I’m a stay-at-home mom to two boys, who are currently 2 and 4 years old. I like to stay active and busy so I try to get out of the house every day with the kids and I write Toddling Around Chicagoland to share our experiences.

In my effort to find things to do with the boys, I’ve been surprised at the lack of information I’ve found, both about things to do in general, but also about the specifics of the places we go. I can generally find hours and admission prices, but often no information about things like whether there’s a place to eat if we bring food or if strollers are practical. That’s why I decided to create Toddling Around Chicagoland so we can share our experiences with other Chicagoland moms & kids. I try to be frugal and environmentally friendly, but the big splurge for us in both areas is gas. I’ve always enjoyed driving and I like to do a wide range of activities with my kids. There’s so much to do in the Chicagoland area and we don’t want to miss any of it, so we wind up traveling a lot for some of our “adventures”, as my older son calls them. In just over a year that I’ve been blogging at Toddling Around Chicagoland we’ve visited places from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin to Starved Rock, and the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago to DeKalb, and everywhere in between.

Sarah’s Family Travel Tip Be prepared. Pack a “goodie bag” of crayons, coloring books, small games, books, and toys, and snacks. I also always keep a few ziplock bags (or a wetbag) with me for messy diapers or clothes, opened snacks, or anything sticky.
Sarah’s Top 3 Family-Friendly Chicago Destinations

• Legoland Discovery Center – Located in Schaumburg, the Legoland Discovery Center has impressive Lego displays, a play area, building spaces, 4-D Lego movies, and even Lego rides.
• Kids Science Labs – Interactive classes like “Fruit Smashanomics” for kids as young as 2 years old make learning science fun.
• Garfield Park Conservatory – This is one of our favorite free places in Chicago and it’s a great way to experience nature and different climates even in bad weather.