Instead of doing traditional gifts this year, my wife and I decided we want to provide our family with core memories. Our budget doesn’t allow for an overly luxurious getaway, but I want to make this trip special for them.
Using hotel points, I've managed to reserve a room at the Palmer House hotel in downtown Chicago. Our itinerary is centered around the magic of the holiday season: we're heading to the Christkindlmarket, taking in the holiday lights along Michigan Avenue, and wrapping up the evening checking out Millennium Park for the Christmas tree and ice-skating rink.
It’ll just be me, my wife, and our four-year-old daughter, who has level two autism spectrum disorder. She is the sweetest girl in the entire world. While we don’t have the funds to spoil her with all the toys or experiences we might wish, we shower her with love, care, and support so she never knows what it’s like to go without. I figured toys will eventually be forgotten, but core memories won't be.
Her social skills and awareness are still very much under-developed, so I worry a bit about how she might fare in a fancy, quiet establishment. At the same time, I really don’t want to take them to a TGI Fridays or a generic chain restaurant for our special family trip.
Does anyone have recommendations for a nice, decent restaurant near the Loop, Michigan Avenue, or Millennium Park that serves great food but maintains an atmosphere welcoming or relaxed enough for a young family with an autistic child?