For active kids, summer is the best time to run around, play games and have fun with friends. A sports-focused summer camp program delivers just what they crave. It’s a bonus if the summer camp encourages learning, growth and fun — and the opportunity to gain skills across a wide variety of sports. Canlan Sports, a play-focused brand with four locations in Illinois, offers FlashFit Kids Summer Camps for youth aged 5-11 in Barrington and Libertyville. At this innovative summer camp, kids build a foundation for lifelong enjoyment of physical activity while they practice teamwork, and connect wit ..read more

Going on the hunt for the perfect cookie is no easy (or low cal) feat. While there are a lot of tough contenders in the Naperville area, we’ve rounded up the best spots for cookies in all varieties. Whether you like a standard chocolate chip or something more extensive, we’ve got you covered. Read more: Best Things to Do with Kids in Naperville Half Baked Goodness Address: 2863 95th St., Naperville While Half Baked Goodness serves about half a dozen cookie varieties, chocolate chip cookies are their specialty. With the perfect balance of a slightly crispy exterior and a soft, chewy center, t ..read more

In the South Suburbs, Tinley Park shines as a charming destination. Families can enjoy a variety of parks, playgrounds and other kid-friendly attractions for all ages. The town comes alive throughout the year with big events such as their free Tinley Park Music in the Plaza series or the beloved Benches on the Avenue art display. For special holidays, you can also attend their Boo Bash and Irish Parade.  Including great schools and real estate opportunities, Tinley Park can easily be a spot any Chicagoland family can call home.  This article was recently updated on May 8, 2024 by Chi ..read more

A kaleidoscope of bright butterflies have landed at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park!  Coinciding with their recent rebranding efforts, the museum launched Flight of Butterflies at the end of April. The sculpture exhibit tells stories of conservation and local art through 30 beautiful butterflies, each decorated with a unique design by a local artist. Quick details about Flight of Butterflies Courtesy of Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum April 2024-September 2025 Where: Some of the sculptures are currently on display at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Drive, Chi ..read more

For a brief period this month, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, is bringing together a trifecta of entertainment across both of its theme parks. Disneyland regularly hosts special festivals at the park for Halloween and other holidays, but this is one of the rare times of the year when visitors can experience two festivals at once. Read More: Disney World Costs for a Family of 4 Might Surprise You This year’s Pixar Fest and Seasons of the Force feature two beloved franchises — Pixar and Star Wars — through over-the-top food and meet-and-greets with characters never seen before in ..read more

For many, the name “Lycée Français de Chicago” evokes images of a school filled only with fluent French speakers. For a Chicago-area family looking for an international high school experience, you may be wondering how it could possibly be a good fit for your English-speaking student. Don’t let the name fool you, says Eric Veteau, head of school for the Lycée Français de Chicago (LFC). “The only French word you need to know to attend our school is ‘croissant’ and that’s because we serve them in our school cafeteria,” he says of LFC, whose high school is located on a beautiful Ravenswood campus ..read more

A soon-to-be mother’s first call after a positive pregnancy test might not be to her family or friends – it might be to a daycare to get her unborn child on a waiting list.  “Finding child care is so hard and I was so naive about how early you have to start looking,” Rachel Wallner, a Chicago mom of two, says. “I started looking in March, and my baby was due in July, and by the time he was four months old and I needed care, there was still nothing.”  Wallner’s experience is maddeningly common. For parents with a ticking clock for returning to work and without family help, finding car ..read more

Despite all of her business successes, Monica Royer says it wasn’t until her daughter was born 13 years ago that she started to have a clearer vision of her purpose. “Suddenly you think, oh, my gosh, everything that you do is suddenly centered around wanting to make things better for them (kids,) wanting to be able to share things with them, whether it be experiences or education or whatever those things are,” says Royer, the founder of Monica + Andy, the popular baby clothing and essentials brand that helped her build a community for parents that celebrates different parenting journeys withou ..read more

The Umbrella Sky Project has returned to downtown Elmhurst for its second year. The whimsical art installation features three colorful canopies that cover pedestrian walkways and green spaces.  Through mid-September, families can take a scenic (stroller-accessible) stroll through downtown Elmhurst and gaze up in wonder at the colorful displays. The route is just over half a mile and takes visitors through the charming downtown. Quick details about Umbrella Sky Project Photo credit: Nikki Roberts Locations: Schiller Court at Schiller and York Streets; Cultural Campus at 110 South Cottage ..read more

It’s a tough time to be in the market for a new house. But as peak homebuying season begins, homebuyers are starting to have at least some negotiating power—especially in markets that recorded large price growth over the last few years. The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose above 7% at the start of November 2022, the highest level in more than a decade, as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rates to combat inflation. Today, rates remain at historic highs; even half of a percentage point change can significantly affect the monthly payments required for a mortgage. Read More:  ..read more