Chicago with Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With masses of museums, Chicago packs a punch for younger families which is why it\u2019s also on our list of the best trips in the U.S. for kids under 10<\/a>. However, it\u2019s also great for families with older kids. The Museum of Science and Industry is one of our favorite museums anywhere and takes a full day to appreciate. My kiddos love their incredible interactive exhibits like Science Storms where you can create and walk through a mini tornado and their toy making assembly line where you can see a spaceship top being made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another super cool museum in Chicago is the Field Museum, one of the best natural history museums in the world. It is known for its fantastic dinosaur fossils and bones, including Sue, the largest and best-preserved fossil of a tyrannosaurus rex, as well as ,other natural history exhibits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Midwest doesn\u2019t seem like the place for a world renowned aquarium, but Chicago is the home to the Shedd Aquarium, is one of the largest in the U.S. and is home to hundreds of sea creatures and gigantic tanks sure to wow young travelers. Our favorite area is the Polar Zone because it features two different types of penguins and Beluga whales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are ready to get outdoors after exploring the many magnificent museums, Chicago has a ton of options\u00a0 – walk along Lake Michigan and enjoy some fun games, shops and restaurants, and take a ride in a ferris wheel at Navy Pier (the Chicago Children\u2019s Museum<\/a> is there, too, with a special section for kids ages four to eight). But, our favorite outdoor space in Chicago is Maggie Daley Park<\/a>. Fully completed in 2015, Maggie Daley Park has unique playground equipment and rock climbing walls that will keep the kids busy for hours. It\u2019s also walking distance to Millenium Park with the famous Cloud Gate, or \u201cbean\u201d, structure. Depending on the season and your kids\u2019 love for sports, Chicago\u2019s teams are some of the best known in the US. Wrigley Field, home to the Cubs is a mecca for baseball lovers, but don\u2019t forget that the White Sox play on the southside at Guaranteed Rate Field (formerly the much more historic name of Comniskey Park). Take in a game watching the Chicago Bulls or head to Soldier Field for tailgating and football with the Bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And no trip to Chicago is complete without some Chicago-style, deep dish pizza. Check out Giaodano\u2019s or Lou Malnati\u2019s for a little slice of heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We had a blast visiting Columbus, Ohio. The home of The Ohio State University definitely lives up to its place on the list of the best large cities in the Midwest for families – affordable, easy to navigate and fun attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium<\/a> is one of the best in the Midwest. With animals from six continents represented, you can get up close and personal with your favorites (ours were there – koalas, penguins, an amazing gorilla exhibit, and elephants). It was surprising to see manatees in Columbus, but sure enough, you could watch the gentle sea cows munching on lettuce leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What we love about the Columbus Zoo (in addition to their animals) are their conservation efforts and education about conservation at many of the animal exhibits. For example, the plight of orangutans and the palm oil industry and the effects of deforestation on Africa and to the gorilla population. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For added fun, the Columbus Zoo has more than 15 amusement park rides and several cool playground areas. We visited in October,much too chilly for a water park, but the attached Zoombezi Bay <\/a>is a massive water park with giant slides, lazy rivers, wave pools and water coasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For budding scientists and the non-scientifically inclined alike, the COSI – Center of Science and Industry<\/a> is a great way to spend a day. It has floors and floors of interactive STEM exhibits that are focused on energy (use a stationary bike to generate electricity), water, space (drive a Mars Rover) and more. Are you braver than a sixth grader? The 2rd floor features a non-so-death-defying tightrope unicycle ride high above the lobby. Our 12-year old loved Gadgets Cafe where kids can take apart tons of electronics that have been recycled. They also have do-it-yourself science experiments with all the materials and instructions. Seriously, he would have camped out there all day if there wasn\u2019t more to see in the museum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a step back to the Jurassic Period at COSI\u2019s American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery. The exhibit is part of your admission to COSI and features casts and bones from T. Rexes to Triceratops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are visiting Columbus, then you must make the short detour to Dayton. Only 55 miles away is one of our favorite places anywhere – the awe-inspiring National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The Museum boasts four airplane hangers and more than 350 aircraft – which are arranged according to date from re-creations of the Wright Brothers early planes to the space age and beyond with a model space shuttle. There are several planes that you can walk through – our favorites were the former Air Force One planes. Imagine walking down the same aisle as many of our U.S. presidents, or standing in the same spot that Lyndon Johnson was when he took the oath of office. Several videos and interactive exhibits help tell the stories of the aircraft housed here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I loved that there were history lessons attached to each aircraft – made it a great way for the boys to learn about important events while having fun. It is FREE and worth an entire day to fully explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, head to Columbus\u2019 German Village to experience a beer garden that will make you think you were transported to Munich. Schmidt\u2019s Sausage Haus Restaurant, Valters, and Gemut Biergarten are local favorites, While the