This is number nine in my series of things to do with children while you’re parenting alone in Chicago, Illinois. Whether you are divorced, separated or just alone for the day with the kids, I hope these posts can be a guide of things to do with your kids in a city that isn’t set up for kids, Chicago.
Often enough you might find yourself wanting a quiet, relaxing day when it’s your turn with the kids but they’re too pent up with unused energy or you may want to do something active but the weather is less than favorable. Fortunately, Chicago is very diverse and there are more than enough options for you and yours.
One of these wonderful locations is the Amazing Chicago’s Funhouse Maze located right in the middle of Chicago’s famous Navy Pier. Along with the many other attractions at Navy Pier, Amazing Chicago’s Funhouse Maze is a 4,000-square-foot attraction filled with all sorts of wonderful adventures such as Rainbow Tunnel, Funny Floor, and the Mirror Maze and also scenarios such as Time Freak and Atomic Rush. Personally, the Mirror Maze sounds like a blast. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the hilarious YouTube clips parents get of their kids fumbling their way through the mess of mirrors, so this is a great chance for you to build some of those memories for yourself.
This attraction is indoors and climate-controlled so its great for the cold of winter or a rainy day. If you prefer not to walk, the FREE Navy Pier trolley stops right outside their door. The site is wheelchair accessible. Children 4 and under are free, though they don’t recommend bringing children so small. Plenty of the areas inside are lit only by decorative lights and it would be very easy for older kids to bulldoze through them by accident. They also don’t recommend this to those with special needs or sensory sensitivities due to the surplus of strobe lights and lasers peppered throughout the facility.
The pricing and the hours of operation can vary greatly.
Pricing:
-As stated before, children 4 and under are free.
-Maze only: $9.99
-Value pass (Maze, Time Freak, And Atomic Rush one time for 1 person): $12.99
-All-day Pass (Unlimited access to all 3 attractions for 1 person): $14.99
-4-Pack (Value pass x4): $39.99
-Single game of Time Freak or Atomic Rush: $2.00
Hours of Operation:
Summer (Memorial Day-Labor Day)
-Mon-Thurs: 10am-10pm
-Fri-Sat: 10am-Midnight
-Sunday: 10am-10pm
Spring (April 1st-Memorial Day), Fall (Labor Day-October 31st)
-Mon-Fri: 10am-8pm
-Fri-Sat:10am-10pm
-Sun: 10am-8pm
Winter (November 1st-March 31st)
-Mon-Thurs: 10am-8pm
-Fri-Sat: 10am-10pm
-Sun:10am-7pm
There may be some free parking relatively close to Navy Pier, but the majority of parking garages are pay-to-park. If that doesn’t work for you then you may take the Red Line part of the way from my office or, as mentioned above, the free Navy Pier Trolley may come in handy. Between September 3rd and Memorial Day, use of the trolley is limited to Saturdays and Sundays. Once Memorial Day comes back around, the trolley will resume its full schedule.
Amazing Chicago’s Funhouse Maze is located only 1.9 miles from my Chicago law office. Directions are below:
