Children’s Attractions in Chicago, IL
Chicago, one of the most populous cities in America is known for its great family vacation and kids attractions. It is located in the state of Illinois with a population of around 2.7 million residents. The city with its suburbs is commonly known as Chicagoland, an informal name used by press and media. It has continental climate with highest temperature reaching more than 40°C.Every year it attracts a large number of tourists that include both leisure and business travelers. With many parks, museums, lakes, playgrounds, zoos and other family friendly attractions, Chicago has become a leading family vacation spot in US.
The children’s museum located at East Grand Avenue on historic Navy Pier is both learning and playing centre. The “Kids Town” in the museum is a permanent exhibit where kids can work as “clerks” and “drivers”. They can engage in archeological excavation in the “model pits” for finding dinosaurs or build a dam in waterways. It has three floors of interactive exhibits for learning science, maths, arts and crafts. On Thursday evening from 5 pm to 8 pm the entry to the museum is free to all.
The west side of Chicago has the Garfield Park which is a 185-acre green oasis with a playground, soccer fields, pool and lagoon. The children can engage in many fun activities like scavenger hunts, nature exploration and play in the pool and lagoon. It is now open to public despite the catastrophic damage by 2011 hailstorm.
The Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago attracts 3 million visitors every year. The admission to the zoo is free to all. The zoo exhibits several wild animals including black bears, red wolves, lions, tigers and African apes. The Farm-in-the-Zoo contains sheep, cows and horses.
Another popular kid’s attraction in Chicago is the Shedd aquarium which is located at the Museum Campus. It was opened in 1929 and houses more than 20,000 aquatic animals. They include the sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, whales, frogs and different types of marine and fresh water fishes.
To spend a full day, the Navy Pier has to offer lots of activities that include cruising, Ferris wheel, carousel, magic shows and fireworks. There are many shops and restaurants that provide foods and drinks during the entertainment.
The Art Institute of Chicago located at the South Michigan Avenue is one of the best art museums for kids. Guided craft training enables them to acquire practical skills in various arts and crafts. There is a family reading room here besides artist visits and special programs are also arranged here regularly.
The John Hancock Centre, the sixth tallest building in the United States and locally known as the “Big John” is a 100 storied skyscraper in Chicago. The observation deck of this great building provides the best view of the Chicago’s downtown area. The kids and adults can walk along the open air Sky Walk or view the Soundscopes or the talking telescopes that tell about the sites they are watching.
This family friendly city is filled with many other sites like water parks, beaches, theaters and more for kids and adults alike. A trip to this place is therefore ideal for spending a great vacation.
Category: Illinois
