High Plains Drifters: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie,Wilmington, IL

High Plains Drifters: Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
30239 South State Route 53
Wilmington, IL
Reasons to venture:

• Who doesn't need a little time on the prairie with their kids?
• Only an hour from Chicago with over 18 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horse back riding.
• Support the end of the Cold War where ammunitions factories have been replaced by tall grass. If only every military base could look like this some day for our kids

Favorite Big Sky activity?

Art, Indoors and Out: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, IL

Art, Indoors and Out: The Chicago Art Institute
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL

Reasons to venture:

• The New modern wing is spectacular... and a great place to run your toddler 'till he drops.
• The giant bean at Millenium Park is just one of the kid-friendly sculptures lining the grounds.
• Take the El over the marathon route, the T never gave you this good a bird's eye view.

Where do you like to take your kids to get their art on?

Sliding Glass Doors for Great Apes: The Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL

Sliding Glass Doors for Great Apes
The Lincoln Park Zoo
2200 N. Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL

Reasons to venture:

• We are picky about our zoos and this was clean, up close and personal and had plenty of opps for well-fed animals to get out and run around.
• The carousel of endangered species was old-timey and faaaaassssst.
• Did I mention it's free?
• Throw in a trip cross town for the kielbasa of your life at Jim's Original. The kids will down the Chicago style hot dogs (hold the hot peppers for your kids) and the tasty fries.

Best Zoo in the U.S.?