Parents, this one is for you! We just get past the Winter holidays and it is time to start thinking about Spring Break. Sometimes, flying off somewhere warm or distant is not in the cards due to budget, work restrictions, or other priorities. Where can we go in the Midwest to have a fun family time and still fit into the restrictions of money and time that we might be facing? Not to worry, I have suggestions below for you complete with where to stay, what to do and where to eat. I have done the work for you. You just need to make your reservations and pack your suitcase. Many of these locations are ideal for a long weekend and some could be stretched into a week long stay for extra relaxation:
- Rosemont, Illinois
- Hocking Hills, Ohio
- Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- Quad Cities, Iowa/Illinois
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Rosemont, Illinois
I used to think of Rosemont as a place to stay before flying out of O’Hare International Airport. However, in the last many years, the opportunity to choose Rosemont as a family fun packed weekend has become more obvious. Skip the Chicago traffic and take advantage of the proximity of Rosemont’s many amenities.
Where to Stay –
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare is a great choice for a family of any size with a large variety of room types and sizes. This substantial hotel offers a few dining choices onsite, a spacious, beautiful lobby/common space, and proximity to everything in Rosemont.
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago O’Hare Rosemont offers two room configurations that allow for up to six people in a room at no extra charge while providing the division of space. Also enjoy the indoor pool, free breakfast and complimentary evening reception.
What to Do –
- Rosemont hosts many events and conferences. Check your dates at the Allstate Arena and the Rosemont Theatre for current happenings.
- The Parkway Bank Park is the center of entertainment. Not only does it host events, the development features several restaurants along with the B1G Ten Experience, iFly Rosemont, King’s Dining & Entertainment, and much more.
- The Fashion Outlets of Chicago are dreamy mixture of nearly every story you can think of and tons of places to eat or snack in between shops.
Where to Eat –
- For a special night out where parents can enjoy high quality food and kids will leave happy, try Calucci’s, a Rosemont legend.
- You will find lots of national and regional chains in Rosemont. Why not take the opportunity to enjoy some Chicago style pizza at Giordano’s or D’Agostino’s Pizza in neighboring Park Ridge
- Technically crossing into Chicago, but only ten minutes away, check out SuperDawg Drive In which has been serving Chicago dogs, milk shakes and more since the 1940s.
Hocking Hills, Ohio
Hocking Hills State Park is located just under an hour South of Columbus. Although Ohio borders both the Midwest and the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, creating a beautiful pocket of sandstone and shale caves, rock formations, waterfalls, and gorges. The park hosts visitors year round on its trails with beautiful vistas and dramatic landscapes. The park draws in those looking for a relaxing or adventurous experience and surrounding community offers more to fill your time beyond the park.
Where to Stay –
- Hocking Hills Cabins & Resort is a great option for families with a variety of cabin configurations. The cabins offer hot tubs, cozy interiors and modern amenities.
- Trickle Creek at Hocking Hills offers a variety of cabin configurations with modern amenities and rustic, wilderness themed furnishings.
- Hocking Hills State Park Lodge offers cabin rentals, but also hotel rooms if something less rustic if your preference. The Lodge also offers indoor/outdoor swimming, hot tub, fire table rental, and proximity to park amenities and activities. The onsite restaurants offers guests convenience too.
What to Do –
- Hiking is an obvious choice is a state park. Whether you are seasoned or a beginner, there are lots of trail options. If you are interested in shorter hikes with a lot of features, consider the Upper Falls to Lower Falls portion of the Buckeye Trail (1.2 miles), Ash Caves Trail (.5 miles), or Broken Rock Falls Loop (1.0 miles). All of these connect to longer trails and you can easily download them with the AllTrails app for a fee. You can also download a trail map here. There is also a neighboring state preserve called Conkles Hollow and a state forest called Hocking State Forest with more places to explore.
- The park offers other opportunities to explore including the John Glenn Astronomy Park, Naturalist Programs, disc golf course and the Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center
- If shopping is a past time you enjoy, visit these specialty stores. Hocking Hills Candle Works for candle shopping and workshops. Adventure Pro Outdoors has all of the supplies and rentals to make your outdoor experience the best. Visit Fox Adventures for a great selection of books, gifts and toys.
- If you are looking for a guided adventure, there are tours on foot, boat and horseback available in the area.
- Scenic routes targeting motorcycle tourists on the Windy 9 offer suggested maps for to drive and associated suggested stops along the way.
Where to Eat –
- Although not a restaurant, you can find lots of goodies at Laine’s Dutch Country Store
- For lunch or dinner, try Home Tavern. They have an affordable menu with several kids options.
