This is the third in my series about places to go when you have the kids in Chicago for the weekend, the day or just the afternoon. There’s lots to do in Chicago but not a lot do with kids. Hopefully, these articles will help you find a place to enjoy your quality time with your kids.
Being divorced or separated means making the most out of your time with your kids. You’re not with your kids all the time and your primary relationship is with your kids. It is your responsibility to be as engaged as possible with your children when you have them. You cannot be engaged with them while they’re playing video games in the next room. Take your kids out, make some memories and take some pictures. I’m not just a lawyer, I’m also a dad.
Chicago Children’s Museum is located in the Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. Navy Pier is a massive pier right off of downtown Chicago which has all sorts of tourist attractions like Ferris wheels, theaters and weekly fireworks shows.
A children’s museum isn’t really a museum with artifacts and little placards explaining what you’re looking at. A museum is “hands off.” A children’s museum is a casual learning environment that actively encourages people (especially children) to touch and interact with the exhibits.
The exhibits are typically reproductions of something a grown-up would do like have a boat or a fire truck. There are art rooms and play places.
As a parent you follow your child from room to room as they play in each exhibit for about 15 minutes. Your kids will be done and tired in 2 to 4 hours.
This is a great way to keep your kids busy and active on a cold Chicago day.
Children’s museums are for really young children. At about age seven a children’s museum will no longer have the same appeal.
The Chicago Children’s Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 10 AM to 5 PM (8PM on Thursdays)
Admission price is $ 14.95 for both adults and kids. Veterans and active duty military receive free admission.
Thursdays from 5PM to 8PM is free for everyone.
A year’s membership to the museum is $ 145. This is a good deal if you have a lot of kids but unless you plan on going to the museum every month, you’re probably better off paying as you go. The membership doesn’t even include parking which is $ 15.
You’re going to need to park because there is no direct public transport except for the # 124 bus which goes from Union and Ogilvie train stations to Navy Pier.
After the children’s museum there are lots of restaurants and activities at Navy Pier. The surrounding neighborhood, Streeterville, is mostly high-rises, hospitals and bars. It is not especially kid-friendly so I wouldn’t recommend exploring. If it’s a nice day, there are numerous kid friendly parks just south of the museum.
The Chicago Children’s Museum is just 1.6 miles from my office in downtown Chicago. A map is attached below.
