Find free things to do on vacation in Chicago with children. This information is excerpted from Parent Zone.
All photos are copyrighted by C. Lee - all rights reserved. Contact bargainhunterhotline@gmail.com for permission to reproduce.
Millenium Park
Millenium Park Outdoor Skating Rink
Seasonal outdoor rink in the heart of Millenium Park. Open Nov - March when the weather cooperates. Free to enter, $7 to rent skates. Michigan Ave at Washington St. Chicago, IL 60606, 312.742.1168
Navy Pier
Chicago's 50-acre urban playground overlooking Lake Michigan boasts parks, gardens, the Chicago Children's Museum, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass, a seasonal ice rink, a musical carousel, a 15-story Ferris wheel, the outdoor Skyline Stage showcasing live music, dance and theatre, an I-Max theater, restaurants galore and fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday during the summer. The Pier is free; parking is not and neither are most events and attractions. Visit Website: http://www.navypier.com
Skokie North Shore Sculpture Park
Seventy pieces of sculpture are located in the park for the public to enjoy. The park is a collaboration between private citizens and the village of Skokie, managers of the property owned by the Water Reclamation District of Chicago along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Visit the website for the self-guided tour booklet and take a walk. Visit Website: http://www.sculpturepark.org/
Stratford Square Mall
Great kid friendly spot- especially in the winter months as they offer two indoor play areas for children- Kids' Kartowne & Kids' Playtowne. Visit Website: http://www.stratfordsquaremall.com
Garfield Park Conservatory
Free conservatory on the city's West side. This makes a wonderful escape into natural beauty from the cold in the winter and a fantastic foray into greenery in the summer. They have a special children's garden for the little ones to romp in as well as special family activities on weekends and thursday evenings. They also offer drop-in classes for children. Look for weekly summer market and other special events like their famous chocolate fest every February. Note special events may require an entrance fee. Visit Website: http://www.garfield-conservatory.org/
Lincoln Park Conservatory
One of two of the city's free conservatories, the Lincoln Park Conservatory is the sometimes overlooked smaller sibling. But this park has a lot to offer. Located in the heart of Lincoln Park it is close to many other local attractions such as the lakefront and the Lincoln Park Zoo. It also hosts many wonderful events of its own including music, theater, educational activities and cinematic performances. And of course, it is home to beautiful plants and gardens. See website for more information. Visit Website:
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.detail/objec
Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is free to the public 365 days a year. You and your family can enjoy fun-filled special events, such as "Jammin at the Zoo," all summer long. They also have a variety of classes for children and parent/children. See their website or our calendar of events for more information. Visit Website: http://www.lpzoo.org
Chicago History Museum
Come and enjoy this wonderful museum of Chicago's history- free!- Every Monday. Plus, everyday is free for children under 12
KidOOdles
Skokie Public Library partners up with Old Orchard mall to bring this fun family event the first Saturday of each month in the food court. Children 6 and under with an adult are invited to participate in story-telling, arts and crafts and more all with a seasonal theme! Check out their website or call the mall or the Skokie Public Library (847.673.7774) for more information on this month's theme and project.
Kraft Family Sundays
Kraft Family Sundays @ The National Museum of Mexican Art: Enjoy this free family program every Sunday year-round at the NMMA. Programs and tours are hands-on and thematically related to the museum's current exhibits. 4/4/2007 - 4/4/2008 Reservations are required, please call beforehand to inquire about times and availability.
Let us know about your own experiences visiting these places and/or any other free things that you have found for this destination. Include a comment in the comments section below so that others may learn from your experience.
4 comments:
Let us know about your own experiences visiting these places and/or any other free things that you have found for this destination. Include a comment so that others may learn from your experience.
The Navy Pier is a great place to visit and "window shop." You can spend a lot of money there if you want but you can also enjoy the sights of the attractions and downtown skyline for free. It's a great place to walk around with indoor and outdoor things to see.
If you are an educator and have an identification card to prove it you can get into some Chicago museums for free or at a discount. Ask at the front desk before paying admission. I know that this was the policy some time ago and hope that it still is when I return to Chicago later this year.
If you are an educator and have an identification card to prove it you can get into some Chicago museums for free or at a discount. Ask at the front desk before paying admission. I know that this was the policy some time ago and hope that it still is when I return to Chicago later this year.
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