Hop in your car and head to the northern Chicago metro area where you’ll find Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL. If you’re looking for a thrill, you’ve come to the right place. Scream your head off on Vertical Velocity, Iron Wolf, or Superman: Ultimate Flight. Don’t be intimidated if you prefer more subdued rides or have children that don’t yet meet the height requirements. There are plenty of family and children’s rides as well as activities and shops to keep you busy.

The Drake Hotel

If you were looking to spend a romantic weekend with your sweetheart but don’t have the cash for airfare, you can still enjoy each other’s company in luxury at The Drake Hotel. Say goodbye to your Chicago apartment or loft and spend the weekend away on Michigan Avenue. The Romance Package at The Drake includes sparkling wine to welcome you, a full breakfast buffet at the Drake Bros’ Restaurant and a late check out time. Prices can range anywhere from the $200’s to over $700 per night. It all depends on the view and size of the room. But, you’ll get to spend the night away from it all before heading back to work on Monday.

Tirra Salon and Spa

Spend the day relaxing at the spa. At Tirra you can select packages such as the Bliss Out, a 4.5 hour treatment including a customized massage, manicure and pedicure, a light lunch, shampoo and style and make-up touch up. Or, you can pick from a variety of individual services that include those already listed and facials, waxing and hair coloring. And, if you have your own favorite spa, make an appointment with friends and grab lunch and shop afterward to complete your staycation.

Lynfred Winery

If you want a taste of the country but don’t want to travel too far from the Chicago metro area for your staycation, then pay a visit to Lynfred Winery in Roselle, IL. You can stop by just for a tour or tastings. But, if you want to make a staycation out of it, stay in one of the suites at the bed and breakfast. Depending on what time of year you make the trip, room rates are between $299 and $385, but they include more than just a place to sleep such as fresh flowers, cheese and crostini trays, a private winery tour, premium tastings of 8 wines and breakfast for two. There are also several other wineries, tours and tastings available in the Chicago area. Your options are practically endless.

Take the Artsy Route

If you’ve never taken the time to check out some of Chicago’s artistic and educational gems, then now is the time. Take a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry and the Art Institute of Chicago Museum. Or, pay a visit to Grant Park and explore the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. And, if you have children, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a must see. You could spend all day or weekend exploring the exhibits and shows at these institutions, and you can top it all off with a fantastic dinner at one of your favorite restaurants.

Whether you want to spend the weekend relaxing or thrill seeking, there are plenty of things to do in the Chicago metro area to keep you busy on your staycation.

     We drove into Lake Shore Museum Drive to see if we could park. I got the shock of my life when i found out that the parking alone was $40.00. Therefore I decided to just park at one of my uncle’s parking spaces on Plymouth Court St. …. he rents out apartments. After parking we walked all the way to the museum. It was a chore to walk over to the museum since i was wearing shoes not fit for walking….had some kitty heels on.

     The Field Museum was a overwhelming place. There were many exhibits from different lands. They were show casing the Pirate Show. There were exhibits from Africa, Asia and Egypt. My husband enjoyed the exhibits but not as much as his son who’s first time at the museum was really a learning moment. he saw the evolution of man from apes to Homo Erectus…..of course they were all bones. The mummies in the Egyptian Mini Pyramid to the enormous bones of the dinosaurs. He sepecially loved the pirates hanging from the ceiling and coming down on ropes.

     We ended the day walking in the rain back to the car. It was really one of  the best days spent with my family. Learning and children…of all ages whether really a child or a child at heart…do mix. Try to get an education….read.  As people say Education is a gift that other people can not take away from you. Education paves the way for your future. So try to enjoy the different museums with your family and get educated too. 

St. Louis Canyon Falls

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This beautiful waterfall is located at the head of St. Louis Canyon which is one of the many sandstone canyons in Starved Rock State Park in north-central Illinois. St. Louis Canyon Falls drops some 80 spectacular feet along the St. Louis Canyon Creek. To reach Starved Creek State Park from I-80 take Route 178 south where you will see multiple entrances.

Lake Falls

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Lake Falls is a beautiful 35 foot high waterfall along a tributary of the Vermillion River located in the upper most part of the Upper Dells section of Matthiessen State Park in north-central Illinois just east of Ogelsby. To reach Lake Falls from I-80 take Route 178 south for roughly 4 miles and look for the Dells Area of Matthiessen State Park on the right where the trail head to the falls is located.

