This is a listing of a few possible day trips you can make from Chicago.

North:

The Chocolate Box is located at: 725 Elm Street, Winnetka (847-881-2844). It is 15 miles north of Chicago in one of the North Shore's most affluent suburbs. This small business sells the finest artisanal chocolate in American made by its accomplished pastry chef and owner, Mary Bodach. Chocolate Box also sells the fresh chocolate creations of Andrew Shotts, Fritz Knipschildt and other top chocolatiers. Located amidst restaurants and shops, Chocolate Box is a great destination to combine with lunch or a day of shopping.

Chicago Botanic Garden  1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe,  IL 60022  ( 847-835-5440 ) . It is 20 miles North of Chicago.  Huge botanic garden with a lot to see. 

The town of Gurnee, about 45 miles north of the loop, is well known for two attractions - the huge Gurnee Mills shopping mall and Six Flags Great America with its awesome collection of coasters and new water park.  If you are visitng the area on a summer weekend, you can also enjoy the Bristol Renaissance Faire on the Illinois / Wisconsin state line.

Milwaukee  is about 85 miles north of Chicago and has its own set of attractions as a large city.

West:

For the kids, the Chicago Zoological Society in Brookfield, a short distance west of Chicago, is one of the country's largest and is particularly known for its enclosed habitats.  It is also one of the relatively few zoos to have okapis, an animal once described by the Chicago Tribune as looking like it had been designed by a bunch of Chicago aldermen.

A nice day trip for shppers to to take I-88 west to Aurora and then head north to the Geneva (not to be confused with Lake Geneva, Wisconsin)  / St. Charles area.  Both villages are very lovely and quaint with a number of upscale shopping and dining venues.  If they prove too pricey, head instead to the Chicago Premium Outlets in Auruora to visit one of the areas largest outlet malls.

Northwest:

The Illinois Railway Museum off of I-90 in Union is a wonderful collection with a lot of rolling stock.  Many special events and train rides on summer weekends.  Both the big and little kids will love this one.    Further west on I-90, about 90 miles from the Loop, is the city of Rockford which boast a number of sightseeing attractions.

In a slightly more northerly direction, you can stop at the antique shop filled town of Richmond before heading to the Lake Geneva area in southern Wisconsin, a popular getaway for Chicagoans for 150 years.

Southwest:

Starved Rock State Park  is a popular hiking and picnickking location.  It is 100 miles west southwest of the loop.

 East:

The southern and western shores of Lake Michigan are popular summer beach spots for Chicagoans.  Check out the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

Further afield, in Michigan, is the popular  New Buffalo Area.