ski activities mom and dad love.

A couple of things to watch out for. When you first arrive you have the choice of parking at the entrance next to the zoo (closed now) our through a gate and down the slope to the sledding hill. Take my advice and head down the hill. The only caution is to ensure you can climb back up the hill (good tires). Also, there is next to no space to turn around if you don't find a spot. Donkeys tend to park anywhere, thus blocking everyone in. Also, bring some snacks and hot coco. The kids (and dad) will appreciate it.

If you want more information about the park in general check out its website at: www.dtpd.org/pages/ro_park.html

St. Charles Steel Beam Theatre Kids Party

Ranking: Value - Unknown; Dad Fun Factor - 2 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

Jack was invited to a friend from school's birthday this weekend. The party was held at the little known (to us) Steel Beam Theater in downtown St. Charles, IL. When I say downtown I mean it. It's right on the Fox River on Main Street right on the West Bank. It's a small place, maybe 150 seats. There is parking in the the rear and across the street along the river. Jack, 4, was invited to the party of a Montessori school mate. Typically it's not meant for kids this age but they made an exception because of the school. Here's the low-down. They serve cake and do presents at the start and load them up with a little sugar. Then a theatre "ring leader" sets the kids up with some fun games. The the real fun begins. They bring the kids into the stage area, teach them the basics of a short play (a pirate play this time) and they rehearse. Mom's hang out watching and encouraging (maybe a little too much). In the end they put on the play and the kids all get fun t-shirts. For kids into acting and performing, like ours are, this is gold. Jack was really into it and we would really encourage it. Not sure if it beats a bouncy place at this age but we're thinking about doing it again.

I'm not sure what the story is with the theatre in general. I asked around work if anyone from the St. Charles area had heard of it and they had nice things to say. So maybe we'll go for some mommy/daddy time one evening. Give it a try.

Check out the website at: http://www.steelbeamtheatre.com/

Chicago Ice Storm Sideline's Dad

What can I say...ice storms suck. We were hit with one today. Nice way to start winter but we can't complain too badly. We still have heat and light and Howard Stern On-Demand. We had every intention of going to the Brookfield Zoo today. It's a special time there. The Christmas lights are up and the 1970's laser light show is on. And Santa is in the house. So we are going to go maybe night week. Instead, we went to Costco. Nice alternative, huh!? Needless to say, the jackets are out and boots are on.

Happy Thanksgiving 2007

Not much to report other than a full belly, some great football, and dinner with friends and loving family. I also spent the weekend throwing up the Christmas lights. I'll post some pics of that when I get off dead arse. Nothing wears me out more than putting up Christmas lights. We finished off the left overs as well. So I consider the weekend a complete success. Now to survive the rest of the season.Wish me luck.

Jack and Jesse got elbow-deep into the cupcake baking process.

Love it!

Bee Movie Just Wasn't Good

No value scores here. I came home the other day to find my 4 year old son totally psyched that we were going to see the Bee Movie. Needless to say, I was pretty excited as well. I love spending one-on-one time with the boys. This was a great chance and I was welcoming it. Here's where stuff goes bad. The movie is just not right for kids. I got most, if not all, of the jokes. I don't think Jack got one. It is purely adult oriented. How many small kids are going to understand a Bee taking humans to court over the use of Bee Honey. The whole premise is pretty odd but I was ok with that at first. Then it got violent. In one scene the main star, the bee played by Jerry Seinfeld, has a dream sequence about flying with his new human girl friend while she flies an ultra-light. Next thing you know she crashes in a ball of flames into a cliff, falls to the ground and explodes again. My son was pretty shaken and I was pretty pissed. I know what you are going to say, "It's rated PG so why did you take him?" I hear you but it's pretty tough to explain to the little guys that this animated and fun looking movie just isn't for them. I wasn't happy and I'm telling everyone with little guys, and gals, to stay away. I'll get off of my soap box now. We have been watching The Jungle Book recently. Big winner despite some scary scenes. Just not that scary. Love it.

