27 days in Chicago and Beyond Itinerary

Bring the kids along to Anderson Japanese Gardens and Kishwaukee River Forest Preserve. Change things up with these side-trips from Rockford: The Eagle's Nest Art Colony Collection (in Oregon), Three Oaks Recreation Area (in Crystal Lake) and Moraine Hills State Park (in McHenry).

For maps, photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Rockford trip planner.

Dusseldorf, Germany to Rockford is an approximately 15-hour combination of flight and car. The time zone difference when traveling from Dusseldorf to Rockford is minus 7 hours. While traveling from Dusseldorf, expect a bit warmer days and about the same nights in Rockford, ranging from highs of 33°C to lows of 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 14th (Fri) early enough to drive to Utica.

Kick off your visit on the 15th (Sat): stroll around Allen Park, indulge in some personalized pampering at SaltTreeYoga, then look for gifts at Starved Rock Hot Glass, then walk around LaSalle Rotary Park, and finally immerse yourself in nature at Matthiessen State Park. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: see the interesting displays at Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum, then take an in-depth tour of LaSalle County Historical Society & Museum, and then admire the majestic nature at Silver Springs State Park.

To find where to stay, other places to visit, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Utica trip tool.

Drive from Rockford to Utica in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and taxi; or do a combination of bus, shuttle, and taxi. In July, plan for daily highs up to 32°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Chicago.

Kids will enjoy The Art Institute of Chicago and Boat Tours & Water Sports. Get out of town with these interesting Chicago side-trips: Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (in Lake Forest), Naperville (DuPage Children's Museum & Centennial Beach) and Prairie Wolf Slough (in Highland Park). Next up on the itinerary: engage your brain at Museum of Science and Industry, ponder the design of Buckingham Fountain, stroll around Millennium Park, and get to know the resident critters at Lincoln Park Zoo.

To find more things to do, photos, traveler tips, and tourist information, use the Chicago trip itinerary planner.

You can drive from Utica to Chicago in 1.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of taxi and train. In July, daytime highs in Chicago are 33°C, while nighttime lows are 22°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Thu) early enough to travel back home.