Even the sanest of families can catch a case of the crazies this time of year. When holiday cookie-baking, gift-purchasing, house-decorating and party-hopping have you forgetting what day it is, pack the kids and spouse in the car and head south to Lincoln Park for an evening of ZooLights. See: The lights, the lights, the […]
You can describe an exotic or well-known travel destination to your children, but it’s not the same as stepping off the plane to let them smell, taste and feel another culture. Ladia Cheng of Mundelein did just that. She wanted her teenage children to soak in her native Guam, so she packed them up […]
Picture yourself at O’Hare Airport, clutching a bagel and coffee in one hand, dragging your suitcase behind you with the other, racing toward your gate, which will inevitably be the last one in the terminal. Now imagine driving directly up to the runway, where valets meet you to park your car and load your […]
Chicago’s Oak Street, just off the main drag of the Mag Mile, is the city’s premier destination for designer finds. Here’s a quick guide down this glamorous avenue and a few of its neighboring streets. First stop: lunch (and parking). Ditka’s Restaurant You’ll need sustenance for your afternoon shopping expedition, so stop by this outpost […]
This dynamic area on Chicago’s northwest side is the home of some of the best food and shopping in the city. Here are some suggestions if you’re heading to Bucktown and Wicker Park. For breakfast, try… The Bongo Room The creative courses dished up at this pancake house are worth the wait for a […]
When you go on vacation—a real vacation to a destination you’ve dreamed about—you want to enjoy every minute. See the sights. Get a feel what the area is about. So, you plan and plot. Map out what to do each day, each meal. That was our family’s usual mode—Disney World was a four-day marathon with […]
Bonnie and Jim Pritchard of Geneva have grandchildren geographically dispersed across the country. Yet, they have been able to create that sense of connection and intimacy that is rare. For Christmas, each child received a box and inside was a slip of paper with the words, “a trip to Egypt.” As you can imagine, the […]
The legends are true. Less than three hours north, starting in Madison and meandering in every direction along back-country roads dotted with family farms, cornfields and quaint old dairies, you’ll find the best place in the nation to spend a weekend overindulging on cheese. Old World Emmentalers made in copper-lined Swiss kettles. Impossibly creamy […]
The town of Barrington is seeing a renaissance, with new shops and restaurants opening their doors in the charming downtown area. This is only heightening the sense of community. “There’s a homey feel, and it’s nice being able to walk through town and know the store vendors,” says chef Mary Rose Hoover. “There’s a […]
Gather up the grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and second cousins twice removed: Multi-generational trips are the hottest trend in the travel business. “The fastest growing segment of our business is multi-generational travel,” says Geoffrey Kent, chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Kent, the Oak Brook-based luxury travel company. “Our clients don’t just want to […]