Fun Chicago Sunday at Kohl's Children's Museum

Ranking: Value - 4 out of 5; Dad Fun Factor - 4 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

It was a fun day today. Not very nice out, with a little drizzle and cool breezes. Pretty much perfect for a day at the Children's Museum. I've previously posted that the best deal on children's museums around Chicago is to join the Rockford museum and use it's reciprocal agreements to go to the other Chicagoland museums. That holds true here. I have to admit I love the Kohl's museum. It's just neat. I found this blog elsewhere from someone who visited this weekend as well and he touches all of the stuff I like (Mark Czerniec). We especially like the fact it's all one floor. You enter next to the gift shop (they all have one next to the entrance), flash them the membership card, and buzz into the main corridor that links all of the various sections. We arrived around 2:30 pm and realized right away the place was silly with birthday parties. Normally that would mean we would be crowded out. Instead, it was pretty comfortable. The numerous party rooms were all packed but that's not my concern.

We usually split up at this point. I'll take either little man and follow him around. Mom takes the other and does the same. Today I ended up with the older little man and we made a b-line for the interior decorating (painting, wallpapering, and flooring) section. He especially loves the ability to re-brick the exterior of the simulated house. We puttered around the water area had a quick lesson on sailing. They have a ton of water flying around a small room resulting in thrilled kids and pretty unhappy moms. Love it. I saw this one mom with an expensive jacket interacting with her daughter like she was covered in raw sewage. I simply dive and and expect to get wet.

Jack next eye-balled the exterior gardens which are worth a special note. It was pretty cold out so we went out to spend 5 minutes pretending to fly the over sized model airplane. I couldn't help but notice that people were starring out the windows at us like we were freaks. Hey, get over it. It's all about the kids man. We, of course, retreated almost immediately. The thing about the outside is that it's really cool. They have many, many sculptures to climb, a neat tunnel to scamper through, and ample space for a pic-nic. None of that was applicable today.

We spent about 2 hours roaming the exhibits today. We spent at least 20 minutes at the television stage. Here Jack put on a great show while watching himself on the t.v. monitor. It's as close to being a real Wiggle he's going to be this week.

We finished the day at the cafe. It is an overpriced eatery that has only one real attraction: make your own pretzel. You read that right. For a not-so-modest $6 you can build your own pretzel with a strong of dough, food coloring, chocolate chips, marshmallows, and cinnamon sugar. YUM! The last time we came it wasn't very popular but this time it was pretty busy. Kids were all into it and I was one of them. I also ate a pretty good Herb and Cream Cheese pretzel while we waited for the kid-made specials to cook.

We really like this Children's Museum. It's not the newest in town but it sure looks like it. They keep it in great shape and very fresh. There are many more corporate sponsorships than I like but my boys don't know any real estate companies anyway so their consumer dollar isn't being influenced and I can handle myself. The bathrooms are numerous and pretty nice. I found no hand towels after washing my hands and the trash was over flowing. Small complaints. The staff is really into the kids or they are pretty good fakers. Either way, it's a plus. I you have crumby day to kill or it's colder than you like outside, come spend the day at the Kohl's Children Museum. It's definitely worth it.

Out without the Boys to Kmart in Rockford

Quick note today. Not much for the parental units but I made in interesting discovery today. I was i Rockford doing some me stuff and dashed into a store I never go into: Kmart. I usually go to Target and Jewel for my "stuff" but I was right there at Kmart and dashed in. I was an old store but with some really new stuff. It's much more open, has a new floor, and is brighter and fresher. It still looks a little dated but I liked it better than more local Target which is a big step. The staff all have new uniforms in a cool blue color and there is a lot of new technology things. I checked email at their "Internet" cafe. The connection was slow but it worked. That's half the battle. I give them a thumbs up. Check it out if you can. I guess they did this only in Rockford so don't bother looking anywhere else in Chicagoland. Enough of the commercial for the once crusty Kmart. It's a lot cooler now. At least here.

