Is your family joining you in Chicago? While you participate at conference, make their stay more comfortable and enjoyable with these great family resources for visiting Chicago. Activity bags for small children accompanying their parents to the conference are available at conference registration in the Red Lacquer on the 4th floor during conference registration hours.
MPSA Childcare Scholarships
MPSA offers Childcare Scholarships to help defray the hourly cost of childcare for parents or guardians that are current members of MPSA, registered and attending the annual conference in-person, staying at one of the Conference Hotels (Palmer House, Hilton Chicago or Hosteling International of Chicago). If you are a Chicago resident, you may request consideration, however you must meet all of the other guidelines to be awarded the scholarship. A limited number of scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. Childcare must be provided by a bonded and insured sitter service within Chicago, and not be the childcare costs a member is already paying on a day-to-day basis. Learn more and apply today for a Conference Childcare Award.
Hotel Kid-Friendly Amenities
Palmer House Hotel
Call (312) 726-7500 to add any of these family-friendly amenities to your reservation:
- Children’s Menu at Lockwood Restaurant
- Lockwood Express – Grab & Go favorites for any member of the family. Hours are 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- A limited supply of cribs, rollaway beds and highchairs are available upon request.
- Ice Machines are located on every floor.
- Microwaves are available on the 8th, 12th, 17th and 20th floors in the ice machine areas.
- Pool: Open Daily, 5:30-9:00 p.m.
- Concierge Desk (312) 917-3477
Chicago Hilton
Call (312) 922-4400 to add any of these family-friendly amenities to your reservation:
- Kitty O’Sheas restaurant features a children’s menu. Hours of operation are: Monday–Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. and Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Herb n’ Kitchen – on the go urban market. Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday: 6:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday: 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
- Cribs are free of cost and available. Roll-aways (cots) are $40 per stay.
- Ice machines are located on every guest floor.
- Microwaves are available in grab-n-go for guest use.
- Pool: Open Daily 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. To visit the pool, the Hilton Chicago kindly request that guests call the Fitness Center at extension 6800 or stop by the 8th floor to schedule a time. This allows us to manage peak periods and ensure guests can enjoy the pool without overcrowding.
- For assistance, instead of contacting the concierge, please dial “0” from any hotel phone to reach one of the Hilton Chicago operators.
MPSA Nursing Mothers’ Room
We have set aside a room for nursing mothers during the conference. If you wish to use the Nursing Mothers’ Room, please check in at the conference registration counter for room location and access information. Each day you will need to pick up a new key card from the registration counter as the room will be rekeyed each evening. The nursing mothers room is located only at the Palmer House hotel.
Accessibility and Navigating the Palmer House
The Palmer House is a nostalgic and historic property that has ornate architecture and design. The original Palmer House hotel in Chicago was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire on October 9, 1871, just 13 days after opening. A second hotel was completed in 1875 and the current third structure erected in 1925. As a result, the Palmer House is unique in that both the third and fourth floors have “half” floors, sometimes making it difficult to navigate. To assist attendees in traversing the Palmer House conference floors and rooms, floorplan maps and information on elevator and floor accessibility, as well as general accessibility information for those requiring accommodations can be found here.
Nearby Family Restaurants and Activities for Kids
Restaurants
This article features a list of family-friendly restaurants to make your family dining experience easier. An Interactive Restaurant Map with filters is available here.
Choose Chicago Concierge
Make the most of your time in Chicago with Chicago Concierge! This complimentary online service will guide you to the award-winning restaurants, attractions and retailers in town to help make your time in the city as memorable as possible. Type in keywords or select specific categories through the search engine to find an interactive map and list of suggestions. Upcoming Chicago Events can be found here and a Chicago in the Spring Guide can be found here.
MPSA Conference Attendees Receive 10% off Sugar Bliss
As a welcome to the Midwest Political Science Association to the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, Sugar Bliss bakery is offering conference attendees 10% off their order if they mention MPSA in store.
Sugar Bliss is located on the Wabash side of the hotel, near the shuttle buses.
The Sugar Bliss menu features freshly baked cupcakes (from classic Red Velvet to seasonal favorites), cake pops, handcrafted French macarons in a colorful variety of delicate flavors, cookies, brownies, and gluten-free and vegan baked goods, as well as a full coffee and espresso bar.
Chicago City Pass
The CityPass offers tickets to five of Chicago’s best attractions and saves you up to 50 percent off prices if purchased individually. This is not a group tour and is designed to allow independent touring. The CityPass includes admission to the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago, plus admission to three more attractions of your choice: Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour (Weather dependent), Field Museum, 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, or Centennial Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. Tickets are valid for nine days from first use and are $144 for adults and $114 for children. Short on time? They also offer Chicago C3 tickets, an option that saves you up to 30% on your choice of three attractions. For questions, visit their website at www.citypass.com or call (208) 787-4300, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Central Time daily. Visit the website: ChooseChicago.com for additional things to do, explore and to plan your visit. “Discover why Chicago has been voted the Best Big City in the country for a historic eight year in a row!”
Nearby Parks
Chicago Metro Map | Things to Do in Chicago
Millennium Park
241-299 E Randolph Drive, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 742-1168
Millennium Park is located on the east side of downtown, bordered on the west by Michigan Avenue, on the east by Columbus Drive, on the north by Randolph Street, and on the south by Monroe Street. Primary Chicago public transportation to the park is either the Michigan Avenue CTA bus #151, or the Red Line subway train, Randolph stop. Admission to Millennium Park is free, and is open daily from 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Lake Shore Park
808 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 742-7891
Lake Shore Park offers extensive outdoor recreational opportunities – including tennis courts, a quarter mile soft surface running track, softball diamonds, and a playground. Inside is a full-size gymnasium, a fitness center, and meeting rooms. Admission to Lake Shore Park is free, and is open daily from 6 a.m.. – 11:00 p.m.
Maggie Daley Park
337 E Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 552-3000
The former Daley Bicentennial Plaza site has been transformed into Maggie Daley Park, a magnificent lakefront recreation center. Visit maggiedaleypark.com to learn more about the park and all its features and center operating hours. Park Hours: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Park 574
2540 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612
This colorful play lot boasts fun for all ages. Big kids will love the zipline, 22-foot slide and pummel horses, while little ones will appreciate the rubbery surface, raised play structures and various things to climb on. Adults aren’t left out, either: There’s a walking path complete with fitness circuit equipment. When warm weather hits, there is also a natural stone water-spray area.
Looking for additional resources for the conference and/or your visit to Chicago?
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