Chicago Attractions for all ages
Chicago is full of plenty of places to entertain people of all ages, from museums to amusement parks, and anything in between.
The Chicago Children's Museum moved to Navy Pier in 1996, and has become one of the most popular destinations in Chicago. There are activities for preschool aged children, all the way up to age 10. There are several permanent exhibits, along with specially featured exhibits throughout the year. The permanent exhibits are hands-on areas that are intended to teach kids while they play and have fun.
The Allstate Foundation Play It Safe exhibit was developed along with the Chicago Fire Department to teach kids home safety tips. The exhibit features tips on what to do in common emergencies and potentially dangerous situations. A friendly animated oven mitt will teach your group the ten tips of fire safety, and Captain Street Smart also makes an appearance at the exhibit to teach kids how to stay safe on the streets.
The Artabounds Gallery is a special place where everyone can admire the work of Chicago children and their families. The art in this gallery was created in the museums very own art studio and the gallery also includes artwork made in the museums workshop. This helps to cultivate an early appreciation for art and those who create it. Workshops offer children and their families' guidance in making creations by professional ceramists, sculptors, printmakers, and other artists.
Dinosaur Expedition transplants kids from Chicago to a dinosaur hunt in the Sahara. The exhibit recreates the site of the 1997 expedition that uncovered a never before found species of fish-eating dinosaur. The actual
dinosaur that was unearthed in the expedition is also on display in the museum. The exhibit gives hands on experience in real expedition activities, like digging in an excavation pit.
Several other permanent exhibits throughout the museum offer kids hours of fun doing whatever interests them. Inventing labs, exhibits about planes, climbing on a three story schooner, and learning about construction, among many other things, all give kids a chance to learn and explore while having a blast.
For those nature loving kids, the Lincoln Park Pritzker Children's Zoo is the perfect destination. The Lincoln Park Zoo is good for looking at animals from a distance, but in the children's zoo, kids are welcome to pet
and play with a variety of small animals. Kids can touch hedgehogs, iguanas, and rabbits, all while under the supervision of zookeepers. Kids can also see glass-walled nurseries, where keepers care for baby animals of more exotic species that were born ill, weak, or were rejected by their mothers.
The children's zoo also has an outdoor area with owls, otters and other small creatures that are in naturalistic habitats, giving kids a chance to see these animals at work. Nearby, the Farm-in-the-Zoo is a
reproduction of a typical farm. It boasts a white picket fence, barnyard, chicken coops, and demonstrations of butter churning ad weaving. Kids can also spot plenty of barnyard animals and even get their picture taken on top of a huge John Deere tractor.
For the more thrill seeking, and probably slightly older kids, Six Flags Great America is one of the mid-west's biggest amusement parks. The park has more than one hundred rides and attractions and is a hot spot for roller-coaster junkies. Inside, the Looney Tunes National Park offers plenty of kiddie rides. The park also offers live shows, IMAX movies, and restaurants.
When it comes to feeding hungry kids, Chicago can offer plenty of fun, family-friendly restaurants. Ed Debevic's is one of the city's first themed restaurants. The lunch counter style café offers a burger and
milkshake menu with staff that gives a memorable performance. The Rainforest Café has also become a kid favorite as it recreates the feel of rainforest, even including sounds of thunder and waterfalls. Chicago also hosts Dave and Busters, an arcade style eatery, as well as ESPN Zone, for those more sports minded families.
Whatever the age, whatever the interests, children will be delighted to spend a day or two taking in the sights and entertainment in Chicago.
Sue Foley - Group Travel Coordinator - Adventure Student Travel
Student Travel
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