- Treehouse, Treats and Treasures will leave everyone with a smile. They offer ice cream as well as a wide variety of candy.
- The rustic Lake Hope Lodge offers beautiful views and an intriguing menu that feature entrees from their hickory pit barbeque.
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Where to Stay –
If you are going to the Dells in March or April, you are going to want to pick an indoor waterpark.
- Wilderness Waterpark Resort is HUGE with multiple water “rooms” that are all connected so you won’t have to get cold. There are three different hotels attached to the waterparks and one off site hotel that offers more scenic backdrop and shuttling. Choose from rooms with a wide variety of amenities from multiple bedrooms, kitchens, pool side access, etc.
- Kalahari Resorts‘ claims to be America’s largest indoor waterpark with tons of rides and slides. The property offers standard rooms to multi-bedroom villas and an off property lakeside option.
- Great Wolf Lodge is a family favorite. The amenities do steer toward a slightly younger demographic of children. The visit is always magic with traditional rooms, suites, and themed suites.
- Different than the rest mentioned, Natura Treescape Resort offers guests unique configurations in a “tree top” environment. Although they do not offer any water park options in the colder months, this is a fun way to save by staying offsite while still having a unique experience.
What to Do –
If you stay in one of the listed indoor waterpark hotels you will have no shortage of activities on hand. That doesn’t mean there is any less to do beyond the doors in the greater Wisconsin Dells.
- One of the most raved about attractions in the Dells is the Rick Wilcox Show which features a magic and comedy act. The show is truly family friendly and beloved by all ages.
- When visiting in the “off season”, you can set up a private tour at Timbavati Wildlife Park to enjoy up close interaction with several animals, a very special experience.
- Don’t miss a stroll down the Riverwalk on the Wisconsin River. It’s a chance to get away from the excitement of the tourist attractions and have a break in nature.
Where to Eat –
- Go to Huckleberry’s Ice Cream and Bakery for your sweet treat fix.
- In downtown Wisconsin Dells, visit Dells Bistro for three meals each day. Everyone will enjoy the pizzas, sandwiches and bubble waffles.
- Indulge in all the melty, gooey-ness at the Mac and Cheese Shop. They feature sandwiches, salads and various styles of mac and cheese.
- Moosejaw Pizza & Brewing Company is a Wisconsin Dells favorite. The basement is home to a big arcade that the kids will love.
Quad Cities, Iowa/Illinois
Where to Stay –
Since the Quad Cities is made up of four (actually more) cities, knowing where to stay can be confusing. Depending on the activities that interest you, here are some suggestions by city/location:
- Davenport, Iowa: For a more urban feel, stay in downtown Davenport at the Hotel Blackhawk. This Autograph Collection property has a long history and is very beautiful. With a gorgeous indoor pool, onsite restaurant and variety of room configurations, Blackhawk is a great family choice.
- Bettendorf, Iowa: Cambria Hotel is located at Bettendorf’s newest development. The hotel is next door to a huge sports complex with an arcade, restaurant and bowling alley. There are several restaurants surrounding the hotel.
- East Moline, Illinois: Hyatt House and Hyatt Place are newer hotels that are part of a larger development. They are close to a few great restaurants and offer a lounge/restaurant with a great view of the Mississippi. This is a great spot to view Bald Eagles earlier in the year.
What to Do –
- You might want to bundle up a bit, but take the bike paths lining both sides of the Mississippi River. You can cross the I-74 bridge on foot or bike. It can be fun to travel between states this way.
- The Quad Cities are home to several great parks. Check out Scott County Park, VanderVeer Botanical Center, Sunderbruch Park
- If your family enjoys museums, visit the Bettendorf Family Museum, Figge Art Museum, or Putnam Science Museum.
- If you are in downtown Davenport, travel up the SkyBridge for another view of the Mississippi River. Plus, kids love to run up and down the “bridge to nowhere”
Where to Eat –
- LoPiez Pizza has a location in Analog Arcade in downtown Moline. Kids are allowed before 9PM to enjoy all of the throwback and new arcade games at a fraction of the cost of modern arcades. The pizza is worth the visit on its own; just head to the back of the space to order at the counter.
- Lagomarcino’s has been serving ice cream, candies and lunch since 1908. You can even place an order for some specialty treats to go.
- Monarch is a contemporary American restaurant that borders on fine dining. This is a delicious, special night out for kids that can tolerate it and parents who love to dine.
- The Tangled Wood is a sprawling indoor/outdoor restaurant. In nice weather, enjoy a game on the giant screen on the lawn. All year round, this family friendly restaurant serves a variety of apps, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and barbeque.
Kansas City, Missouri
I recommend staying near the Country Club Plaza area or Downtown/Power and Light District of Kansas City. Both give you walkable options for food and entertainment and offer beautiful hotels to consider.
