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Splash Into Summer Fun at Six Flags Great America

When was the last time you experienced liquid love… minus the nasty hangover? Forget about the Patron-laced tropical libations; now’s your chance to splish, splash, slide and surf your way into a wet and wild summer vacation you’ll remember for years to come. Soaking up the sun and hanging ten on cobalt blue water is easy when you live in Hawaii, but what do you do when you want to take a summer plunge in the Midwest? (Take the plunge at Riptide Bay!) Never mind Lake Michigan; instead, set your sights on Gurnee, Illinois. That’s where you’ll find Six Flags … Continue reading →

Harry Potter and Michael Jackson Themed Trips

If your kids are wild about Harry, then hit the road for a literary journey featuring the fictional boy wizard’s favorite haunts. Last week’s release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has sparked a slew of travel deals inspired by J.K. Rowling’s books about wannabe wizards, including: Skyscanner.net is offering tours of 13 key locations in the Potter Universe, from Platform 9¾ at London’s Kings Cross Station to Romania, home to the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary. Fandango.com is featuring a Summer Movie Road Trips section that offers travelers the chance to visit Harry Potter’s Rolling Green British Isles. Meanwhile, for … Continue reading →

Having Fun in Chicago

My family always has fun during our trips to Chicago. The Windy City offers dozens of kid-friendly attractions that are as educational as they are fun-filled. If you have never visited the Midwestern metropolis or you are returning sans wheels this spring, then consider taking advantage of one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Chicago Neighborhood Tours allows you to sit back and let someone else do the driving while you enjoy the sights on themed bus rides. This year the city’s Office of Tourism has added several new themed half-day bus tours to its offerings. Take a look: HYDE PARK … Continue reading →

Chicago on a Shoestring

This is it. The countdown to my favorite event of the summer is on and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Soon I will enjoy an entire day where I don’t count a single calorie or contemplate what a combination of deep-fried pickles, Pad Thai, a Flintstones-sized BBQ turkey leg, alligator nuggets, and chocolate-dipped strawberry cheesecake on a stick will do to my digestive tract. If you too dream of experiencing the epicurean delight, also known as The Taste of Chicago, but your budget is far smaller than your appetite, check out the following Windy City travel deals: A Taste of … Continue reading →

End of the Year Travel to Chicago

I realize some parts of the country are just barely showing signs of spring, but there are some people who are already making their travel plans for the fall and winter. (I know because I am related to some of them.) With the price of gas nearing record highs and the cost of air travel soaring it might not be a bad idea to secure tickets while the prices are still reasonable. I have always maintained that Chicago is a destination for all seasons. No matter what time of the year you plan to visit there is something to keep … Continue reading →

Cruising Chicago and the Caribbean

If you are looking to take to the seas on a Caribbean cruise booking early will allow you to save a ton of money in the long run. Right now Orbitz is offering a great deal on an eight-night Caribbean odyssey from Ft. Lauderdale to St. Thomas for $3,298. (That’s a discount of 40 percent.) The price might sound steep but the ultra-luxe Seabourn Legend is an all-suite ship and your journey will include stops in Grand Turk Island; St. John on U.S. Virgin Islands; Gustavia on St. Barths; Marigot on Saint Martin; Virgin Gorda; and Charlotte Amalie on St. … Continue reading →

Reasons to Visit Chicago During the Summer Months

So, now that you know why visiting Chicago in the spring is such a great idea let’s turn our attention to what the Windy City has to offer during the rest of the year. In the month of June Grant Park becomes a mecca for blues fans. The hugely popular (and always jam packed) Chicago Blues Festival takes place the first weekend in June and the best part—–it’s free! June is also the month when the most decadent food festival in the country takes place. Taste of Chicago runs for 10 days from late June through the July 4th holiday … Continue reading →

Wheelchairs in the Windy City

In a previous blog I mentioned that Chicago was recently named one of America’s most disability-friendly cities by the National Organization on Disability. Not only are all of the city’s public buses wheelchair-accessible, but also each summer Chicago hosts the largest Disability Pride Parade in the nation. To learn more about what the Windy City offers disabled travelers I would suggest ordering a free copy of a new guide called “Easy Access Chicago.” It includes basic visitor information for popular city attractions such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower, along with details on accommodations like … Continue reading →

Springtime in Chicago

I just returned from a family trip to Hawaii, which included connections at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. While there my 3-year-old daughter paid her dinosaur pal a visit in Terminal One and once again ran her little legs off at the “Kids on the Fly” play area. The 2,000-square-foot indoor playground features a two-story control tower, airplane with interactive cockpit and cargo hold, luggage slide, a ticket counter, a helicopter, and my daughter’s favorite feature a pint-sized ice-cream stand where tots can scoop their own mock sweet treats into paper cones. We had more than two hours to kill between … Continue reading →

Windy City Tips for Wheelchair-Bound Travelers

My friend is taking her wheelchair-bound mother to Chicago this Easter and recently asked me for advice on where to go and how challenging it would be to get around. While I have never toured the city or its many attractions in a wheelchair I do know that last year Chicago was named one of America’s most disability-friendly cities by the National Organization on Disability. The honor was given partially because all the city’s public buses are wheelchair-accessible. In addition, each July, the Windy City hosts the largest Disability Pride Parade in the nation as well as AccessChicago, a products … Continue reading →