destination chicago :: medieval times

I’ve mentioned before my love of Chicago.  It’s a great city, on the water, and a fairly easy drive for a lot of people!  We love hitting up museums and zoos, shopping and enjoying great culture.  And we also love getting out of downtown for a bit and just having fun!  And that’s what Medieval Times is.  Fun.  We recently spent an evening cheering for the blue knight as part of our family spring break trip.

Medieval Times is melds together a live-action show, a sporting event and a meal into one event.  My sports-obsessed son loved it as much as my theater-loving daughter.  My 3-year-old’s description of it as “Real My Little Pony” certainly didn’t seem accurate at all, but he loved it all the same.  I’ll give you a run down of what our night was like.  First, we pulled up to a huge castle.  In the style of 11th century medieval Spain, this setting made it seem so authentic.  We walked in and were given a crown the color of the knight we cheered for (go blue!).  We had time to check out some fun suits of armor, shop in the gift shops, have a drink and then head to our seats.

While we waited for the show to begin, our server brought drinks and was sure to spend some time going over the menu with me so I could be sure my son with multiple food allergies had safe options.  I checked ahead of time to be sure they could accommodate him and they had several options that worked for his restricted diet, so that was a huge bonus.  Our server was very cognizant of his needs and I was able to enjoy the show without worrying about his food.  And, while we’re at it, let’s talk food for a bit.  The dinner was surprisingly delicious.  And HUGE!  Soup, bread, chicken (tons of chicken!), potatoes, corn and dessert. All of that plus non-alcoholic drinks are included in your ticket price.  You will not leave hungry!  For our vegetarian readers, there are plenty of options for you as well!

And now for the show.  After a busy day in Chicago, I was worried my kids might be too tired to really get into the show.  But I was so wrong.  The knights are experts at getting the audience involved.  My kids were cheering and watching everything from the edges of their seats.  There were six knights competing in a 2-hour show and it was incredible how much these knights are able to do–from falconry and horsemanship to jousting and  weaponry, there was never a dull moment.  Each of us would choose something different as our favorite part.  My daughter loved the action and really got into cheering for the blue knight, my son couldn’t believe we actually got to see a falcon fly over our heads, my youngest son was most excited for the horses.  I just loved the whole experience and watching my kids have so much fun.  Have you checked out Medieval Times yet?  It’s definitely a must-do in the Chicago area.