Next weekend our Daughter will be here in Chicago for a few days visit.
I'm trying to find a short trip that checks most boxes.
We would like to include my Sons family that consists of 2 adults, 3 kids ( 2 1/2, 4, 3month old). The kids would love a indoor water park or glorified pool. Myself, my Wife, and Daughter would be happy with a good bar overlooking water and a good restaurant to enjoy.

Would be great to be within 3hrs drive from Chicago.

Suggestions?

Something on South Bass Island? Put in Bay?

If Put-in-Bay is on 3 hours from Chicago table, I’d stay at the Breakers Hotel at Cedar Point and go to the water park there. It’s 4 1/2 hours from Chicago more or less depending on what one considers Chicago to be.

New Buffalo to Benton Harbor area is always nice. I don't know of any water-parks, but there's some nice bars and restaurants.

About 3ish hours

Checked out Cedar Point and found the Castaway Hotel with an indoor water park.
The bad part is the reviews are not very good.
I will keep looking.
I will also keep looking for Michigan Hotels on Lake Michigan in the Benton harbor area. Any Suggestions there CPD SIG?

Don’t go to Benton Harbor (high crime and run down). Instead stay on the nice side of the river (St Joseph).

I have a relative who has a boat in St Joe and it’s nice. We always eat at Clementines and enjoy. Don’t know about water parks. They have a nice beach called Silver Beach.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Echo that on Benton Harbor. Was nice back in the day.

Used to have family in Ludington. Beautiful area. SS Badger still runs across the lake. I have spoken to the Badger's caretaker by phone, he makes custom shotguns. Four hours from Chicago. Getting chilly for water parks.

I’d almost be more inclined to drive a couple more hours north and go to Traverse City, there’s a great wolf lodge there. I’m within 15 minutes of Cedar Point and I wouldn’t recommend any of it, it’s trash anymore plus it’s 5.5 hours from Chicago also

That’s a shame about Cedar Point. Last time we were there was when Steel Vengeance was new. We stayed in our camper in the campground there for the eight years before that. The year before that we stayed in the Breakers Hotel. We were also there before Memorial Day each time, so that probably had a lot to do with our positive experiences there. Those northern kids are still in school.

Grew up in St. Joseph, but haven't been back in a while. Nice things to do based in Downtown St. Joseph are stroll/shop downtown (lots of small shops, restaurants) and visit Silver Beach and walk out on the pier to the lighthouse. There are a bunch of small downtown museums to consider, although (I believe) the Curious Kids Museum is closed this week, which is a shame as it'd have been great for the youngsters.

Beach/lake. Not sure 2022 water temperature, but in my memory the lake had become too cold for actual swimming before late September. If you're thinking of swimming in the lake, check for actual real-time water temps.

Benton Harbor: Downtown area - just drive through and keep going, as mentioned above. Crime rate is high in town, and not effectively policed.

Restaurants: Clementines: Great place, world-class onion rings. Wife and I were just discussing their onion rings at lunch today. A hidden gem high-end restaurant: Tosi's, in Stevensville about 10 min south. If you go to Tosi's, save room for dessert.

Other unique things, not far away. If you're willing to go maybe 40 miles north, Saugatuck is a delightful little town with artsy shops, etc. A bit farther north, Holland MI has a lot of Dutch influence.

Warren Dunes, in Bridgman maybe 20 minutes south of St. Joseph, on Red Arrow. Great sand dunes.

Boy, those kids are young to need a full waterpark, no? I'd think a reasonable resort pool with some features would entertain sufficiently and adults won't suffer having to be in a water park.

Look at Lake Geneva, WI, maybe hour or 90 minutes north. Downtown, restaurants, resorts, beaches, boat tours, etc...

As I posted in the original post I'm looking for an INDOOR water park or Large INDOOR pool for the little kids. No body wants to sit out on a beach in October and I doubt that any outdoor pools or water parks are even open after Labor Day up here.
Lake Geneva is always an option, for that matter the Wisconsin Dells hits all the boxes except scenic. We have had many trips to the Dells.
I'm hoping to abandon our usual list and go East of Chicago this time.
I like the Put in Bay Ohio suggestions but have to check what is going to be open the first weekend in October and when the Ferry boat stops service or reduces hours.
I have always enjoyed our trips to Michigan and may choose a trip there depending on what I find out about Put In Bay Ohio.

One of the better vacations I had was Grand Haven and Holland MI. Not all that far NE of Chicago. Nice and clean w/ cool lakefront and light houses and shops.

South Haven, Mi
Grand Haven, Mi