The La Quinta will be too quiet on weekends -- it's in an office district without even fast food isn't available on weekends, and since it's the shortest building around (by far!) it doesn't have views. The Palomar looks quite nice (haven't been inside yet), is right next to the train, and has numerous restaurants and shops right outside.

Edit: if the boys like trains, go ahead and walk the extra few blocks to take the Brown Line at least once. The stretch from Armitage south is, IMO, one of the more scenic rail commutes in America; the Red Line around the hotel is in a subway tunnel for a ways in both directions.