For some, spring break might mean sandy beaches, fruity drinks, flip-flops, bikinis and perhaps an “oops, where’d I get that tattoo” here and there. But to me, it’s a matter of “School’s out; what can we do to prevent meltdowns, breakdowns and general chaos?” If your budget is kind of like mine (i.e. on the verge of extinction), a pricey flight is out of the question. A short car ride to a change of scenery is perfectly doable—and totally acceptable, if you ask me! And that’s what I have planned.

When I mentioned to my daughters that I was thinking of taking them to a hotel with an indoor pool, my 6-year-old started crying because she was so excited and said, with her shakey teary voice, “I love you, Mommy.” So…”thinking of” became, “I better do this or I will be dead mommy meat.” I considered a downtown Chicago hotel, but we’ve done that a few times. I thought about Key Lime Cove in Gurnee, which could be a whole lot of fun, except it’ll probably just be me with the girls and that would just have nerve-wracking craziness written all over it. Schaumburg has Legoland and is close to a few other attractions, but I wanted something even more low key.

The winner? Glenview. Glenview? Yes, Glenview. I picked the Staybridge at the Glen for its indoor pool and complimentary buffet breakfast and for its proximity to Wagner Farm. I’ve never been to Wagner Farm, but heard good things and you can’t beat farm animals for good, wholesome entertainment. If all else fails, I’m pretty sure the girls will be quite happy to hit some old faves: Kohl Children’s Museum and Make a Messterpiece. We’ll see how it goes!

Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler

CityPASS costs $76 for an adult and $59 for children, and the admission for the girls and I to the Museum of Science and Industry would have been $50 alone—general admission, plus an add-on to the super-duper Dr. Seuss exhibit. So paying for parking was no big deal, although my sister’s so resourceful that she found parking on the street.

She also got her crew out of the house so early that they were second in line for tickets—a queue that grew exponentially as the minutes went by. Lauren had wisely purchased their tix online, but the downside of the CityPASS was that I couldn’t buy add-ons (i.e. Dr. Seuss) via the web. Thus, our gratitude for Lauren’s early arrival. By the way, by the time we left, Dr. Seuss tickets were totally sold out and the line was monstrous. Yay for catching the worm!

It had been a while since I’d been to MSI and because it was CPS winter break, it was a merry mob scene. I lost Lindsey for a minute when she ducked into the “color room” at the Science Storms exhibit and, being the wanderer that she is, I was on constant patrol. Luckily, she was flitting around nearby most of the time.

MSI can overwhelm with its endless exhibits packed into that beautiful old building—the only remaining structure from the 1893 World’s Fair. As Lauren said, sometimes you just happen upon something unexpectedly, which is usually a welcome surprise. Mostly, though, we stuck to a few faves, plus Dr. Seuss, where we learned that Theodore Geisel was way more than one of the clever-ist kid lit writers of our century, but also an artist for ads and political cartoons, a sculptor and author of some racy books that didn’t see much of an audience. He also completed more than 40 whimsical, eerie, odd and sometimes provocative paintings that he hid in a room at his house, discovered only after his death. About half of them were on display. The funniest thing I learned about Theodor Geisel was that, though married twice, he never had children, but often talked of a made-up daughter named Chrysanthemum Pearl. Although the Dr. Seuss exhibit has vanished like a pink spot, you can still read about it on the MSI website. We even bought our over-priced photo memento of the Dr. Seuss experience—a new museum money-maker that also popped up at the Shedd Aquarium.

Another important MSI tip: Gather for lunch by 11:30. After that, on busy days, you’ll be thrown into a fray of desperate table-seekers, some of whom end up pulling up a spot on the floor. We had actually packed our own lunches, so no need to stand in lines for that—though, we marveled at the surprisingly reasonable prices in the food court.

After lunch, the kids stood mesmerized by the big silver pinball traveling its circuitous and circus-like path through the Swiss Jolly Ball, named the largest flipper machine in the world in 1988 by Guinness Book of World Records. We spent a lot of time in the cacophony of the “You” exhibit and hit the chick hatchery before calling it a day. Stopping at the gift shop was probably a silly decision, considering I put my foot down against buying anything, but it’s still fun to look. Next visit, we have to save time for the slick “Fast Forward…Inventing the Future.”

