Cindy McCarthy is a mom of two young girls and urban explore of kid-sized Chicago! Cindy loved Chicago before she had kids, but fell in love all over again once she started a family. After spending more than twelve years working for Hilton Hotels, she left corporate American to follow her dream of becoming an entrepreneur and starting onthegoChicago.com.

On the heels of winning Parents Magazine Editor’s Pick for Best Local Blog in the Nation, on the go launched a new membership website which provides families with a complete guide to kid-sized Chicago including the best places to go play, eat, learn and shop. Plus, on the go’s exclusive search capabilities allows parents to customize their results to fit their family’s needs. On the go is Chicago’s most comprehensive and searchable site for parents, and the only ad free, influence free site dedicated to helping parents find where the free fun is hiding in their neighborhood. Want to see on the go in action for yourself? Check out their two-minute site tutorial video. Having children didn’t squelch Cindy’s love of travel. Cindy and her husband have logged more than 70K miles traveling with their kids. In fact, they just got back from a more than 3K-mile road trip to Florida. Cindy’s Family Travel Tip When flying with young kids, book the bulkhead. That way your seat kicker is only kicking a wall instead of an unsuspecting fellow traveler. If there are four of you, sit two and two and put the worse offender behind the other child. That way they are kicking their sibling instead of you or another traveler. Cindy’s Top 3 Family-Friendly Chicago Destinations

• North Avenue Beach – When people think about visiting Chicago, they don’t always think about hitting the beach. Chicago has a number of amazing beaches within the city limits. North Avenue Beach is close to the Loop and boast white sandy beaches, lifeguards, bathrooms, walk-up and sit-down dining, bike rentals and a terrific view of the city. Spend the day lounging on the beach, or rent bikes and see more of the beautiful lakeshore.

• Museum of Science and Industry – Chicago has a number of amazing museums to visit, but one of my favorites is the Museum of Science and Industry. It is truly a crowd pleaser for kids and parents alike. Little ones will be enthralled with the baby chick hatchery and model trains. Older kids will love the real Tornado in the Science Storms Exhibit and real submarine. Don’t miss Idea Works, the dedicated water and gravity inspired play area.

• Millennium Park – If you are staying downtown, Millennium Park is a must see. Toddlers love to run under the “Bean” and see their reflection. Plus, the Bean makes a great photo op of you, the kiddos and the city skyline reflected in the Bean. During the winter you can enjoy FREE ice-skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink. In the summer, there is a fun little put put course, The Green at Grant Park, close by and FREE sing-alongs and activities for kids at the Family Fun Festival everyday from July 2nd through September 2nd from 10am to 3pm.