12:30 p.m. -- Walk across the new 620-ft. bridge to Millennium Park for an al fresco lunch at The Plaza at The Park Grill, in the shadow of "the bean."

The Park Grill is located in a building not unlike the one that houses a Starbucks in Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park. But the real gem is The Plaza, the part of the restaurant set up like a giant beer garden, with tables under umbrellas, live music and a generally festive atmosphere.

The sandwiches and appetizers are reasonably priced -- especially considering the primo location -- and our pre-schooler's meal was just 50 cents. And a Stella Artois enjoyed with a meal in the warm sun in the bustling restaurant in a packed park -- there was also free music on tap at the nearby bandshell -- made for a really festive summer experience.

1:30 p.m. -- Walk east on Monroe Street and then south on Columbus Drive for a stroll through Grant Park, past the Buckingham Fountain to Shedd Aquarium.

With the first phase of renovations complete, the Buckingham Fountain looks really great and is the perfect spot for a family photo with the Chicago skyline in the background. Phase two is scheduled to start in autumn, so enjoy this chance to experience the fountain before the workmen arrive back.

2:15 p.m. -- This trip marked our second visit to the Shedd Aquarium, which has so much on offer that a single visit almost certainly won't suffice. So, don't try to cram it all in.

Kids will love the Polar Play Zone in the Oceanarium, with its views of darting otters and diving dolphins. They can also touch starfish in shallow pools and learn about the polar seas.

The Oceanarium is also home to the awe-inspiring, acrobatic dolphin show that clearly amazes adults and kids alike.

The Caribbean Reef greets visitors upon entry and when a diver jumps in to feed the vast array of marine life, he wears a microphone so he can explain what's going on. The 90,000-gallon circular tank affords face-to-face looks at a huge sea turtle called Nickel, moray eels, sting rays and all kinds of fish.

One especially memorable room is home to a group of Komodo dragons. After seeing it once, a year and a half ago, our pre-schooler is still talking about them.

4 p.m. -- From the Shedd, we cabbed it back to our ride -- at a cost of about $10, including tip -- and headed home.

Had we been traveling sans little ones, we might have stayed on for dinner, but on a weekday, with the kids, we decided it was best to get out of Dodge before the office workers hit the freeways.