The Windy City

The adults would definitely prefer Portillo's, but I'm betting the kids like Ed Debevic's better.

 

If you're in Romeoville, you're not far from where Route 66 turns and goes south. It runs along Joliet Road, then is partly wiped out by I-55, then reappears in Joliet. But be careful of some of the neighborhood there. The area around Silver Cross Field is reasonably good.
By the way, the Ryan (alongside Sox Park) is under construction and a holy nightmare. Get off I-55 (the Stevenson) and Damen, go south to 35th, then east to the ballpark.

 

On the north side of town, they have a great minor league baseball team. They play at a park called Wrigley Field.

 

Along Joliet Road (in Bolingbrook) is White Fence Farm, a humongous-ass fried chicken restaurant. Great, great food, lots of old-timey atmosphere, and the kids'll dig it. Dennis Hastert got fat at this place -- it was owned by his aunt for a long time.

 

No ketchup? That sounds un-American.

 

Putting ketchup on your hot dog can get you killed in Chicago.

 

Exactly why is that? Just curious.

(And I'm glad no one noticed that I put ketchup on my hot dog at Wrigley.)

 

Mustard, onions and relish with celery salt; that's a Chicago dog.

 

A bastard dog? I don't know. But it does sound intriguing. I may have to try one, but not in Chicago.

 

You might also want to hit the Art Institute, its kid friendly, and take a boat tour on the Chicago River, the kids will like the boat ride and you'll learn about the architecture and shit...

 

And trust me...

There's a lot of shit in the Chicago River.

 

I see Kane County and Joliet are both at home the week we'll be there. Both look like they have decent ballparks, good prices, etc.