Tons of corny fun at the PlayLab

The second book I wrote for Globe Pequot Press, the Insiders’ Guide to Chicago, is a 336-pager covering everything from tourist hot spots to local hidden gems, from dance clubs to deep dish pizza. The chapter on Attractions and Museums features a sidebar about the Go Chicago Card and the Chicago CityPASS, whose senior director of communications and PR generously sent me three comped booklets to try out. Seriously, I have lived in Chicago for 14 years and have not had as much fun traipsing around to the museums as I did with my two little girlies and that CityPASS.

First stop: Field Museum. We arrived later than intended and, with every parent of a CPS kid antsy to get out of the house, I should have known: The line was a mile long and then some. I dragged Haley and Lindsey through the lobby for five minutes—wasting precious potential waiting time—to find someone to ask if our CityPASS would possibly, maybe, hopefully let us jump the line. I finally found someone who actually looked up at me. The answer? No. I was annoyed, but resigned to waiting. And we did wait, for about 15 minutes. But then our savior came in the form of the security guard (I guess she doubles as a ticket-taker). She was calling out for anyone with a CityPASS or Go Chicago Card. Surprisingly, there were just three of us privileged groups. Lo and behold, she scooted us right on through, saving us a good 15 minutes more of waiting. Score 1 for our little booklets! The only regret is that it all happened so fast and I was so excited, that I forgot to buy tickets for the special Whales exhibit. No problem, though; I knew we’d have plenty to see and do.

Beeline for the PlayLab. After stopping to pee (near miss for Lindsey), we hung up our coats and I marveled at how really quiet it was in there, considering the queue we just left behind. Maybe it was that the PlayLab regulars knew to stay away on such a crazy day and that the uninitiated didn’t know to find it downstairs, slightly removed from most other exhibits. Well, goody for us—or, at least the girls, who took full advantage of intermittently having the whole Corn Crib area to themselves. When other kids dared enter to play, they were decidedly put off, like these other children were intruding. I had to remind them that it was all to share and they couldn’t horde the corn. But I didn’t want to spend all day in the PlayLab, so we left our stuff in the coat room there (not sure if that’s allowed, but we did it and it was nice, and that’s all I’m gonna say), and we headed for Ancient Egypt where I promised we’d check out some real mummies. Haley is planning a mummy costume for Halloween next year, so I thought it’d be kinda cool for her. Ugh. On a busy day, getting into that exhibit means a slow crawl through a claustrophobic hallway. And when we did make it to our first mummy, I lifted up Haley to see it and her response: “Ewwww.” Yeah, well, old, tattered mummy material doesn’t look as cute as white toilet paper! She may be changing her Halloween plan.

After we browsed a bit more in Ancient Egypt, with me trying desperately to note the important things, we made our way over to the Underground Adventure, one of those ticket add-ons for “regular” people, but included in our trusty CityPASS. Score 2 for us! Honestly, the oversized creepy crawlies gave us the creeps and we didn’t stay too long, but I can appreciate the educational aspects of it!

We spent some time wandering and dodging crowds, stopped and duly gazed up at Sue, browsed a little through the Evolving Planet exhibit—they were, in fact, mesmerized by a video representation of life’s early bug-looking creatures—then to the Africa exhibit and back to the PlayLab. More corn crib, some dino bone-digging, music room to bang on some drums, back to the corn and out.

One key lesson learned at the Field—bring our own lunch! Lines at the McDonald’s and Corner Bakery were beyond ridiculous, so we made do with snacks from the vending machines. I let them get whatever they wanted due to my poor planning. Haley picked Cheetos and Lindsey chose fruit chews. Nice going, Mom. But no matter. Our first CityPASS experiment was a success. I barely winced when I paid for parking.

Getaways With Holiday Spirit

When the weather outside is frightful, it’s time for a change of scenery. But you don’t have to go very far to feel a world away.