Ferne Clyffe Falls

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Ferne Clyffe Falls is located in Ferne Clyffe State Park in southern Illinois near Goreville where Happy Hollow Creek falls and slides some 50 total feet over the cliff and down the rocks. You can see some water down the rocks here but after a heavy rain you will also see the water going over the cliff just above. Ferne Clyffe Falls can be reached along Route 37 just south of Goreville and from I-24 by taking Tunnel Hill Road west.

French Canyon Falls

French Canyon Falls is roughly 50 feet high and is located in beautiful Starved Rock State Park in north-central Illinois. To reach the park from I-80 take Route 178 south where there are multiple entrances.

Cave Falls or Cascade Falls

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Cave Falls or Cascade Falls is a lovely waterfall located in Matthiessen State Park.

Image via Wikipedia

Ottawa Canyon Falls

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Frozen falls said to be in Ottawa Canyon located in Starved Rock State Park though this looks like Tonti Canyon to me.

Giant’s Bathtub Falls

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Giant’s Bathtub Falls is located in the Dells Area of Matthiessen State Park which can be reached along Route 178 south off I-80 in north-central Illinois.

Wildcat Falls

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Wildcat Falls is an 80 foot high waterfall located at the head of Wildcat Canyon in Starved Rock State Park which easily accessible from I-80 by taking Route 178 south for roughly 3 miles.

LaSalle Canyon Falls

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LaSalle Canyon in Starved Rock State Park contains one main waterfall roughly 20 feet high seen here in the upper photo and a number of other smaller waterfalls both above and below the main falls (see photo below).

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Tonti Canyon Falls

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Tonti Canyon in Starved Rock State Park contains one main waterfall of 60 feet and a smaller set of waterfalls further along the canyon. Tonti Canyon Creek provides the water when it’s flowing. Tonti Canyon is located right next to LaSalle Canyon.

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Chicago Botanic Garden Waterfall

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The Chicago Botanic Gardens which is located about 20 miles north of Chicago contains a number of pretty man-made waterfalls like this one. The gardens are located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe.

Kaskaskia Canyon Falls

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Kaskaskia Canyon Falls is one of the smaller canyon waterfalls in Starved Rock State Park at roughly 15 feet in height.

Lockport Canal Falls

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Waterfall along the old Illinois and Michigan Canal in Lockport, Illinois which was the headquarters for the canal company.

Clinton Lake Dam Waterfalls

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The Clinton Lake Dam was built to provide a cooling source for the Clinton Nuclear Generating Station, a nuclear power plant. The dam is located in Clinton, illinois almost right in the center of the state and the lake is popular with fisherman today.

Fox River Dam Falls

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Fox River Dam Falls located in Geneva, Illinois.

Shelbyville Dam Falls

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The Shelbyville Dam was built by the Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1970 and is located in Shelbyville, Illinois in the central part of the state along the Kaskaskia River.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

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This pretty waterfall is located in DuPage County about 25 miles southwest of Chicago in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve which completely surrounds the Argonne National Laboratory off I-55, Lamont Road exit.

Anderson Gardens Falls

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This lovely waterfall is located in the Anderson Japanese Gardens located in Rockford, Illinois. Considered one of the finest examples of Japanese Gardens in North America, Anderson Gardens is northwest of Chicago located just off Route 251 at 318 Spring Creek Road in Rockford.

South Elgin Waterfall

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Believe this pretty waterfall is located along a trail by Route 31 just north of Silver Glen Road in South Elgin, Illinois.

I was impressed too when I learned that the wine list runs to 60 pages and that the five-star restaurant has won the Wine Spectators’ coveted Grand Award and the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Wine Service Award primarily because Chef Trotter’s culinary philosophy that food and wine are intended to complement each other and that the two have been an integral part of every dinner ever served here.

All that was certainly impressive, but as it turns out, that was only the beginning. Following a tour of the restaurant including the wine cellars, a couple of staff chefs escorted my wife Norma Jean, our daughter Sarah and myself to a table in the kitchen, where 18 chefs were hard at work on the evening’s menu. It soon became clear that we were about to enjoy a dining experience at what Wine Spectator Magazine has called “the best restaurant in the world for food and wine.”

