SchaumburgUnited States of America

Located northwest of Chicago’s downtown in the golden corridor of Illinois, this suburb is a welcome break from the traffic of the big city. Take some time off and pamper yourself with shopping, body spas and gaming arcades. Rent a car to get around with ease.

First time visitors will not want to miss the enormous Woodfield Mall, a “super” shopping mall that attracts nearly 30 million visitors a year. Spend a few hours in this world of designer stores, restaurants, food courts and entertainment. Visit the PIX 5-D cinema, a 5-dimensional movie theater where you can feel the movements of the film. Movies change monthly, so check the website for details.

Kids will love the LEGOLAND® discovery center. See LEGO® replicas of the Chicago skyline, life-sized LEGO® jungle animals and build and test your own LEGO® racer. In north Schaumburg, let children roam through Jump!Zone, an indoor jumping castle complex. Explore the nearby FireZone that has firefighting themed activities for children and authentic fire trucks.

Head to the Spring Valley nature sanctuary to take a calming stroll through more than 130 acres (52.6 hectares) of reclaimed prairie-land in the middle of suburbia. The nature center here provides maps, activities, and snowshoes for the winter snow. Treat yourself to a relaxing spa or stone massage at one of the day spas in Schaumburg.

Discover the area’s art heritage at the Trickster Art Gallery, which exhibits Native American works. Take a stroll through the Chicago Athenaeum Sculpture Park to see spectacular pieces from around the world. The outdoor museum features sculptures displayed amongst 20 acres (8 hectares) of forest, prairie and meadows.

In the evenings have dinner and a laugh over stand-up comedy at Chicago Improv or the Laugh Out Loud comedy club. Dine at Medieval Times, a combined restaurant and theater where performers joust and act out stories from the age of knights and kings. Whatever you choose to do, there’s something for the whole family in this exciting village 30 miles (48 kilometers) from downtown Chicago.