# Chicago trip for Christmas W/kids **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881 "2012-12-03T18:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cncdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cncdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cncdad)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/1 "2012-12-03T18:33:49Z")
I am bringing my 2 sons(pre-teen, still into Santa) up to Chicago next weekend just to sightsee for the Holidays and dont want to miss anything Christmassy. We will be there Thurs - Sun and staying just off Mag. Mile near the river. So far we plan on shopping the Mag mile, visiting Water Tower Place, Navy Pier, Daley Plaza and checking out Macy’s. Looking mainly at places we can walk to from the hotel or a short cab ride. Anything else to check out? Museums are out due to little time and the fact that we went to a lot of them this summer 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/2 "2012-12-03T23:56:09Z")
Well, it’s not really Christmassy, but don’t miss the bean sculpture at Millenium Park. Cloud Gate is its real name. (It’s kind of silvery, so there’s that.) It’s more impressive than you’d expect from photos. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/3 "2012-12-04T01:38:16Z")
A Chicago classic is “Christmas Around the World” – annual exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry: > **[Christmas Around the World](https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-around-the-world/)** > > Opening November 2023: A holiday tradition at MSI since 1942, Christmas Around the World features more than 50 trees and displays representing global traditions of the season. I know you said no museums, but I’m suspecting that a couple of pre-teen boys might like that as a break from shopping, which is the main event for nearly everything else on your list. Of course, if we get any more 70° weather – you could take them to Oak St. Beach! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/4 "2012-12-04T01:56:04Z")
I don’t know if you are aware of it or not, but Daley Plaza is currently hosting the Christkindlemarket, which is not to be missed. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/5 "2012-12-04T02:07:21Z")
[Christkindlmarket!](http://www.christkindlmarket.com/en/) Loads of German tchotchkes under the Picasso! An ancient Chicago tradition for a good fifteen years! Hey, the town ain’t that old and we have to take our traditions where we can [del]steal[/del] import 'em. We can’t ride Capone’s coattails forever. But it’s fun, tacky, and it has glühwein to keep you warm. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/6 "2012-12-04T02:09:58Z")
Consider checking out the [Lincoln Park ZooLights.](http://www.lpzoo.org/events/calendar/zoolights) ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/7 "2012-12-04T02:51:58Z")
I’ll third the Christkindlmarket, also pointing out it’s a good spot to catch lunch. If you’re going to Millenium Park, there’s ice skating there, too. (If it’s not still so warm to make it a wading pool by the time you’re here). Does Macy’s keep up with the story windows like Marshall Field’s did? It’s also on the way from Michigan Ave to Daley Plaza. I love my city at Christmastime! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/8 "2012-12-04T08:01:07Z")
Yes, Macy’s still does the story windows. Although they tend to be more politically correct than in days of yore. I remember a recent theme, “Snow White and the Seven Little Men.” \ ---
**Author:** ![cncdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@cncdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cncdad)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/9 "2012-12-04T15:13:10Z")
Thanks for the responses. Christkindlemarket is definately on out list. Zoo sounds fun. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-trip-for-christmas-w-kids/642881/10 "2012-12-05T00:41:09Z")
> [@cncdad](#): > > … Zoo sounds fun. If you go to the Lincoln Park ZooLights, you can also visit the Winter (formerly Christmas) Flower and Train Show at the Lincoln Park Conservatory – adjacent to the Zoo and free: [http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/winter-flower--train-show-at-lincoln-park-conservatory/](http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/winter-flower--train-show-at-lincoln-park-conservatory/)