Places to vacation in chicago

Places to vacation in chicago

Museum of Science and Industry

Spend the afternoon exploring the massive Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. Nearly all of the 800+ exhibits here are hands-on, including a real U-505 German submarine that you can walk through, an underground Coal Mine, and Science Storms, which explores the physics of natural phenomena like tornadoes, tsunamis, and avalanches. There’s also the Giant Dome Theater for kicking back and watching a movie.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Chicago’s scenic lakefront Lincoln Park neighborhood is a favorite spot for families. Animals lovers will want to spend the afternoon at the free Lincoln Park Zoo, where they can spy polar bears, lions, monkeys, and more. Next, pet farm animals at the charming Farm-in-the-Zoo.

Also nearby is the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where kids are encouraged to connect with nature through interactive exhibits. One of the most popular is the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, home to more than 40 species of exotic butterflies. Don’t miss the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, a hidden gem tucked away next to the zoo.

Adler Planetarium

Explore infinity and beyond at the dazzling Adler Planetarium. Catch a show in the state-of-the-art sky theatre, where you’ll zoom off into space to explore planets, swirling galaxies, and brilliant stars. Check out the Mission Moon exhibit, where you can launch a stomp rocket, get a peek inside the Gemini 12 spacecraft, and experience America’s first steps on the moon through the eyes of NASA astronaut Jim Lovell.

Touch an actual moon rock and examine a meteorite that crashed to earth in the Our Solar System exhibit. Kids love to play in the Community Design Lab, where they can conduct science experiments with unusual supplies like marshmallows and bubble wrap. Little ones love Planet Explorers, where they can operate the controls in a two-story rocket and man the Space Station.

Navy Pier

Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular family attractions. Reach for the sky on the Centennial Wheel that soars 200 feet up in the air with stunning views of the Chicago lakefront and skyline. Find more amusement rides for all ages at surrounding Pier Park. At the Chicago Children’s Museum, kids can do everything from commanding a castle to climbing the rope rigging of a schooner.

Catch the latest flicks on the massive 3D screen at the AMC Navy Pier IMAX. Or take a Lake Michigan boat tour with the architecture-focused Shoreline Sightseeing or a high-speed thrill ride with Seadog Cruises. At the interactive Polk Bros Park, see free outdoor performances on the Lake Stage and City Stage.

Millennium Park & Maggie Daley Park

Let the kids run free at downtown’s beautiful Maggie Daley Park. The fun Play Garden features suspension bridges, tube slides and a big ship to explore. Older kids can tackle the 40-foot-tall Climbing Wall or putt along the 18-hole Mini Golf course through Chicago-themed obstacles like a six-foot-tall Willis Tower. In warm weather, the curvy Skating Ribbon becomes a walking and rollerblading path (in-line skate rentals are available).

Millennium Park is right next door, where larger-than-life public art includes the multimedia Crown Fountain (kids love to splash around in its cascading water walls) and the reflective Cloud Gate, aka “The Bean.” Next, head over to the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, which offers family programs and art workshops.