Chicago O'Hare Airport Children's Area

Ranking: Value - 5 out of 5; Dad Fun Factor - 1 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

Here's the deal on this one. It's never fun to travel with little people (kids) but it's even worse when you get to the airport late and miss your flight. Guilty! Here's how you kill 5 hours of your life at the Chicago O'Hare Airport with your children. 1) Head to Terminal 2. It's not hard to get around the airport if you have feet and even easier if you don't. 2) Buy yourself some Quiznos (and for the kids) if you are hungry. 3) Walk the 10 feet from Quiznos to the O'Hare Children's Museum play area. It's actually sponsored by the Chicago Children's Museum and it's great. It's better than great. It is situated in a quite part of the terminal with two family restrooms in loud-talking distance. We lived through our delay with flying colors and the boys had a blast. They have large, interactive airplanes to pretend to fly, cargo areas you can toss luggage around (just like the real workers...kidding....mostly), and a control tower with radios and dials and stuff. For a toddler or preschooler it's awesome. I give it a Dad Fun Factor of 1 out of 5 because frankly, if you are there you are having a bad day anyway. But the kids enjoyed it and I'd do it again. If you are visiting Chicago and flying through O'Hare then you need to check it out. It's off the beaten path but there are a few signs. There is also a Starbuck's right there if you need some C.O.F.F.E.E. (sing the Ralph's World tune here).

I don't have any pics (except this stolen one) or links here so you'll have to imagine smiling faces and squeals of joy. Talk at you next time.

Going the Easy Route at Elgin McDonald's

Ranking: Value - 4 out of 5; Dad Fun Factor - 2 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

This has got to be the cheesiest post I'm going to do for some time. I had every intention of taking the pack to the Rockford Children's Museum today but blew the timing. I forgot that all of the local children's museums open at noon on Sundays. I needed to get the boys out of the house this morning and it's getting cold with rain. So where can I go at 9:00 am on a Sunday? Why McDonald's. Not the fanciest of places but this one has the cleanest play area around. It's a nice McD's anyway. It's one of their remodeled franchises with a more deli-like appearance. Before you get all up in my grill over the quality of food I have to admit we ate nothing. In fact, my only purchase was a medium coke. I asked for two small cups for ice water as well. No problem, no cost. And they had a blast. Jesse, #2 at age 2 yrs, really got into following his big brother around the maze. It's a pretty elaborate set up with many slides, chambers, windows, etc. It was really clean today; like it was just cleaned this morning. It's a safe place to spend an hour of calorie burning. The map shows where this one is located. It's on Randall Rd just South of US-20. Check it out if you need a very cheap indoor play area that will keep the gang occupied for an hour-plus. I know it's hardly a tip but you may need reminding.

Elgin Public Library

Ranking: Value - 5 out of 5; Dad Fun Factor - 2 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

Don't get the wrong message from the Dad Fun Factor score. This one is not about me. It's mostly about the boys. This is one great library. All hail the money Elgin gets from the casino. It really has made a big difference here. One of the great additions to the community, besides me, is the library. We go there weekly. I've tried to find a few books I'm interested in while there but apparently others have the same interest and I come up short. But the boys score it big every time. They are practically known by name in the audio/visual area. We can always find great movies that are top of their mind. Wiggles, Disney, you name it, we find it. We keep a healthy supply of music in the Yukon. The best part, and what makes the library special, is that we can keep movies for up to a week and music for a month. We're going tomorrow to get a copy of The Jungle Book. It's going to be great.