Where to Stay –
- Hotel Kansas City is a gorgeously renovated property located between several of the suggested activities below. The hotel first opened in 1922 and the common spaces are an homage to that era. The rooms are beautifully renovated and offer a variety of configurations to fit your needs.
- If you want to be in walking distance to all of Country Club Plaza, choose the Fontaine Hotel. The interior is plush and modern. Enjoy breakfast in their solarium and additional onsite dining.
- A more budget minded option near the Plaza is the Springhill Suites. You will also enjoy a patio with fire table, indoor pool, free breakfast and flexibility for bigger families.
What to Do –
- If the weather warrants some time outside, consider the Kansas City Zoo which is located about 15 minutes from the Plaza area. They have a new aquarium coming in 2023!
- Near the Missouri River, you will find the City Market open daily with a farmers market on the weekends. In the same area is the Arabia Steamboat Museum which is a time capsule of a steam ship that sank in the 1850s with all of its contents now on display.
- Union Station is home to multiple attractions including a science museum, miniature train display, planetarium, and various exhibits.
- In the same area as Union Station, visit Penn Valley Park to run around and enjoy the 175 acre park. It is also home to the National WWII Museum and Monument which claims to be the most comprehensive collection of WWII memorabilia.
- Not far from the areas mentioned above, is the Hallmark Visitor Center, which is interesting for parents and small children. It is situated in a larger mall area and nearby the Sea Life Aquarium and Legoland Discovery Center which are also destinations that will appeal to smaller kids.
- The Nelson Atkins Art Museum is highly rated and in proximity to the Plaza area. This free museum is expansive and considered by many the best art museum in the Midwest.
Where to Eat –
- While visiting the riverfront area, visit KC Taco Company or Pigwich for a yummy, quick lunch.
- If you visit the Nelson Atkins Art Museum, grab lunch at Rozelle Court. The environment of an Italian Courtyard compliments the art museum experience.
- To indulge in some Kansas City barbeque, try Q39 Midtown or Jack Stack Barbeque Plaza
- Boulevard Brewing has been a staple of Kansas City since before microbrewing was cool. The major brewer now has a beer hall where you check out their widely and not so widely marketed beers while grabbing a bite
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Where to Stay –
- Great Wolf Lodge is near the Mall of America and the combination of the two will make you super parents. It can be a fun way for one parent to head to the mall while the other entertains the kids at the waterpark too.
- Radisson Blu is connected to the Mall of America and offers a variety of rooms including a “family stay” connected two queen rooms. The common areas are sophisticated and the rooms are modern and sleek.
- If staying downtown and you want a luxurious experience, choose the Hotel Ivy. There are a variety of room configurations to suit smaller families. The property is focused on providing experiences for their guests and the attention to detail perfectly illustrates this.
- A great budget conscious and family flexible option downtown would be the Element Minneapolis Downtown. Several rooms easily accommodate families of more than four people and provide extra amenities like kitchens.
What to Do –
- Located about twenty minutes from downtown Minneapolis in Bloomington, the Mall of America continues to entertain all ages with the countless shops, entertainment experiences, and dining options.
- The Minneapolis Skyway System routes throughout downtown. This is fun to explore and great for inclement weather. Use the interactive map to see how attractions and restaurants connect.
- Grand Avenue in St. Paul is 25 blocks long and full of historic homes, small shops and restaurants.
- If a museum is of interest, try the Minnesota Children’s Museum or Museum of Science of Minnesota, both in St. Paul. Unique to this area, the Mill City Museum defines the power of the Mississippi and the area’s position in the flour industry.
- Fort Snelling is a great visit for those who like history and a place for kids to work off some energy. Learn about Minnesota’s interesting position in our history from the standpoint of this site rich in unexpected history.
- As with most larger metropolitan areas, Minneapolis/St. Paul features many event venues. Check the events calendar for your dates to see who might be performing during your visit.
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Minnehaha Regional Park is home to Minnehaha Falls, a 53 foot waterfall. If you brought along bikes, this is a great place to enjoy them!
- Another opportunity to spend time outside is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden near downtown.
Where to Eat –
- Tavern on Grand is a great spot for walleye (a Minnesota favorite) and is located along the Grand Avenue mentioned above.
- While in Minneapolis, you have to try a “Jucy Lucy”, hamburger with cheese inside the patty. You can decide if the original is from Matt’s Bar or the 5-8 Club, both claim it.
- Visit the Midtown Market and enjoy a variety of delicious food stalls.
- Downtown, grab a bite at Pizza Luce Downtown or celebrate German heritage at Gluek’s.
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