Mentioned by Happy Mom Hacks
8 Best Museums in Chicago Including Cool Children's Museums
"Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art holds one of the world’s largest collections of post-1950 art. You can easily explore the museum by foot in just a couple of hours, making it perfect for an afternoon activity. In addition to world-famous works, they also host exhibits dedicated to local artists and put a lot of care into the local community."
"Geared toward children 4 to 12, the National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsen neighborhood offers a 10,000-piece permanent collection that showcases the richness of Mexican art and culture. Highlights include bilingual camps, art classes, and family-centric gallery tours. A post shared by National Museum of Mexican Art (@explorenmma) on Oct 18, 2017 at 7:56am PDT"
"National Museum of Mexican Art is a museum that is ideal for your toddlers and preteens. Located in the Pilsen neighborhood, the museum has a permanent collection of 10,000 pieces. These pieces are a vibrant curation of Mexican history and culture."
"This fun nature museum is located in the heart of Lincoln Park just north of downtown Chicago. As you walk up to the museum, you will immediately be immersed in nature with their beautiful walking trails and paths. Once inside, you can visit an amazing butterfly sanctuary, explore the wetlands, learn how the Chicago River lock systems work, learn about local animal life and more."
"Daily story times and Critter Connections that let kids touch and feel animals keep families coming back to Peggy Notebaert. Those, and the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, where butterflies of all kinds, colors and sizes fly around and even land on visitors. Hands-on exhibits let kids learn about water, rivers, the environment and a climbing structure keeps them active."
"Chicago's Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is operated by the Chicago Academy of Sciences. The museum highlights Chicago's natural history. It is best known for its live butterfly house, which is both an exhibit for visitors and a laboratory that studies how to best preserve the region's population of butterflies."
"Part of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art has an impressive collection. This includes works organised by continent – such as Asia and Europe – and works organised by theme – e.g. contemporary art and modern art. The museum also houses a significant collection of works by the 20th century American sculptor and printmaker H.C."
"The Smart Museum is small, free, an easy and engaging place to museums in Chicago. It’s easily accessible by public transit and there is a parking garage nearby. Exhibitions, which rotate, are really tremendous, tending towards the avant-garde but including the historical and always celebrating the vast diversity of the art world."
"Ongoing weekend programs at the museum include workshops for kids to learn about identifying rocks and minerals or learning how to make jewelry. Collections include gemstones, fossils and an ornate castle. Online activities include virtual jewelry classes and rock identification classes."
"This 11-story structure, with its eclectically ornamented facade, got its name from the pigeons and politicians who roosted at the temporary…"
"A post shared by Under The Gun Theater (@utgtheater) on Jan 8, 2017 at 3:37pm PST. If you’re a fan of improv comedy performed in an intimate setting, this one is for you. The theater has a seating capacity of about 90, and it has a bar where guests can order drinks."
"Churros are one of those glorious desserts that never disappoints. So, if you’re looking to turn your day into a fiesta, head down to the Xurro Factory. This eatery offers one of the best desserts in Chicago, but be warned, it won’t be easy to eat!"
"Because of its excessive girth and long cooking time, deep dish pizza is not a lunchtime staple in the Loop. Let’s face it, tackling most versions is a sit-down job. The great exception is the adorable individual-size deep dish pie at the Beatrix Market by the DePaul Loop campus."
"Jess Café specializes in Asian cuisine ranging from Chinese to Malaysian food. Their food is undoubtedly delicious and they also have an impressive selection of drinks including their popular bubble tea options. Jess Café is famous for fresh and richly flavored bubble teas that have the perfect texture from soft and well-prepared tapioca pearls."
"A post shared by Tummy Growl (@tummy.growl) on Mar 24, 2018 at 4:14pm PDT. If you’re looking for Asian food that is cheap and good, Jess Cafe ticks both boxes!. At this Pan-Asian food haven, you’ll be spoilt for choice by their wide selection of Cantonese, Thai and Korean dishes."
"A Chinatown favorite that relocated to the South Loop last year, My Place boasts fresh lobster and seafood, different types of congee, baked proteins over rice or spaghetti, and the standard American Chinese dishes. Order here for carryout and delivery. View this post on Instagram"