I can understand if you are a little uneasy going to a library. It's a little intimidating. Here are a few key benefits. One, it's free. Of course, not if you don't live in Elgin. But I'm hoping you have one where ever you are. Secondly, this library is right on the Fox River and has great grounds if you want to simply get out. Thirdly, the kids section is great. It has book and books and books. It also has a cool play area and fish. Nothing can entertain like fish. The play area isn't large but it's fun for little guys. I can pretty much chill and keep an eye on them at the same time. If you have the chance, check it out. I'm a big fan.

Check out their website at: www.elgin.lib.il.us. It's not too great but it's a good gateway.

Eating at Chipotle

Ranking: Value - 4 out of 5; Dad Fun Factor - 4 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

We don't eat out very often (as you can see from the posts on taking food to every activity we do) but when we do go out we're picky. We aren't at a point in the boys' lives that we want to hit the top notch restaurants yet. They aren't ready to sit through a long service at all and would simply implode. So we hit the spots that are kid friendly. I don't mean to push any one place over another but one that I really like is Chipotle. We started going there about 5 years ago while living in Kansas City. Here's what I like. One, we order it at the counter and not from a waitress. That's a big plus when we're looking to eat now and not in 20 minutes. The second is the simplicity of the foods. Jack, my 4 year-old, calls the place "Chicken-Rice-and Beans" and for a good reason. That's all he wants and that's all he gets. Mom and I get some pretty complicated burritos and that's what we like. The second thing we like about Chipotle is the price. It's not cheap by any means but we can all eat really, really well for $22. One word of caution. They have high chairs out the wazoo but not a single booster. We always take our own for Jack. Easy fix. If you haven't tried it maybe give it a shot. I like a ton of other places but this is one of the consistent winners for us.

For my info check it out at: http://www.chipotle.com/

Three Stars for Six Flags Great America

Ranking: Value - 3 out of 5; Dad Fun Factor - 3 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

I know what you are thinking, "Six Flags is done for the year. Why bother?". I figure that if you are thinking about buying a season pass early, like now, and you care about my opinion, you may want this now. His the story. We really like going to Six Flags. It's a ton of fun and the new Wiggles World area is really great. We love the rides in Wiggles World. They are all set for little guys (and gals). The Big Red Plane is cool and interactive. They can choose the flight path and feel in control. The stage show is fun. If you know the Wiggles you know the songs. I feel like a big dope half the time because I'm the only adult singing along. Come on people, loosen up! My boys love interacting with the players and there are plenty of chances. We've found we can smuggle lunch into the park for all of us in a cooler. There aren't any coolers allowed typically but you can bring snacks for small kids. Bingo! But we've had poor luck with can soda. The three times we had male security guards rifling through our stuff we made it through. The one time a chick barred the way she took the cokes. She did offer to let us drink all 4 of them right there are the entrance. Yeah right. The other good thing about the Wiggles area is they have super-sized family bathrooms. They are enormous and clean.

The rest of the park is a little sketchy. We typically hit the Wiggles and then make a run to the Loony Tunes area. There you will find a pretty nice train ride, some ancient carnival rides with a fresh coat of paint, and fun looking rope climbing thing. I say fun looking because it was closed all season. My oldest kept being disappointed. There are a ton of other rides for kids over 4' tall. None of mine are. So either wait until yours are all that tall or make do with the few small kids areas. I know I'm picking on the very demographic that buys tickets but there are a ton of teenagers roaming the park. The herds are just enormous. They don't really look out for small kids and that can cause some tears. I usually use a stroller to part the seas. It's a little like The Road Warrior.

We did Fright Fest this year as well. Not much to note during the day except the parade they run down Main Street. It's usually pretty cheesy but not during Fright Fest. During this time of the year it is pretty scary. I mean really scary for little kids. I'd avoid it at all cost. They have some great characters, like super tall werewolves on stilts and bloody zombies. Very real, especially to a 2 and 4 year old. We liked that trip in October because it was cooler and easier to relax. One note for dads. If you go in the summer there are plenty of things for look at. Wear a good set of sun glasses. They help to avoid trouble. It's a great place for bird watching in general but the summer is best. The water park is open. God bless the water park. Otherwise it would be a 2 on the dad fun factor-meter.

