What're some fun things to do in Chicago/North of Chicago for a young Navy married couple?

You will be near to the Metra UP-North commuter rail line. This is the train to take if you want to go from Waukegan to downtown Chicago, for downtown you can buy a one ride ticket for $6 or a 10-ride pass for $48(tickets are less for shorter trips) you and your husband can share the 10 ride pass. On the weekends(Sat & Sun) there is an unlimited rides pass available for $7 each. Check the Metra website. The trip to Chicago takes about one hour and 15 min. Once you reach downtown you will find many things to see and do, see some links below. Also, June 10,11 &12 the Chicago Blues Festival will take place downtown in Grant Park. Closer to Waukegan you can also reach these attractions by Metra UP-N, Illinois Beach State Park: Take the Metra Train north to the Zion, IL Station, walk south from the parking lot to 27th St., walk one block east to Deborah St., walk 2 blocks south to 29th St. From here take the bike trail to the left into the park and to the campground which is about a 1.2 mile walk from the Zion Metra Station. The bike trail makes a short loop around the north end of the campground and then heads south along the shoreline to the Park Office. Chicago Botanic Gardens:The Garden is located near the Braeside Metra train station on the Metra Union Pacific North Line.Once you arrive at the Braeside station, you can walk to the Garden. Or take a cab by calling the 303 Taxi Cab Company at (847) 729-0303. From the Glencoe Metra station take a trolley or a PACE bus to the Garden. Ravinia Festival: Train stops at Ravinia's Tyler Gate (Ravinia Park stop). Use Braeside and Ravinia stops as alternatives when Ravinia Park stop in not in service. The Ravinia Park stop is made only during the summer concert season. a href="http://www.ravinia.org/" rel="nofollow"http://www.ravinia.org//a To get from Waukegan to Six Flags Great America or the Gurnee Mill Mall take Pace Bus 565: a href="http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_detail.asp?RouteNo=565" rel="nofollow"http://www.pacebus.com/sub/schedules/rou…/a Check the attractions online to see if they interest you. If you use trains and buses make sure to check in advance for return schedules, especially later at night.