Mentioned by Chicago Parent
38 Chicagoland Museums Families Should Visit At Least Once
"There is no admission fee to enter the Navy Pier, which offers free fireworks shows throughout the year and hosts a lineup of free entertainment and music each season. Head to the Navy Pier to see local arts and crafts vendors presenting their wares and to enjoy the scenic views of Lake Michigan."
"Take pleasure in the Navy Pier atmosphere without spending money. Pack a lunch for the family to eat on the dock. As you stroll along the pier, people-watch and take pictures of your family in front of a beautiful Lake Michigan landscape."
"You have two choices here: you can either take a selfie from afar, with Navy Pier and its massive Ferris wheel in the background, or you can buy a ticket and take the ride, snapping a selfie from 150 feet up in the air."
"The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago — better known as the MCA — is a triple threat. There’s a constant rotation of thought-provoking works and artist retrospectives in the galleries; a cutting-edge mix of dance, music, and theater on the stage; and a menu of seasonal cuisine from a top Chicago chef in the kitchen. If you can visit in the warm-weather months, alfresco concerts and outdoor installations add to the mix."
"When this museum opened in its new aluminum-lined facility in 1996, it became the country's largest museum of contemporary art. Featured works go far beyond two dimensions and include such diverse media as sculpture, photography, dance, performance and music. Three large exhibition floors showcase more than 7000 objects, including pieces by Sol LeWitt, Alexander Calder, Jeff Koons and Rene Magritte."
"A group of art patrons who felt the great Art Institute was unresponsive to modern work founded the MCA in 1967, and it has remained…"
"Founded in 2011, the Chicago Truborn Gallery is a small community–based non–a traditional gallery dedicated to supporting the art of the neglected mediums of artistic creation, emphasising street, urban and graffiti art. At this gallery, exhibitions keep rotating every five weeks, so there is always room for something new and fresh on the walls. The gallery has also won the title of “Best Gallery” thrice, for being highly innovative, approachable, and affordable but at the same time maintain a great degree of taste in art."
"While the Chicago Water Tower was really only built to hide a standpipe, its intricate design symbolizes the value of simple things; like water supply. The story behind this structure is the important solution designed by Chesbrough to save the city from the inadequate water supply for the growing population. It is built with a characteristic Gothic Revival style, almost fairytale-like."
"The Water Tower is Chicago’s oldest known building and is the only structure that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Built in 1869, it sourced clean water from nearby Lake Michigan to use for fighting fires. But today you can visit it as a cultural venue that showcases art and photography exhibits."
"Specializing in photography, the City Gallery presents a unique way to learn about Chicago—all inside a 19th-century Gothic limestone landmark."
"The Museum of Contemporary Photography, or MoCP, is Chicago's premier photography museum. The museum's permanent collection has an estimated 15,000 items crafted by more than 1,500 different photographers and artists. The American Alliance of Museums-accredited museum is also home to the Midwest Photographers Project, which highlights work by photographers local to the region."
"The Arts Club of Chicago is an art museum with public exhibitions and private tours. The club's first floors are open to the public at no admission cost; private tours of the permanent collection can be arranged. The Arts Club, which opened in 1916, was home to the first United States showing of Pablo Picasso's work."
"All airy and light, with exposed brick and local art, nana is a locally sourced, feel-good brunch spot in the heart of White Sox country. The family-owned restaurant works closely with area farmers to develop its organic, Latin-influenced menu full of overstuffed empanadas, po'boys, and, the stand out, baked chilaquiles topped with poblano cream and two eggs, any style."
"The team behind Nana strives for perfection by maintaining a sustainable, local and organic menu. What they serve is high-quality and delicious food. While not a completely vegetarian restaurant, the avocado fries and tofu scramble have us commending the commitment to perfection."
"With a heavy emphasis on local and organic products, Nana is a Bridgeport favorite for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Avocado fries served with chipotle-lime aioli are a (slightly) healthier alternative to fried potatoes."
"(Primary Neighborhoods: Avondale, various events and locations, city and suburbs). Another food truck that demands to be tracked by culinary hunters is Dönermen(A döner is the vertical spit used for roasting meat). German street food is the concept behind this truck; or German by way of Turkey, as Turkish immigrants heavily influenced this mix of spiced meat, vegetables, and bread."
"Shedd Aquarium is quite possibly one of the coolest aquariums around. The animal collection is diverse and global, the architecture is stunning, and the learning opportunities are boundless. Every member of the family will find their curiosity piqued here."
"Shedd aquarium was at one point in time the world’s largest indoor aquarium and the most visited aquarium in the United States. While it no longer holds those records, it is still one of the most visited cultural attractions in Chicago."
"Osito’s Tap is an outgrowth of Moreno’s Liquors, a family-owned store in Little Village. The bar offers a deep beer list with plenty of rare releases to satisfy craft fans, and the cocktails push the envelope using techniques and ingredients that prove that mixologists at upscale downtown bars aren’t the only ones who can’t enjoy a fancy drinks."
"The ultimate in adult fun, Streeterville opens on the 25th of June, but a sneak peek provided us with all we needed to know. 9,000 square feet of terrace complete with a lawn where you can while away the time playing croquet and resting your weary bones in birdcage chairs. It’s a garden party come to roost."