For more information on Great America check them out at a really good web site (take note Sycamore Fun Center) at: www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica

Apple Picking Paradise - Prairie Sky Orchard

Ranking: Value - 4 out of 5; Dad Fun Factor - 4 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 5 out of 5

Another trip to Union, IL and another great day. Today I talk about our visit to Prairie Sky Orchard. It was great. Just great! We went back in September so this is going to torque a few off as being a little late but save this one for next Fall. Sorry. We were looking for an apple orchard to take the boys so they could get a little country fresh air. What we found was a very family friendly place that has a large Raspberry patch, several rows of apple trees, and great pumpkin patch, and some yummy baked goods. Let's go in reverse order. We finished the trip all sitting on a pile of hay bails stuffing our crumb holes (not mom) with apple doughnuts. The best. Actually better than Goebbert's. We ate a dozen at least. I think I gained a happy 5 lbs. Jack and Jesse climbed the hay bales and had a blast. That was how it ended. Sweet.

The rest was a great build-up. The boys really got into picking raspberries and gently laying them into the tub. They must have eaten half as many as they put in. We then moved onto the apples. We grabbed a peck size bag (I don't get the peck thing but it is what it is) and ended up filling half a bushel. They have a ton of different apple types. We liked them all. So fresh and good. We made three pies as soon as we got home. The cool part is that the tress are all pruned low to the ground so we can reach most of the branches. The boys rode my shoulders so we all could reach. The Orchard is really some one's back yard so it has a very homey feel.

The neighbors have geese and turkeys and they wander around the orchard free range. That generates some land mines to avoid so keep a look out. To be fair, it was only in a small area. If you are coming a good distance you should consider hitting the Railway Museum and the Orchard in the same day. It would be killer. Make sure you grab some grub there. Apple pies are wicked simple to make so stock up on some cinnamon, butter, sugar, and Pillsbury pie dough. I probably missed something there but you get the point.

To get more info on our favorite apple orchard go to: http://www.prairieskyorchard.com/

Chicago Area Children's Museums

Every parent loves a good Children's Museum. I am no exception. We've discovered since moving to Elgin that the Chicago area has four great Children's Museums. I'm going to dedicate some blog space to each one in the very near future but I want first address something I take very seriously: Membership Fees. If you spend some hard earned cash on one "Membership" in a year I would highly recommend you pick a Children's Museum. They offer great fun, and distraction, for the buck. Trick is that you can visit pretty much every one of them in the area with a membership to any one of them. So which one should you join. My vote is for Rockford. Sure, it's a little hike out there but I'm already half way here in Elgin. And it's a good one so it's well worth the trip. It has a great outdoor activity area on a good day and it's on the river. In the interest of fairness I've listed the cost of a family membership (that has reciprocal rights) at each of the local museums:

Discovery Center of Rockford - $100 www.discoverycentermuseum.org
Chicago's Children Museum - $125 www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org
Kohl's Children Museum (Glenview, IL) - $110 www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org
DuPage Children's Museum (Naperville, IL) - $110 www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org

More to come on each very soon.

Hitting the Go-Kart Track in Sycamore, IL

Ranking: Value - 3 out of 5 Dad Fun Factor - 5 out of 5 Kid Fun Factor - 5 out of 5

Nothing, but nothing, beats a racing go-karts. Here's the back story. We were on vacation a few months back in New England visiting the in-laws. My older little man, Jack, saw a go-kart track while we drove around and just had to try it. The weather didn't cooperate and we didn't get to it. I promised we would do it when we got home and I'm a man of my word. So I started doing some research and came across Sycamore Family Sports Center. It's way off the beaten path unless you live near it. I'm sure there are closer kart tracks to the city but not any I could find around me. So we drove the 30 minutes through the rolling hills and found it. I have to admit I wasn't really expecting much and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a combo go-kart track, mini golf, driving range, and batting cage complex. We went to drive but I wasn't up for many laps when one "race" was close to a matinee at the movies. Not cheap. But the key was that the karts come in single and double seat configuration. For me, and my 4 year old, we could not share better thrill time. He loved it and I had a blast. He isn't able to reach the pedals so I did all of the driving but he was cool with that. We're going to go back. I can't wait. I just have to find the right excuse with the Mrs. My recommendation is to give it a try.

