Mentioned by Chicago Parent
Free Days for Chicago-Area Museums
"The Field Museum is an open invitation for visitors to embark on a journey of scientific discovery. Immersive exhibitions are sure to inspire curiosity and further understanding, making the museum a truly educational experience for all ages. Kids will enjoy: The Crown Family Playlab, an interactive space that invites kids to experience science through hands-on creative play."
"Photo courtesy of Copyright Field Museum, photography by Lucy Hewett. Mummies, fossils and dinosaurs, kid favorites, are some of the historic treasures inside the Field Museum. Massive columns and striking galleries filled with natural light help kids feel the history and you're immediately greeted by two massive elephants and Maximo the Titanosaur."
"Parents will love this Beaux-Arts building situated on Lake Michigan, but kids will have a ball exploring one of the world’s largest indoor aquariums. Even young kids will like checking out the eye-popping Amazon river tanks and the colorful coral and fish of the reef exhibits, and don’t miss watching swimming beluga whales, dolphins, and sea otters in the Polar Play Zone."
"If you have started visiting museums in Chicago, you should definitely come here. Aquariums exist in many cities, but most are not that big. You will enjoy a lot while visiting this aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world."
"Chicago residents are admitted for 50% off throughout the year, and in addition, Illinois residents are admitted free on select days throughout the year. Proof of residency is required."
"If you’ve been making a to do list for Chicago, you’ve probably listed a few of Navy Pier‘s attractions already. It extends into Lake Michigan like a sort of overgrown boardwalk, and it’s absolutely packed with shops, restaurants, galleries, museums, movie theaters and other popular places for locals and tourists alike. There are rides, too."
"Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions, and one of the most popular destinations in the Midwest. While there are fees at many of the attractions at Navy Pier, there are some that are free. One of the best reasons to visit is the view, which is (of course!) free!"
"The Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most visited tourist attractions. Restaurants, beer gardens and attractions fill the 3,300-foot-long pier. Great views of the Chicago skyline are visible from the end of Navy Pier."
"Wine Bar , Italian"
"Of the numerous buildings that Frank Lloyd Wright designed around Chicago, none is more famous or influential than Robie House. Because its horizontal lines resembled the flat landscape of the Midwestern prairie, the style became known as the Prairie style. Inside are 174 stained-glass windows and doors, which you'll see on the hour-long tours (frequency varies by season, but there's usually at least one tour per hour). Advance tickets are highly recommended."
"Named one of the 10 most significant buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects, the 9,000-square-foot Robie…"
"At this sunny icon, heaping platters of taverna-style classics appear to be immune to inflation: A three-course meal of loukaniko sausage, a pastitsio and chicken riganati combo, and Greek yogurt remains a steal. All this comes with knowledgeable service and free valet parking.L & D daily. Free dinner parking, wheelchair accessible, child friendly, outdoor dining, will seat past 11 p.m.$"
"Owned by Giuliana Rancic and her husband Bill, RPM brings the L.A. steakhouse vibe to Chicago. Their steaks are delicious, as expected from a place of this caliber."
"Dozens of IPAs, porters, Belgian-style ales, pilsners and the like are made regularly at Revolution, the state’s largest independently-owned brewery. The Brewpub in Logan Square has a huge draft list, which includes favorites like Every Day Hero, Fist City, Anti-Hero, and the double oatmeal stout Café Deth. A pub menu—baked pretzels, cheese curds, wings, pizza, salads, and burgers—is also available to soak up all of that beer."
"LakeviewWhile you wouldn't want to lay out here for obvious reasons, your pup will certainly love doing so. Given that this particular doggie haven is small in size and not as busy as others in the city, it’s a good starting point for anyone who wants to test the waters with their pup before letting it loose at a bigger park like Montrose.What to know: This spot, within walking distance of Wrigley, makes for a fine excursion after a Cubs day game. Plus, the lakeside Sydney Marovitz Golf Course, easily the finest public course in the city, is just a stone’s throw away."
"Dogs love hanging out at the beach, and what dog parent doesn’t want to spend time with their pup playing in the waves?. Belmont Harbor Dog Beach is the perfect spot for you and your dog. It’s great because it is not as busy as other dog beaches/parks in Chicago."
"It is tucked right along the Lakefront Trail and faces docks in Belmont Harbor. Unlike Montrose Beach, this spot is away from people looking to relax on the beach. So, let your dog roll in the sand and run endlessly after balls in the water."
"Oakwood Beach, also known as 41st Street Beach, is Chicago's newest public beach, developed in the late 1990s by the Chicago Park District and officially opened to the public in 2010. The beach, which is located at the terminus of 41st Street at the Lake Michigan shoreline within Chicago's Oakland neighborhood, spans 1,300 acres and is open to the public for swimming between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with lifeguards staffed on duty between 11:00am and 7:00pm. Environmentally-sustainable beach features include a bio-retention area intended to treat storm sewer runoff and a LEED-certified beach house with rainwater-harvested toilets, which received the Chicago Greenworks Award in 2010."
"OaklandOpened to the public in 2010, Oakwood—also known as 41st Street Beach—is both relatively new and still somewhat of a hidden treasure. Although it’s small in size, it manages to pack in a great beach house, a nearby picnic area, and volleyball courts. And, of course, you can’t beat the view!"