Living in the Northwest has to be the best location ever. The cost of living is low, housing is somewhat cheap, and we get to experience all of the fun things that Chicago, which is about an hour and a half away, has to offer. Not only does Chicago currently house the 2015 Stanley Cup, it is the number one spot for night life, and the culture is amazing too! They have tons of amazing restaurants, China town, theaters, shopping, river boat tours, sports teams games, breweries, a cultural center, architecture walking tours, and more!
But Chicago is just not for adults. When it comes to children, Chicago has opened it doors to become a family fun vacation spot. They have museums, zoos, parks, ice cream parlors, a Ferris wheel, family centered attractions, and more. Today I am going to feature five of my favorite things to do in Chicago with kids.
Chicago Children's Museum
Open Sunday-Saturday
Admission: $14 for adults and children // children under 1 free // seniors $13
*First Sunday of every month- children under 15 are free
Best suited for: children of all ages
Located at the wonderful Navy Pier, the Chicago Children's museum features a variety of hands-on exhibits that are great for children of all ages. And since you are already at Navy Pier, you can take a ride on the Ferris Wheel or do a little shopping.
Shedd Aquarium
Open Sunday-Saturday
Admission: (varies by exhibit type) General admission gets you into the aquarium, but does not include the dolphin show. Cost: $8 adults, $6 children. There are two other ticket options, but the best priced one is the total experience pass which includes access to every exhibit is $37.95* adult & $28.85* children *online pricing They also offer special experiences like shark feeding, penguin encounter, trainer for a day, etc. See details here.
Best suited for: children of all ages
Located by Solider Field & off of S Lake Shore Drive, the Shedd Aquarium features a variety of aquatic type animals including dolphins, penguins, fish, sharks, jelly fish, belugas, turtles and more. It's a great way to get "up close" with sea life that you would never have the chance to do so anyways.
Lincoln Park Zoo
Open Sunday-Saturday
Admission: Free to public *must pay for parking
Best suited for: children of all ages
Located off of Lake Shore Drive, the Lincoln Park Zoo may be small, but it packs a punch; and it's free. They offer many interactive exhibits for guests of all ages. Animals featured at the zoo include birds, sea lions, swans, small mammal & reptiles, wolves, owls, bears, beavers, and more. The zoo also features a farm-in-the-zoo, so children living in the city can become acquainted with farm animals.
Museum of Science and Industry
Open Sunday -Saturday
Admission: General museum entry is $18 adults and $11 children 3-11, but actual ticket pricing depends on how many exhibits you want access to, ie. entry and three exhibits for adults is $36, and children is $25.
Best suited for: children 3 and up
Located on Lake Shore Drive, the Museum of Science and Industry is truly a great interactive experience. They house many different exhibits, including a U-505 submarine, coal mine, a 3D printing lab, a Pioneer Zephyr, Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, a farm world, the great train story (which includes 20+ mini trains ran on 1,400 feet of track) and more. Also now for a limited time: Robots!
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Open Sunday -Saturday
Admission: $13.50- $17.10, and they ask that you buy online to ensure your admittance to the center (they only allow a certain number of people in at a time).
Best Suited for: children 3-4 and up
Located 25 miles from Downtown Chicago, in Schaumburg, the LEGOLAND discovery center features a 4D cinema, a Duplo building area, a build and test Lego racers area, factory tours, laser ride, a miniland Chicago with all the major landmarks in Chicago build out of over 2 million Legos, and more.
Have you ever been to any of the places?
Where else would you recommend?
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