Here are a few other things I noticed. The mini golf course is pretty cool. It's perfect for the little guys. It's not the moving windmill style so I think you can do a little better but not right next to the Kart track. And it's reasonably priced. The driving range is well maintained and does the job. We watched a coach doing his thing with a Little Leaguer in the batting cages. It was cool for my son who's starting to get into baseball and football (thank god!). So, long post short, I give Sycamore a thumbs up. We'll be back soon.

If you want to see some pics and their hours take a look at their site. It's pretty lame but I'm sure they are going to get around to something better eventually: http://www.sycamorefun.com/

Making Tracks to the Illinois Railway Museum

Ranking: Value - 4 out of 5 Dad Fun Factor - 3 out of 5 Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

Let's face it, trains are cool. I don't count myself in the crowd of men who grew up with a train set and an engineer's hat. I was more of a G.I. Joe guy (classic edition). With that said, I like taking the men to the rail yard. First of all, it's close to us NW suburbanites. It's in a cool, Mayberry-like town named Union. It's a small way off of I-90 heading out by the outlet mall so you can con the Mrs. into thinking it's a shopping trip. They recently paved the lot so that makes it a little more family friendly (think stroller and gravel). It's not too sophisticated. I've seen the gates open 20 minutes late because a volunteer was a little late. It's all volunteers (from what I can tell). The value is pretty god since you can bring in a cooler unchecked and have a picnic on the vast grounds. They also have a cool diner that has good ice cream. It's pretty much a roam-at-will experience.


They do run a schedule of vintage diesel, electric, and steam trains up and down a several mile stretch of track. It's a blast to prop open a window and let the air blow through the cabin. The boys like to try to hang out the window but we had one come crashing down once so we don't let the happen. It's a little long if you have easily bored kids. Make sure they take a leak before as well. No bathrooms. We like the electric best because it's fastest. Nothing better than a fast train. There is also a very old CTA trolley that runs a short course around the main grounds. The talk is very informative but not very interesting to 2 or 4 year olds. You can get on and off at several stops. One is near a big open grassy area prime for a pic-nic. Your call. There are a lot of nice to look at trains and cars at the IRM but not much to climb and explore. I understand why. These folks are spending a lot of time restoring these trains and they don't want my guys wrecking them. Cool. But it loses it's appeal in about an hour. Add in the train ride, a pic-nic lunch, maybe an ice cream, and a browse through the Thomas The Tank Engine-rich store, and you are killing a 2~3 hour afternoon.

I have to admit that I bought a family pass this Spring. It was not a wise investment on my part. It was used three times and we broke even. A fourth trip would have made it worth it but alas, I could not make it happen. There are a few other cool things to see out around Union, IL. I'll hit them up in another entry soon enough. In the meantime, make tracks to the Illinois Railway Museum for a pretty solid afternoon.

