Bring the kids! While they may not be interested in IPEDS or the significance of the beta weights in a regression analysis, there are several activities in and around Chicago they will enjoy.

A sunny day means a walk or cab ride less than a mile south of the Forum’s Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers to Millennium Park, where kids can marvel at British artist Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture or chase the water spray from the giant faces of Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain. These two activities are fun for kids of all ages!

Less than a mile east of the Sheraton is Chicago’s Historic Navy Pier, with both indoor and outdoor fun. Pier Park features a permanent 150-foot-high Ferris wheel, a musical carousel, an old-fashioned swing ride, an 18-hole miniature golf course, and more. Take a ride on the AeroBalloon or enjoy a two-hour guided Segway tour of the Chicago lakefront. Inside Navy Pier, kids can enjoy activities at the Chicago Children’s Museum, or experience the fun of Amazing Chicago’s Funhouse Maze, where they can navigate through the Mirror Maze, stumble through the Spinning Tunnel, and stomp out the Great Chicago Fire.

A cooler day may mean a trip to one of the many Chicago museums. About a mile and a half south of the Sheraton (or about five minutes by cab), is The Art Institute of Chicago, with family activities available in the Ryan Education Center.

A mile further south is Museum Campus, where kids can dress as penguins at the Shedd Aquarium, see the world’s most famous T. Rex. at the Field Museum of Natural History, and launch into the outer reaches of space at the Adler Planetarium. Before you arrive in Chicago, be sure to check out the Chicago City Pass, which gets you into five Chicago attractions for one price. The museum Web sites list the current exhibits which may interest you.

Further south is the Museum of Science and Industry, about 8 miles or a 15 minute cab ride from the Sheraton. One of the largest science museums in the world, it is home to more than 35,000 artifacts and nearly 14 acres of hands-on exhibits designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity. It boasts permanent exhibits like the Coal Mine, along with temporary exhibits such as You, the Experience.

No visit to Chicago is complete without a trip to the Skydeck of the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower), a world-renowned building and a Chicago icon. The third-tallest building in the world, it remains the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall. But don’t stop there – dare to stand out on The Ledge of the tower and experience the city from 103 stories above ground for an unobstructed view of the city below. At 1,353 feet up, The Ledge’s glass boxes extend 4.3 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor, providing never-before-seen views of the city and a most memorable finale to your family’s fun in Chicago.