Worth the Drive

At the Grand Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, less than two hours from the city, decking the halls means months of planning to create the annual, spectacular “Christmas in the Country” celebration—and it’s a total charm-fest. Trees and tinsel galore fill every floor of the Playboy Club-turned-resort and spa, while a display of animated lights lines the drive in. Bring your bundle-up gear for skiing and snowboarding on the resort’s 18 downhill slopes; ice skating; snowshoeing; and sledding. Through Dec. 23, you can take advantage of The Christmas in the Country Holiday Package that includes an overnight stay in a deluxe guestroom; two tickets for the “Hooray for Holidays!” musical; lunch or dinner before the show; a trolley tour through the resort; and admission to the Festival of Trees display and the Quilts of Christmas display. Rates start at $199. Or, starting at $262 per night, stay at the adjacent Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark with a package that includes four waterpark passes. If you can squeeze it in, the Well Spa is well worth it. Grand Geneva: (262) 248-8811, www.grandgeneva.com. Timber Ridge: (866) 636-4502, www.timberridgeresort.com.

Stay Close

Make your shopping trip a mini vaca with the beautiful Elysian Hotel’s Miracle on Walton Package through Dec. 30. The $465/night deal gets you in-room custom hot chocolate, in-room holiday-themed movies; and breakfast for two. And if you’re thinking the price is steep, remember, this classy stay was recently rated the No. 1 hotel by Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader Choice Awards. Just 10 guestrooms on each hotel floor insure intimacy and a welcoming sense that you’re definitely VIP. Spacious rooms feature mirrors that double as TVs, fireplaces, and 460-thread count Italian linens. And when you do hit the stores, leave your car and opt for a ride in a luxury Lexus.

The new JW Marriott’s Holiday Shopping Package makes shopping sweeter with its $100 Macy’s Gift Card, which you can also spend on lunch at the Walnut Room. The JW is a quick walk to Christkindlmarket, Millennium Park ice skating, and all of the State Street shopping. Packages range from $254 to $604 and are available through Jan. 31.

Just for a Day

Schaumburg. Yes, that’s right. Get over the fact that it’s Schaumburg and get out there for some major mall shopping. Check out www.shopwoodfield.com/shopping/sales_offer to find out who’s offering what sales. And if you need to put down the packages for some kid fun, make tracks to the Legoland Discovery Center for its Holly Jolly Holidays activities, including photos with a life-sized Lego Santa and snowman; Lego-tree trimming; the chance to help build and decorate a 10-foot Lego holiday tree; and make-your-own Lego ornaments (for a fee). On New Year’s Eve, they’re hosting a kid-friendly countdown. www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com. Family-friendly dinner deal: At the Rainforest Café, kids’ meals are $2.99 on Wednesdays after 5 pm.

No matter what you believe about the good or bad of war, the people who fight in them deserve a nod of respect. Pulled from my books, I’ve gathered five museums that honor, commemorate, celebrate and remember our veterans of yesterday and today:

1. Kenosha Civil War Museum. 5400 First Ave., Kenosha; (262) 653-4140; www.thecivilwarmuseum.org. Opened in 2008, this fascinating museum takes a look back at the influences on and effects of the Civil War. Artifacts from six Midwestern states include artillery jackets, hats and weapons. Board a replica train car and listen to personal stories from Civil War soldiers, nurses, doctors, clergymen and more; walk into buildings furnished as in 1860; and find out how the war back then changed lives today. Admission, children 15 and under free when accompanied by an adult.

