Sunday is usually a do laundry, clean the house, get groceries and be lazy in between all of those chores type of day for my family, but during the summer we make exceptions. After all, we do live in Chicago and we have to take advantage of any delightful weather that comes our way.
A Place to Eat
Thai Little Home Café
638 E. Golf Road, Arlington Heights
Want to know where the best Thai food in Chicago is? Arlington Heights! I grew up eating at Thai Little Home Café when they were on Kedzie and Lawrence in Chicago. My family would go there every Sunday! We absolutely loved the place, but then they moved all the way to Arlington Heights.
Our favorite dishes there for the kids are chicken egg noodles, fried rice, chicken satay and beef tomatoes with bell peppers. Mmm, so good. I also love their Thai iced coffee, red curry and spicy shrimp fried rice. You also have to try their fried whole red snapper with green chilies! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
A Place to Play
2500 W. Lunt Ave., Chicago
One of my favorite places to take the kids on a summer Sunday is Indian Boundary Park. I grew up going to this park every few weeks so we always looked forward to it since it wasn’t just our local neighborhood park.
The playground structure is made of wood and resembles a castle, giving it a unique look. The kids love it because there are lots of hiding places in it making it perfect for a game of hide-and-seek! The park is fairly large with lots of open space for flying kites or throwing a Frisbee around without getting in anyone’s way. There’s also a small pond which usually has turtles and ducks swimming around in it.
Best of all during the summer though, is the sprinklers. My kids love to run in the water, get soaked and then dry up while playing in the park again. Ahhh, the life of a child.
A Place for a Rainy Day
723 W. Golf Road, Des Plaines
Party Time Palace is a place the kids love to go to when we are forced indoors. It’s a large indoor play place with arcades, laser tag, bouncy houses, train station, a mechanical bull and miniature golfing.
They change their games up often to keep things exciting and the kids love their prizes. There are lots of rooms for private birthday parties and the staff is super friendly. We also like the fact that their pizza comes from Papa John’s, not frozen box pizza like some other places. I admit that I have a love/hate relationship with this place because the kids never want to leave.
A Place to Grab a Treat
Lickity Split Frozen Custard & Sweets
7000 N Western Ave, Chicago
After a long day at the park we will usually treat the kids to some dessert at Lickity Split. This cute and spunky sweet shop is right around the corner from Indian Boundary Park.
Whether it’s a cold and creamy custard, a home baked cupcake or even some old school candy that’s hard to find anywhere else, you are sure to find something there that you will like. There is some seating inside and outdoor seating along the side of the shop, as well.
A Place for Me Time
Old Orchard Mall
4905 Old Orchard Center, Skokie
My husband is usually off on Sundays so when I want to do some quick shopping, I like to go to Old Orchard Mall. The kids love the newly renovated play area, so it makes it so much easier to just drop them and my husband off there while I do some shopping.
The play area consists of soft padding, grass-like hills, a maze, slides and lounge chairs for parents. My husband hates shopping with me so he can sit and relax while the kids play and I have some me time. It’s a win-win situation. Surrounding the play area is Epic Burger, Noodles & Company and Blaze, so if anyone gets hungry there are three options for the kiddos nearby.