More info can be found at one of the poorest designed websites out there: http://www.irm.org/

Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm

Ranking: Value - 3 out of 5 Dad Fun Factor - 3 out of 5 Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

We went to the Huntley Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm yesterday. I'm not sure if it was me or the weather but I was ready to go home about ten minutes after we got there. Actually, it was the weather, the 45 deg temp, and my shorts (I thought it was warmer than it was). Not important. My one beef with Goebbert's is the cost of things. The place is definitely fun for the kids so the cost is less important than their fun factor. We got there early so parking was a plenty. We also had the in-laws in tow so that adds to the cost. We chipped in another $1 a child to have them do the haunted bouncy thing and the two year-old refused at the gate. To the Farm's credit they refunded me the $1 ticket. Value goes up. Then we popped into the Haunted Mine and my 4 year-old almost crapped. It was down right scary for that age and not a sign to be seen. Fun Factor drops. We then head to the Pumpkin Eating Dinosaur. It's one of the funnest parts of the place. A big hydraulic crane arm thing with a set of jaws and munch on pumpkins. Nothing but cheering kids egging it on. Love it!

We did the hayride out the actual pumpkin patch. A little like a picked over swamp by the last weekend of October and some rain. Either bring boots (not us) or be prepared for mud (us). I made up this story with my son where we had to find the "Magic Pumpkin of Candy" (should have made it fruit or something healthy). This pumpkin is signified by a red smiley face on it (thanks to a magic marker) and starts making candy nightly once carved. He as pretty psyched to find it and it made the whole thing fun.

We walked around the "farm" and saw every farm animal they have. We also watched the Pig Races which were fun but the announcer was a little creepy. We'll leave it at that. One thing they have that I've never seen at any other place is Camel Rides. They are pretty cool animals and the boys really got into the ride. I wasn't into the $4 tab for a short lap around the pen. I think most of that is for the photo op. The pony ride is also $4. My favorite part of the whole trip, actually pilgrimage, is the check out. They have awesome apple cider doughnuts! They alone are worth the price of admission. Except you can get them without going through the main gate.

One thing that my older son and I really got into was the Corn Maze. He loves mazes and I love that he loves them. He mucked our way through some muddy spots and finally out of the field. He was really proud of himself navigating it and I was eating it up. If you have the chance do a corn maze somewhere.

Check out Goebbert's at http://www.pumpkinfarms.com/

Day at Brookfield Zoo

Ranking: Value - 5 out of 5 Dad Fun Factor - 3 out of 5 Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5

Good evening from Chicago. Elgin actually. If you know where that is you are likely to know where the rest of the places we'll talk about are as well. My first post is going to be about one of my favorite places here in Chicago-land: Brookfield Zoo. I know people say to go to Lincoln Park Zoo but I live in the NW Suburbs and I avoid downtown like the plague. It's just not a friendly place for the fam for a day trip. We go to Brookfield about 6 times a year. That warrants a membership. We buy the Family Plus because it get's us and guests in the gate for the best price. We also dig the Hamill Family Play Zoo. For little guys (I have two if you didn't read what this Blog is all about) you can't beat the play-learn combination. It's where they've learned to nicely touch small animals and that's great. Brookfield is not just about the animals. There are two large play areas for working off steam. The zoo also allows coolers full of what ever you elect to bring in. We bring most of our food and drink so it's a cheap day. They also sell lots of beer so dads can enjoy (I do).

Two pieces of advice. Firstly, if you don't have a wagon or a stroller, even if your kids can run marathons, bring one or rent one at the front gate. The wagons are cheap insurance that you won't have to carry the exhausted little one. They also have cool dolphin-shaped push carts. Kids love them but beware; they aren't for kids over about 38" tall. Secondly, get there early for a good parking spot. And you avoid Soldier Field traffic if you are coming in on I-290.

That's the generic. Now this weekends trip. We went during "Boo at the Zoo". It's a fun, Halloween themed event. It's great for seeing Mom's in costume as well. Not that that's the reason to go. But it's nice. If you don't take your kids in costume expect to be asked why about a thousand times and deal with tears. I know from experience. All in all, a great reason to go to Brookfield. They also have nice goodie bags on the way out. One thing I noticed this year that I didn't like is the complete sell out to Fisher-Price toys. They had stuff all over the place but I suppose it helps to pay the bills.

If you want more info on Brookfield Zoo check it out at http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/.