Family fun in 'the Windy City'

(ARA) - If planning a family vacation has always been a struggle for you, make this the year you travel to a city where there's something for everyone, all in one place. Chicago has a lot going for it.

"Kids" of all ages will enjoy a visit to The Field Museum where Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found, resides. The museum also has an Egyptian exhibit featuring a replica of a pharaoh's tomb.

For the little ones, there's Chicago's Children's Museum. Its centerpiece is a three-story replica of a schooner. Kids can climb all the way to the crow's nest and pretend they are searching the shores for treasure.

Those who are into the arts will especially enjoy a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago, which features one of the world's premier collections of French impressionist paintings outside of Paris.

And sports fans can find something to do all year round too. The city has a pro football team, the Chicago Bears; two pro baseball teams, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox; a pro basketball team, the Chicago Bulls; and the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team, which has won three Stanley Cups.

No matter what you decide to do, there are plenty of travel deals to be had thanks to the recession. In fact, many of the Chicago hotels are offering great rates right now. After months with high vacancies, they are eager to get guests back in their rooms.

To get to Chicago, you can either fly into O'Hare, which is located in the suburbs, or Midway Airport, which is closer to the city. O'Hare typically has better fares, but because it is closer to their ultimate destination, many travelers who plan to stay in the city choose to fly into Midway.

Rental cars are readily available at both airports. Plan far enough ahead and you may find rates as low as $20 a day for an economy car.

The weather is typical of what you'd expect in the Midwest. Cool in the spring and fall, cold in the winter and warm in the summer. The warmest month of the year is July with an average high of 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest month of the year is January when the average low is 18 degrees Fahrenheit.

Courtesy of ARAcontent