Hi Mom's and Dad's,
We are going to Chicago for 3 days. What fun things did your children enjoy there? I know all of the touristy things but want to know what you all think a 5 year old would enjoy. Thanks in advance.
Just wanted to let you all know that we had a wonderful time in Chicago last week. Thank you to all who gave suggestions. We went to the Shedd Aquarium, the Navy Pier and American Girl. It was a fun experience but very hot. We hope to go again in a few years.
I agree with the recommendations for Shedd Aquarium and Navy Pier. I think I enjoyed the aquarium as much as (if not more) than the kids! When we went there was a seal & dolphin show, and a sea horse exhibit.
Have a great time!
Probably most of the touristy things would be fine for a 5 year old:
Shedd Aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry
Field Museum
Navy Pier (there is also a children's museum there)
Tour to the top of the John Hancock Tower or Willis Tower
White Sox or Cubs game
I live in Chicago and agree with the other posts but I think a must-do is to bring swimsuits for your child and go to the fountains at Millennium Park! The Shedd is great but you have to get there before they open (maybe just 15mins) because the lines are REALLY long. If you're there when they open, you can get in and out before it gets so crowded it's unpleasant. The Children's Museum at Navy Pier is a lot of fun - there's a food court, and you're allowed to re-enter the museum. Other than the ferris wheel, I think everything else there is too touristy. Think about Sears/Willis Tower. As a Chicago native, I never went till a friend from college came to visit, and my husband has never been. We just take it for granted, but my 5-yr old son keeps asking to go. Make sure it's a clear day.
Children's museum in Navy Pier
Museum of Science and Industry
Shed Aquarium
Lego Store in MI Ave
Honestly my girls loved riding the 'L' and the buses. We don't have public transportation like that in MI. BTW you can get a 3 day pass. Parking in Chicago is atrocious so I highly recommend it.
We also liked walking around a hitting the local cupcake store and frozen custard.
Have fun!
If you can catch a street festival while you're here, they're always kid friendly during the day, you'll get a great taste of the city, and lots of stuff to do.
Here's a calendar of weekend stuff, depending on when you're coming.
http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrativ...
PS: if you like beach stuff, and want fewer people than North Avenue, the beaches at Foster Ave and Belmont Ave are FAR less crowded. Foster is in my hood, and much more fun than trying to jam in around the 20 somethings looking to get loaded. :)
All the things below, but there is also an awesome Legoland (much more than a store -- think indoor rides, 4D movie, etc.) that we stumbled on during a Chicago vacation, three weeks after it opened. It's on the outskirts of town (south, by the airport) and we discovered it when we were getting ready to drive back to OH.
The Shedd Aquarium. The planetarium (next to Aquarium) has interactive things to do for kids. If he/she likes dinosaurs there is the natural history museum. My son was about 8 when we last visited and he LOVED the Children's Museum on Navy Pier. We might have even gone twice he liked it so much. The Science Museum in Hyde Park is amazing, but I can't remember what in particular a 5 year old would enjoy. There is a submarine and a simulated coal mine. Our kids just enjoyed running around the sculptures and fountains in the park (Millenium park) near the Art Institute and feeding the birds by the planetarium. Simple stuff. PM me if you have specific questions. It's been a long time now, but I lived in Chicago for 5 years.
* North Avenue Beach :)
* Bike riding (rentals are available on Navy Pier)
* Brookfield Zoo (in Brookfield, a western suburb, not a free zoo, but a GREAT one)
* Ride the Sea Dog (buy tickets & depart from Navy Pier - it is a huge speedboat)
* For that deep dish pizza that Penny recommended, I suggest either Giordanno's or Pizzeria Uno
* Lincoln Park Zoo (in the city, admission is free, but parking costs) - there is also a really great walking path on the south side of the zoo where you can get fantastic pictures with the city skyline (John Hancock Tower) in the background.
ETA: I forgot to add that Navy Pier currently has Cirque Shanghai, which I am hoping to take my 5 yr old to this summer.
Navy Pier was a great place to go. There are rides and museums, and places to eat. Plus the water is so pretty! We also went to the American Girl Shop (if you have a girl) and the Lego Store (boy). Don't miss getting a deep dish pizza somewhere, but heads-up: get there WELL before anyone is hungry, b/c they take about an hour to make your food. And the places often have an hour or more wait at meal times anyway.