Shortly after we were seated, the sommelier filled our glasses from a bottle of French champagne as he discussed the vintage and the area in France that had produced the classic wine. Meanwhile, three chefs carried 3, three-tiered Japanese pagoda-styled bamboo boxes which once opened revealed three small blue, china dishes with Pen Shell Clam with Thai Chili, a Media with Celery Root,(caviar) and California Sturgeon with Quail Egg, accompanied by a glass of Varnier-Fanniere “Grand Cru” Brut Rose NV.

I was certainly impressed when the staff cleared away those dishes and replaced them with unique dishes filled with Poached New Zealand Cockles with Brioche Dust, Serrano Ham & Roasted Mayan Scarlet Peppers, complimenting this course with a glass of Riesling Kabinett “Wehlener Sonnenuhr” Selbach-Oster, Mosel2005, an extraordinary wine from Germany.

And, when they brought out the Japanese Ayu with Braised Kombu, Sea Beans & Creamed Lemon, and GinjaShizuku “Divine Droplets” Junmai Daiginjo-shu served with a light Sake called Takasago Shuzo, Hokkaido-ken. The sommelier explained that the Sake was from Northern Japan which is well-known for as a source for this great Asian wine.

I was impressed, too, when the chefs served the Organic Eggplant with Bob White Quail/ saffron and black Cardamon & Green Thai Eggplant with a glass of Barbaresco “Bricco Asili-Bernardot” Ceretto 2001, a red wine from Spain.

The final course of the 2 hour culinary extravaganza included a dollop of Tiramisu Ice Cream with a Roasted Banana wedge, soy milk & Chocolate Bran.

I was sure by now that they had set out to impress me and they had succeeded wonderfully. The dining experience at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago is like being captivated by Puccini’s masterpiece “Turandot” where, near the end, the diva reaches higher and higher and higher until, finally, at the very end, she reaches into the stratosphere for a note and hits it to close the performance, bringing an adoring audience to its feet clamoring for an encore. In short, having dinner at Charlie Trotter’s is the dining experience of a life time, the Everest of culinary excellence.

The restaurant has earned a great number of accolades over the years. Besides proclaiming Charlie Trotter’s as the best restaurant in the world for food and wine, Wine Spectator Magazine went on to say, “No restaurant in America has come closer to delivering a flawless total dining experience…it goes beyond the standard of appetizer, main course, dessert, even beyond the usual chef’s tasting menu of up to a half-dozen courses by instead serving 10-12 or more individual dishes each representing a different facet of the chef’s prowess.”

And this from Chicago Magazine: “This restaurant is like Cape Canaveral is an airport…. Nearly every dish represents a journey into the hitherto unexplored culinary terrain…don’t expect the ordinary here because it just won’t happen.” And last year, Golf Connoisseur Magazine declared the restaurant as the”#1 Best Place to Eat in America Now.”

Chef Trotter said it was not until he reached college that he learned to appreciate great cooking skills.

“I had this roommate who would go to extraordinary lengths to prepare a meal. He’d shop at 8 different stores to collect the ingredients for pasta. He would bake his own bread. I had never seen anything like it.”

Chef Trotter said the young man collected cook books by James Beard, Craig Cliaborne and Julia Child and that he soon started cooking with him. Sometime during Trotter’s sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin at Madison the daily cooking adventure turned into a contest to see who could out do the other. On the weekends, their culinary efforts turned out elaborate four and five course meals.

After graduating with a degree in political science in 1982, he worked and studied in restaurants in Chicago before moving on to the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. He continued his quest for perfection at restaurants in Florida and Europe where he spent a year eating is some of the best restaurants in the world, many of them in Paris. Trotter said his 4-year culinary immersion finally led him back to Chicago 1985 where he set about looking for a location to open a restaurant. He eventually found an elegant 4-story row house at 816 West Armitage, in the Lincoln Park area, where after a year of planning and construction, he finally opened Charlie Trotter’s Restaurant.

Executive chef Mattias Merges said Trotter goes beyond just making a meal that simply tastes good.

“He says chefs can get too comfortable and get into a groove and create something that while it’s excellent, it’s not profound,” Merges said. “He’s [Trotter] more about being extra special, even transcendental, than merely being very good at something.”

The restaurant, which is built on the four fundamental pillars of food, wine, ambience and service, is not open for breakfast or for lunch. They open only for two seatings for dinner generally at 6 and 9 p.m. where guests are pampered with luxurious surroundings, exquisite food and fine wine and an unmatched level of service.

