Chicago Children's Museum
700 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
312-527-1000
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday
Cost: $6.50 adults, $5.50 seniors and children
Hands-on fun is what the Chicago Children's Museum is all about. Children will marvel at the three-stories-tall "Climbing Schooner," a replica of an 1850's sailing ship. They can become innovators in the "Inventing Lab," dedicated to the science of flight. The "Waterways" attraction invites kids to suit up in rain gear and try to dam a waterfall. And the many dinosaur lovers of the small set will be happy to take the "Dinosaur Expedition" to Niger in West Africa.
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark Street, Chicago
312-742-2000
Cost: Free; $7 per car to park
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the few places in the country that children can observe a handful of rare endangered species, including the Siberian Tiger and Grevy's Zebra, among the zoo's 1,200-animal collection. A large part of the zoo's emphasis is education about preserving these rare and beautiful creatures in the wild, and children will get that message loud and clear. Classes and tours are available, and young ones may especially enjoy the Farm-in-the-Zoo, a kid-friendly "farm" at the zoo's south entrance.
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
312-939-2438
Hours: June-August, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; September through May, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Cost: $11 adults, $9 seniors and children aged 3-11
The Shedd's signature exhibit, the "Oceanarium" replicates the coastline of the Pacific Northwest, and children can marvel at the antics of sea otters and the majesty of whales, dolphins and harbor seals. More than 8,000 aquatic animals make their home at the Shedd, which offers a variety of educational programs.
The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
312-922-9410
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Cost: $7 adults, $3 children aged 3-17 and students with ID
Kids will find themselves especially welcome in the "Life Over Time" area of the museum, which explores the weather changes over the course of the earth's history and the development of single- and multi-celled animals. Many "please touch" displays are available. Elsewhere, young dinosaur lovers will marvel at Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered, which is being painstakingly removed from the surrounding rock.
Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Cost: Free
Hours: November to May, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; May to October, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday-Saturday.
Home to the Chicago Children's Museum, the Navy Pier offers a long list of other attractions to interest young people. Kids will be delighted by the sheer size of the 3,000-foot pier and the magnitude of its offerings. A 150-foot Ferris wheel offers thrills and an incredible view of the downtown skyline. Children can lace up a pair of rented ice skates at the ice rink, or might enjoy going along on a narrated sightseeing trip on one of the many tour boats. And twice a week in the summertime, a fireworks display explodes over the pier.
Sears Tower
233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago
312-875-9447
Cost: $8.50 adults, $6.50 seniors, $5.50 children aged 5-12
Hours: October-February, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m daily; March-September, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily
Nothing will make a kid feel taller than standing 1,353 feet above the ground, and that's the height of the newly renovated Skydeck at the Sears Tower. If kids tire of the grand views and historical exhibits, move on the "Knee-High Chicago," a just-for-kids display that's positioned four feet high. Kids will also get a thrill from the 70-second, 103-story elevator ride.
