Anonymous wrote:The lake is about 60-120 minutes from O'Hare, depending on traffic in the evening. And the closest lake locations, if you go there, you'll want to take your bikes off the rack and lock them up somewhere. Do not leave them for a second on your car without them being locked.

The hope/plan was to ride bikes, so we'd have them with us. I had considered spending time in the area near the water around the W Hotel (e.g. Ohio Street Beach) where I'd stayed a few years ago (wouldn't ever stay at that place again, but I digress). The beach, park and trail seem to be 1/2 hour from O'Hare. Since I hadn't been there in awhile I wasn't sure whether it was a viable / reasonable option.

Anonymous wrote:Head to Oak Park, look at the Frank Lloyd Wright houses and picnc in a local park. 40 minute drive to OHare from there. Evanston would work too.

This sounds exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately i posted and received your response a little too late. We just timed it to hang out at the O'Hare Oasis for a little under 2 hours. Will likely make a trek this way again next year, so this is useful. Thanks!

Head to Oak Park, look at the Frank Lloyd Wright houses and picnc in a local park. 40 minute drive to OHare from there. Evanston would work too.

The lake is about 60-120 minutes from O'Hare, depending on traffic in the evening. And the closest lake locations, if you go there, you'll want to take your bikes off the rack and lock them up somewhere. Do not leave them for a second on your car without them being locked.

Driving about 6 hours to Chicago tomorrow. Spouse, joining us for part of a roadtrip, will arrive at O'Hare in the evening. Looking for place to hang out for a few hours in Chicago before spouse's plane lands. Have upper ES kids with me, and bikes on car rack. It doesn't have to be a touristy area. Would be nice to have a picnic at a park on the lake or even in the city, and let the kids expend some energy before we continue our trek west. We are not spending the night unless my spouse's plane is very late.