Family
It’s not too late for a summer staycation in Chicago
Chicago shines in the summertime. Beach days at Lake Michigan, patio dining, music festivals, Cubs games, and blue skies are just a few of my…
Amy Bizzarri
Amy Bizzarri is a freelance writer specializing in family fun and travel, a Chicago public schools world language teacher, and an avid reader. She lives with her two kids – a tween boy and a toddler girl – in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Follow Amy and her adventures in Chicago and beyond on her personal blog, AmyWrites312.com.
18 posts by Amy Bizzarri
Arts, culture & entertainment
Spring break in Chicago: 7 ideas for springtime family fun
Spring is perhaps the most beloved season for Chicagoans. Animals at Lincoln Park Zoo wake from their long winter’s sleep, sidewalk cafes open for business…
Tours & attractions
6 unique tours of Chicago that go off the beaten path
A guided tour can be a great way to see a new city – but most only cover the major sites and attractions. If you’re…
Arts, culture & entertainment
Take a dip at The Beach Chicago at Navy Pier
WHAT: The Beach Chicago WHEN: Jan. 19 – Feb. 3, 2019 WHERE: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Ready to hit the beach…in January…in Chicago? Yes, you…
Tours & attractions
Winter at Navy Pier: 8 things to do
If you think Navy Pier only shines in the summertime, think again: Chicago’s top family tourist attraction is just as wonderful in the winter. From…
Special events
Where to see Santa in Chicago
You can catch Santa all over Chicago during the holidays. He might be feeding hay to his reindeer at the Lincoln Park Zoo, sipping hot…
Arts, culture & entertainment
7 great books set in Chicago
Chicago has been the backdrop of both modern and classic literary works. And in many cases, the city acts as both the setting and a…
Family, Hotels
Deck the halls! 7 best hotels in Chicago to see holiday decor
Chicago’s hotels go all out for the holiday season, making for a magical winter getaway. From grand trees festooned with gilded ornaments to a gingerbread…
Arts, culture & entertainment, Dining
7 unique Chicago picnic spots
Summer in Chicago calls for as much outdoor time as possible, and picnics under the shade of a tree or beneath the starry sky are…
Free & cheap, Sports & recreation
Summer outdoor fitness in Chicago
No one relishes the sunshine and blue skies more than Chicagoans. We take everything outside during the summer months, even our workouts!
Arts, culture & entertainment, Dining
World in a city: Chicago’s culturally diverse neighborhoods
In a nation of immigrants, few cities reflect our nation's rich melting pot better than Chicago. From Chinatown to Pilsen, and Greektown to Little Italy, immigrants from countries around the world settled into these culturally familiar enclaves back in the 19th and 20th centuries. They remain just as vibrant today, with bustling cafes, restaurants, museums, public art and more.
Arts, culture & entertainment, Dining
3 classic Chicago-invented cocktails and where to find them
Chicago is all in on the cocktail craze, with some of the best mixologist and cocktail lounges in the country. But it wasn’t until Prohibition…
Family, Hotels, Sports & recreation
Chicago’s top 5 kid-friendly hotel pools
Traveling moms and dads know that a good hotel swimming pool is key to a fun family vacation. Forget seeing all the sights in town:…
Arts, culture & entertainment, Museums
4 amazing summer adventures at Chicago’s lakefront Museum Campus
Chicago’s Museum Campus is a 57-acre park located alongside Lake Michigan and is home to 3 beloved city institutions: the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium,…
Arts, culture & entertainment, Family, Sports & recreation, Tours & attractions
Chicago’s best bowling alleys
Chicago is a great city for a bowling match: from classic, hand set lanes with pinsetters of a bygone era to sleek, modern bowling lounges,…
Dining, Family
Chicago’s best pizza parlors
Chicago is my kind of pizza town: pizza parlors offer some of the best pieces of the pie in the world. From one of our…
Architecture & history, Hotels
Chicago’s most historic hotels
Why stay in an ordinary hotel when you can stay in a historic Chicago gem? Step into the lobbies of any of these history-filled hotels…
Family
Top 3 family-friendly Chicago beaches
We’ll be spending a lot of time on big, beautiful Lake Michigan this summer. My kids must be part fish: the are oblivious to the…
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