Chicago has a broad offering of children's theater and musical activities. Adventure Stage Chicago is a dynamic theater experience that elicits dialogue and activity from the audience. This type of theater is ideal for children and teens ages 8 to 14, but even adults will enjoy these performances. Emerald City Theatre is another quality children's theater inspired by the classic story "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," written by native Chicagoan Frank L. Baum. What better place to see this classic tale in theater than the very city that some say the Emerald City in the story was modeled after?
Museums of all types are abundant in Chicago. If your children love museums, a must-see is Chicago's Museum Campus, 57 acres on the lake front that surround three of Chicago's most popular museums: The Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History. The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum was opened in 1930 and was the first planetarium in the Western hemisphere. The Adler is also the only planetarium in the world with two full planetarium theaters. Another popular attraction is the Chicago Children's Museum, which contains 57,000 square feet of educational toys and technology. The Shedd Aquarium was built in 1930 and was the first inland aquarium with a full saltwater fish collection, and was at one time the largest aquarium in the world. The Field Museum of Natural History is an art, archaeology, science and history museum. Your child will love Sue, the world's biggest, most preserved and complete Tyrannosaurus rex.
If you and your family are animal lovers, you will want to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo. This zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country, and also the most modernized. Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes more than 300 million visitors each year. One of the best parts: it is free of charge and open 365 days a year. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is another excellent spot to experience nature. Once inside, exotic butterflies will flutter around you as you walk through areas with wildflowers and other natural wildlife. Stop to see the Butterfly Greenhouse exhibit that stands 27 feet high, the water lab, animal lab, wilderness walk and hands-on area for children under 7.