2. National Veterans Art Museum. 1801 South Indiana Ave., Chicago; (312) 326-0270; www.nvam.org. When you first enter this museum, you’re struck by a clinking noise coming from overhead. You glance up to see what it is. And then you’re stopped cold. It’s more than 58,000 dog tags, imprinted with the names of the service men and women who died in the Vietnam War. Titled “Above & Beyond,” the sculpture is just one of the poignant and sometimes heart-wrenching exhibits of this unique museum, the only one in the world to focus on war through art. Founded in 1981 as a series of exhibits, the museum opened in 1986, and it broadened its reach in 2003 to showcase artwork by veterans of all wars. Admission $10; students $7. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Rock Island Arsenal Museum. Entrance at north side of Building 60, corner of Rodman and Gillespie avenues, Rock Island, Ill.; (309) 782-5021. Established in 1905, this museum is the second oldest U.S. Army museum in the country. The arsenal began production in 1862 and manufactured everything from leather horse equipment to canteens to artillery recoil. It presents a unique look at Civil War history with photographs and documents from the Rock Island Prison Barracks that held Confederate prisoners of war. In fact, there are two cemeteries on the island as well— a Confederate cemetery for POWs who died while there and a national cemetery for Union soldiers who died guarding them (call 309-782-2094 for more cemetery information). Small arms weaponry on display include five weapons used by Native Americans during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Open Tues through Sun (closed Mondays and federal and major holidays). Free. U.S citizenship and photo I.D. required to enter Rock Island for all visitors over 16 years old (foreign nationals may enter with pre-approval and registration).

4. Apple River Fort. 311 E. Myrtle, Elizabeth; (815) 858-2028; www.appleriverfort.org. About a 15-minute drive east of Galena is this replica of the fort erected during the Black Hawk War in 1832. The fort and cabins were rebuilt on their original footprint by volunteers, who toiled with the same tools and materials used in the original construction. Exhibits, a video, an interpretive center and a trail now tell the story of the Native Americans and early white settlers who fought here. Once a month, guided stargazing and Native American storytelling takes place here. Open Wed through Sun. Suggested donation.

5. Livingston County War Museum. 321 N. Main St., Pontiac, Ill.; (815) 842-0301; www.warmuseum.blogspot.com. Weapons, uniforms, medals and patches, letters, photos and more portray the triumphs, trials and tales of the people who have fought in wars since World War I through today’s battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. Have any questions? Just ask a volunteer staff member: Many of them are vets themselves and have plenty more stories to tell. Open Tues through Sun. Free.

Sorry to break the news, but the Wisconsin Cheese Originals Festival is sold out. So, make like a mouse and go sniff out your own wedges at these two favorite spots:

Babcock Hall Dairy Store and Plant. 1605 Linden Dr.; (608) 262-3045, (608) 265-4039. I scream, you scream, UW students all scream for Babcock ice cream. Here’s the scoop: This campus institution was built in 1951 as part of the university’s Department of Food Science and is considered the oldest university dairy plant building in the country. Besides ice cream flavors like the Union Utopia (vanilla with peanut butter, caramel and fudge) and the Badger Blast, a chocolate-lover’s dream, the plant also gets kudos for its cheese, including award-winning aged gouda.

Dane County Farmers Market. Locations change seasonally: Early January through mid April: at the Madison Senior Center, 330 W. Mifflin St.; mid April through early November: at Capitol Square; mid-November through mid-December: at Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolan Dr.; (608) 455-1999; www.dcfm.org. Ask any local what the best things about Madison are, and this farmers market inevitably tops the list. The friendly folks from Hook’s, Farmer John’s Cheese, Chula Vista, Bleu Mont Dairy and other vendors will happily satisfy your cheese cravings.

For more about Madison and more than 45 other cities within about three hours of Chicago, check out Day Trips from Chicago

Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler

As if it weren’t luxurious enough, Kohler, Wisconsin, hosts a Food & Wine Experience, and it’s just around the corner. It presents a weekend of fancy fare from local and international chefs alike; cookbook signings; food and wine tastings; demos and seminars. Past celebrity chefs have included Graham Elliot, Sara Moulton, and Bryan & Michael Voltaggio. (866) 847-4856.

After indulging in your just desserts, chillax at the Kohler Water Spa where you’re pampered in the latest and most soothing of Kohler baths and showers. Of course, there’s a full menu of stress-reducing massages, manis and pedis, and get-in-tune-with-your-inner-self services. Just know that the best pool is communal, so be sure to pack more than your birthday suit.