kiddos can\u2019t have beer, they\u2019ll love the Bavarian pretzels and cheese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our favorite of the best of Midwest cities for families since it\u2019s our hometown. But it truly is an awesome place to visit. I always encourage the first stop in Indianapolis should be the Children\u2019s Museum<\/a>, the biggest kids\u2019 museum in the world. It is mind-blowingly awesome and worth an entire day devoted to exploring its five floors and outdoor Sports Legends Experience. It has exhibits and interactive activities from Ancient Greece to life-sized dinosaurs to driving in the Indy 500 to exploring the Giza Pyramids and the International Space Station. No matter what your child is interested in, you can find something to dazzle their minds here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Downtown Indy also has several war memorials within a few blocks of each other. In fact, Indianapolis ranks only behind Washington DC in the number of war memorials. The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial is the marker for the center of Indianapolis on its famous Circle. You can walk or ride up to the top of the 230-foot monument for a one-of-a-kind view of the city. The Indiana War Memorial\u2019s grand limestone structure includes a huge military museum within its walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, no trip to Indy would be complete without a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the 500-mile race, and the largest (in attendance) sporting event in the world.. There\u2019s a museum where you can see several Indy cars, learn about the history of the race, and kiss the bricks like dozens of winning drivers. You can even take a ride on a bus around the 2.5 mile track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We may be biased, but Indy is the perfect trifecta for family travel. Louisville, Louavul, Louieville – plenty of ways to say it and plenty of things for families to do. While it\u2019s Midwest adjacent (technically the \u201cGateway to the South\u201d), I wanted to include it anyway since it\u2019s a lovely city and well worth a trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Main Street, Museum Row is home to three different spots to enjoy. The Kentucky Science Center is one of our favorites, and is especially great for kids 10 and under. My boys love their interactive STEM-based exhibits – stand in the middle of a giant bubble or make a giant marble run. The Louisville Slugger Museum is fun for baseball fans and non-fans alike; and the Frazier History Center lets you trace Lewis and Clark\u2019s adventure with interactive exhibits and has one of the largest historic miniature collections in the world. Maybe not-so-kid-friendly, but the Frazier it is also the official start of Louisville\u2019s Bourbon Trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along the Downtown\u2019s Ohio River waterfront, you can also take a ride back in time on the Belle of Louisville or Mary M. Miller steamboats (March through November). The Belle is one of the oldest (more than 100 years old) and most traveled boats in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a trip down the river, play at a huge playground at Waterfront Park (splash pad in warm months) then walk across the Ohio river via a pedestrian only-bridge to Jeffersonville, Indiana. After the trek across the bridge, my boys always want to make a beeline for Schmipff\u2019s Confectionery<\/a>, an old time candy store located just a few blocks from the bridge. Schmipff’s is known for having have the best red hots anywhere, but my kids say they\u2019re too spicy and usually opt for some gummy or chocolate treat. No matter what sweets you are craving – everything is good, so you can\u2019t go wrong. They also have a small cafeteria where you can eat for less than $5 per person (not including candy!). Also, across the river in Indiana, is Falls of the Ohio State Park<\/a> – one of the largest fossil beds in the world. There are acres of geological finds along the bedrock \u2013 a glimpse into a sea from the Devonian period that stretched over most of North America 400 million years ago. Over 100 species of coral and sponges are embedded into the rocks, so you can hunt for fossils (look and touch, but don’t take). There’s also a interpretative center which provides context to what you’re seeing out in the beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most unique experiences in Louisville can actually be found 100 feet below the city: Louisville\u2019s MegaCavern<\/a>. Formerly a limestone mine, it boasts 4 million square feet (and 17 miles) of underground space with several different activities – a ropes course, a zipline course, walking tour, electric bike tour, or a tour riding a tram. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kentuckiana, as Louisville and the Southern Indiana area are called, offers unique indoor and outdoor excursions for kids of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"best](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mapsmemoriesandmotherhood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/midwest-chic2.jpg?resize=456%2C608&ssl=1\")
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Columbus\/Dayton, Ohio with Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Indianapolis with Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Staying in downtown Indy is a great option. It\u2019s very walkable, with several activities along a beautiful man-made canal at the White River State Park. Depending on your family\u2019s interests, there is an attraction to fit every desire: The Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana State Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art all are within an easy walk. Several kid-friendly restaurants are within a stone\u2019s throw of downtown hotels. Cafe Patachou is a favorite – do not miss the cinnamon toast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mapsmemoriesandmotherhood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/midwestindy2.jpg?resize=608%2C608&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\nLouisville with Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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St. Louis with Kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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