“Chef Trotter has dined in the many of the finest restaurants in the world, tasted expertly prepared dishes, sampled carefully chosen wines and watched the subtle dance between chefs, servers and guests,” chef Merges explained. “He quickly discovered that even the most exquisite food cannot make up for lackluster service.”

“We define service as being able to anticipate your every need, or I’m not doing my job,” Merges said. “I should know exactly what you need and have it in your hands before you realize you don’t have it. A lady came in recently and I noticed her body language suggested she was slightly chilled, so I brought her a shawl. We never want one need or care to go unmet while you are here. The great food and wine aside, it’s the little things we do that make dining here extra special.”

Pastry Chef Andrew Johnson says one of the other things that guests appreciate at Charlie Trotter’s is the quality of food that is prepared in a spotless kitchen by eighteen chefs each with specific tasks.

“Some chefs are responsible for the vegetables, some for the fish, some work the hotline and some on the meat line. I’m the head pastry chef and it’s my job to make sure our guests have fresh bread, baguettes, and all sorts of pastries made fresh everyday.”

Chef Merges added that all of the food is fresh every day. Except for ice cream, nothing is ever frozen.

“Our spontaneity in the kitchen allows us to take advantage of prime products from more than ninety purveyors who may have something to offers us at the last minute. It may be something like rabbit with an interesting parsley,” Merges said. “We look over our menu for the day and review what we have done previously with that combination and decide whether or not we can incorporate that element into our plans. Sometimes, we have to pass on a late offering, but many times we are able to make good use of whatever comes our way especially the seasonal offerings.”

From the exceptional food and wine to the regal ambiance with Zen-like tranquility and legendary service, every aspect of dinner at Charlie Trotter’s, who has set the standard for fine dining, is choreographed to provide guests with the ultimate culinary experience

Here, for example, guests are in the hands of a highly successful culinary school dropout who believes that food does not have to be rich to taste good. For that reason, he sauces with vegetable juice-based vinaigrettes, light emulsified stocks, purees and delicate broths and herb-infused meat and fish essences instead of using sauces rich in cream, butter and alcohol which tend to mute or block the basic flavors they are meant to support.

Trotter has written or co-authored more than a dozen books and hosted a PBS television series from his studio kitchen in an adjacent building where he introduced his singular vision of combining French techniques with Asian influence in an adroit exhibition of culinary prowess week after week. His books include: Charlie Trotter’s Vegtables, Charlie Trotter’s Sea Food, Gourmet Cooking for Dummies, Charlie Trotter’s Desserts, The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter and Charlie Trotter’s Meat and Game, among others.

If you’re planning to visit this Mecca of culinary wizardry, be prepared to wait. Reservations for a seat in one of the three dining rooms need to be made 3 to 6 weeks prior to your visit. Guests wanting a seat at the legendary kitchen table need to call 3 to 4 months ahead. Dinner jackets and ties are required here as is a healthy balance in your checkbook. Dinner at this bastion of epicurean distinction where inspiration leads to impeccable dishes ranges from three to five hundred dollars a person plus tax and gratuities. Additional wine depending on the vintage, of course, could run much more, in this fortress of gastronomic gentility.

Location: 816 West Armitage (the cross street is Halsted) in Chicago

On the Web at, charlietrotters.com

Reservation hours: Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are required.

Credit cards: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard and Visa.

Restaurant Seatings: Tuesday through Thursday 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Dress Code: Jackets required

The entire restaurant or the studio kitchen are available on Sunday and Monday for private events.

For a list of five places to find vacation discounts in Chicago, you should try a website, called VacationHotline.net, an online travel agency that offers travel booking and research services. The site allows you to research information on a trip you are planning to take and to book the desired vacation on the website. This website also provide links to other websites, with some of the hottest deals for traveling and vacations and the deals are sorted by the type of airline you travel by to the hotels and shopping centers at the desired destination. This site is a must-see for some hot and sizzling discounts for traveling to Chicago. Prices vary from location to location and from date to date, so make sure to check and book your vacation in advance for the best deals for vacations to Chicago.

Travelocity

Another site that offers its visitors hot discounts on vacations to Chicago is a website, called Travelocity, which is always running hot deals and promotions for vacationing in Chicago and you can choose from deals on flight and hotel, deals on hotel and car and escorted travel vacations. Travel booking is also available for this site and all you have to do is choose they type of vacation you desire the number of people participating in the vacation, input the requested departure and arrival info and if it is a round trip vacation, choose the return date and time as well. The site is easy to use and services a dedicated customer staff that will help you with any questions and/or concerns about you traveling needs. Prices vary from location to location and from time to time, so check and book your vacation in advance to get the best deals to Chicago.

