Priceline Hotel: 4* Chicago North Shore (Deerfield) Hyatt Deerfield

[ktis]

First attempt at $50 came through, apparently the previous entry was at $46 so would have been great had I found this in advance. However the property still appears a bargain for $50.

Dates are January 2nd through January 5th, first weekend of 2014, hopefully Chicago weather will allow for some fun around a wedding.

We will have our kiddos, 7 and 5 years old, so any suggestions for family-friendly non-to-miss things would be highly appreciated. Before they came along we had done Shed Aquarium, but they are also into Children's Museums, zoos, Science Centers, and of course our 5-year-old daughter will need to find some time to hit the American Girl shop by the Water Tower, however otherwise we'd love kids-friendly suggestions. From prior entries around Chicago bids, folks appear to have a solid grasp on Chicago activities and offerings for families.

Thanks in advance. For the record, I paste below the Hyatt's amenities.

[AaronJB]

Congrats on your success. :)

This is a very nice property that was renovated a year or so ago. It is a little isolated in an office park area (Walgreens HQ is next door), but there's a number of shopping and restaurant options nearby.

A couple of thoughts in the North burbs within a moderate drive from Hyatt Deerfield:

1. Kohl's Children's Museum is a moderate drive South of your hotel in Glenview (http://www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org/).

2. The Chicago Botanic Garden is a short drive East of your hotel. There certainly isn't much going on outside in the middle of Winter (although you will sometimes come across flocks of birds and the gardens do have a winter-y beauty - although nothing like they are during the rest of the year), but they have exhibits inside and the Wonderland Express exhibit (http://www.chicagobotanic.org/wonderland for info) every year. They also have other events during the holidays. The only issue is that parking is $25 and the Wonderland Express exhibit does have an admission. There is no admission to get into the gardens in general. Given that there's not as much going on outside, it becomes expensive to go there primarily for Wonderland.

3. Wagner Farm (http://glenviewparks.org/index.php/facilities-parks/wagner-farm) is a real, working farm in the middle of suburbia in Glenview. Wagner is free and probably not going to have as much going on in the middle of Winter, but they do have some exhibits and other odds/ends. This would be a good quick stop not that far from Kohl's mentioned above.

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Otherwise:

1. At the museum campus, I'd suggest the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium, although if you go on a weekend I'd say get there early. The Shedd isn't as enjoyable when it's crowded.

2. Instead of Navy Pier Children's Museum, I'd suggest a combination of (if the weather cooperates) the Lincoln Park Zoo (free) and the Peggy Notabert Nature Center (which is a block or so North of the North entrance of the zoo.)

If you have any other city questions (restaurants, etc) please let me know.

Thank you for sharing your win and please use the site's PRICELINE or HOTWIRE links to start your purchases and searches.

Enjoy your stay.