Find out more about Kohler and more than 25 other quick-drive getaways in Day Trips from Chicago

In a sidebar to my chapter “shops, drops & danish rolls,” which covers Gurnee, Illinois; and Kenosha and Racine, Wisconsin, I also include a sidebar about Long Grove, tucked in among McMansions and suburban sprawl, and one of my favorite Chicagoland destinations. Not particularly grand or influential, Long Grove, Illinois, began as the crossroads of two Native American paths and developed in the early 1800s as a German farming town. Long ago, Long Grove residents decided to preserve their historic buildings, their cobblestone walks, and their old-fashioned sensibilities. Today, dozens of independently owned boutiques and restaurants make their homes in restored structures, plaques mark the many landmarks, and the village practically overflows with charm, especially during its annual festivals, like the upcoming Long Grove Apple Festival. The apple doughnuts taste as good as they smell.

Blueberry picking in South Haven

Our sixth year in South Haven has come and gone. Shorter than desired for the Drake family thanks to the  “track E” school  Haley attends now. But we made the most of the 3-1/2 days we spent, ticking off traditions that have grown each year—our annual, made-up “ukie” day that’s all about satisfying our sweet tooth; our beachfront cookout; and bowling. One year when it rained for three days straight, we found a bowling alley and went there twice. Now my nephew actually hopes it’ll rain so we can go; it usually does. This year, I’m proud to report that I scored higher than the 5-year-olds (last year, I did not). Of course, the bumpers help them, but what helped me this year was a review of last year’s footage! I just happened to be browsing back at old photos and saw one of myself in bowling position. My arm was launched across my chest instead of straight. No wonder I got gutters nearly every time! This time? Two spares! I sympathized with my sister, though, because it was her year of gutters.

I think my favorite South Haven must-do is blueberry picking. On a beautiful sunny morning, we headed to DeGrandchamp Farms U-Pick, rubbed on the sunscreen, strapped our plastic bag-lined buckets around our waists and set to work. The staff pointed to two rows of bushes that were available for picking and my first thought was, “Just two?” In the past, it seemed like the entire orchard was up for grabs. I wondered if there’d be enough for everyone and suddenly felt a flutter of competition with the other pickers. It didn’t take long to realize there were plenty of berries to go around. So many that just touching a branch would send several pitter-pattering to the ground. Still, when I saw one woman with two buckets filled to the brim and looked down at mine half-full, I thought she might have found the motherlode and hung around her for a minute picking berries from the bush she seemed to be coveting. The kids all had buckets too, though for every one in the bucket, two wound up in their mouths. But that’s part of the beauty of it. And the feeling of getting just slightly lost from the rest of your group as you wander down the row seeking out the plumpest and bluest of berries. The feeling of simply getting lost in the delicious task. When we combined bounties—four kids and five adults—we had more than 10 pounds of blueberries in varying shades and all sizes. The last of my take went into a scrumptious recipe for blueberry crumb bars. A little vanilla ice cream and it’s perfect.

Our trips are captured and commemorated each year on camera, with one wrap-up photo of all of us. We’ll add another next year.

You can find out more places to go, eat and stay in the book I wrote that includes 25 “Day Trips from Chicago.” This link takes you to Amazon, but if you order a copy from me, it’s just $10 and free shipping.

Amish Acres is hosting its annual Arts and Crafts Festival; catch the tail end this weekend. And while you’re there, check out what else you can check out on this “Day Trip from Chicago”: [Note: the link will take you to Amazon, but I can sell it to you for less--see below!]

* Bonneyville Mill, Indiana’s oldest continuously operating grist mill

* Heritage Trail Driving Tour, a self-guided 90-mile loop through Amish Country

* Countryside Shingle Shoppes Tour, a map of mom-and-pop shops that dot the Amish countryside

* Das Dutchman Essenhaus, a dining experience of the home-cooked all-you-can-eat kind

* Mullet’s Dining, an intimate meal cooked personally by the Mullet family (leave a message at the community phone and they’ll let you know if there’s room at the table): 574-773-2140