Orbitz

This is another great travel and vacation booking site for those who plan to vacation to Chicago and also offers some hot deals on vacations to the “Windy City.” You can use customize your vacation search option and plan your vacation that way, by choosing the type of flight you desire, the departure and return dates, if you are taking round-trip vacation to Chicago. There are many different hotels and rental car agencies to make your reservations with and there are many places of interest to see in Chicago. For the best deals on vacations to Chicago, plan and book your reservations early and enjoy!

Priceline

You can find more great deals and promotions for vacations to Chicago on a website called Priceline.com. Pricleline.com is one of the premier sites for vacation booking, including to cities like Chicago and are always running promotions for those who like, no matter the budget, so you can have a good time, without the stress of paying for a huge vacation budget.

Travel.Yahoo.com

And another great site to find cheap travel is the site called travel.yahoo.com, which is always listing vacation discounts to Chicago. Some of the prices for vacation discounts are cheaper or the same than the other major travel and vacation sites, but unlike the other vacation sites, you cannot book vacation packages on the site either, however trave.yahoo.com does provide links to other vacation sites and you can book a vacation from there. The prices of the vacation packages differ from date to date and the type of packages requested and you may save $100 on a vacation package on one day and $500 on the next, but to guarantee in buying a vacation package at the lowest prices, book the vacation packages early and if the packages are not available on the date you desire, find the next best date, with the best price, to book your vacation package.

Now I’m not into touristy areas or big throngs of people, but Chicago’s Navy Pier tourist trap does offer FREE fireworks every Wednesday at 9:30 and Saturday at 10:15.

The best part is that you don’t have to go onto Navy Pier to see them, you can watch them from one of the many Chicago beaches or rooftops in the area. I personally recommend Oak St. Beach.

Local Chicago Radio Stations will also synchronize their music to the fireworks. I don’t know any

better way to end an evening than hearing Bruce Springsteen’s 80’s driving music to giant explosions over Lake Michigan.

Every tuesday in Grant Park the Chicago Park district projects some great movies… FOR FREE! Were not talking about lackluster B films that your friends enjoyed five years ago.

Heres a rundown of the lineup for this summer. All films start when the sun goes down, don’t forget a blanket and a cooler of beer!

The 2008 Movies in the Park lineup:

The museum of Contemporary Art isn’t chock full of hoity-toity tourist thinking they’re cultured (well maybe some.) The MCA is full of abstract displays, interactive art, video projections, audio rooms and a plethora of stimulation. This summer don’t miss the Jeff Koons Exhibit, which runs until the 21st of September.

Best thing about the MCA and the reason it made this list, is that it is ABSOLUTELY FREE every Tuesday, all day, all summer long.

So weather you’re into a string of christmas lights laying on the ground where the name placard seems to have more thought, or a giant room covered floor to ceiling with Vinyl records, the MCA is for you.

Just Walk east on Chicago Avenue until you see the car that appears to be wrecked into the building.

The Good Chicago Beach

The beaches around Chicago are great. The best part about them is that they are also free!

Many beaches are extremely overcrowded, such as North Avenue Beach. To find some better spots, and a place to actually lay out, try the north side of Montrose Beach or Foster Beach. These beaches are bigger than North Avenue and generally have about a quarter of the number of people.

Bring a cooler and make some sandwiches, or find some local vendors for a tasty regional treat.

Be careful of the water as well, Lake Michigan is known to have had incidents of high levels of mercury. So look out for three eyed fish and mermaids, but if your the adventurous type paddle on out and enjoy a dip. The lake is warmest in Late July and August.

The Baha’i Temple is in Cook County, but north of Chicago in the neighboring suburb of Wilmette. Hop on a bike and enjoy a day trip north along Lake Michigan’s biking trail then spend some time at the temple.

The Temple and grounds are gorgeous, standing 140 ft tall and made of white concrete and exquisitely adorned. Spend some

time walking around and don’t forget a camera.

You can visit the Baha’i Temple any day of the year, until around 7pm.

So get out there and enjoy summer, because activities are best when they’re free. And as Chicagoans know, nothing beats a Chicago Summer, but you sure pay for it in February with the cold.