MomsTribute
Enormous spaces can truly be awesome. Add the wonders of our natural world that give kids the food for thought, inspiration and understanding and you have the two best kid friendly venues to visit in Chicago.
A mom to mom blog would not be complete without mentioning helpful free time management tips. So how about the John G. Shedd Aquarium, housing more than a million residents inside its gorgeous walls offset by the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan? After a quick walk from the easily accessible parking which is shared by the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium, The Shedd hosts an all-day adventure full of “Wows!” for the young and old alike. Quality time given in spades!
Even if your time planning entails spending an entire day at the Shedd, it’s still possible to miss a thing or two. Its expansive breadth and depth of exhibits offer various learning and interactive experiences, while providing a geography lesson highlighting the native lands of each species. Carefully and cautiously imagined exhibits allow for a peek into the daring and seemingly endless ocean. For hours, we roamed through the exhibits, my two children stopping to take in the facts presented before them.
In fact, seeing seven species of sharks, up close and personal in the Shedd’s expansive floor-to-ceiling tanks was a highlight of our day - so much so that we visited that particular exhibit three times! We loved the Oceanarium where we watched the Beluga Whales at feeding time, and where the dolphins performed tricks with highly skilled staff.
We even took in a 4-D experience film about sharks, which ran about 15 minutes and was an add-on to our admission for a nominal fee. Also showing was a cartoon that would be more appropriate for the under seven crowd. Bubbles flowed from the ceiling and the 4D glasses provided a unique and fun learning experience, and a welcome rest for our feet!
With this in mind I recommend bringing in a water bottle and some snacks from home to enjoy while on your visit, but when you get really hungry, the Bubble Net Food Court offers some amazing fare at reasonable prices - and the views of the city skyline and horizon where Lake Michigan meets the sky are breathtaking.
However, the most exciting part of our visit were the encounters that were included in our daily admission. The Stingray Touch exhibit allows visitors to glide their palms against the backs of stingrays in shallow water. These tame animals feel like mushrooms, my children noted. In the Great Lakes exhibits, my children enjoyed touching the leathery backs of Sturgeons and in the Polar Play Zone, kids can touch Sea Stars and barnacles, which were unique and prickly.
Given that the Shedd has done an amazing job of out-of-the-tank thinking, let your kids lead the way. Maybe they will guide you down a path to an extraordinary experience such as a Penguin Encounter, Beluga Encounter, or Sea Otter Encounter. Granted that it may entail an extra fee, these exhibit enhancements bring guests up close and personal with these unique and awe-inspiring species and worth every cent. These admission enhancements would be a wonderful gift for a birthday or special occasion.
The Shedd made a commitment to the care of these sea animals and with their meticulously maintained facility, their promise holds true. The Shedd is a must-see for all!
https://kidfriendlyvenues.com/venue/58064
Amenities at the John G. Shedd Aquarium:
Imagine a play space so perfect where it’s always warm, beautiful, has endless activities, and a huge slide. Well, hold that thought. There’s no need to dream any longer because this place is a reality. Have you visited the Garfield Park Conservatory yet? If not, keep reading and I’ll explain why I rated this botanical heaven five stars on the KidFriendlyVenue app, and why it should be your next stop to visit with your children.
All visits to this conservatory require an online reservation. For best time management, book ahead and you may get lucky and be able to reserve tickets on a day with a bee demo, air painting, or other educational program about nature. But, on any day, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden is where you’ll find the caterpillar slide, a dirt pit for exploring, and much more plant-life learning opportunities for your kids. This is the largest botanical conservatory in the nation, and I encourage you to explore every garden. There’s a 10-acre outdoor garden, but the conservatory is under a glass dome. Therefore, this venue is weatherproof and has year-round tropical temperatures of adventure.
During my visit, we had the pleasure of watching a bee demo. We learned about all the daily duties of bees and beekeepers. Then we completed a self-guided scavenger hunt, which was perfect for my anxious toddler. I downloaded this activity off the conservatory’s website before we arrived. There are more activities available on the website for you to choose from, too.
I believe my son’s favorite part of our visit was the Desert House. He is three so, of course he’s drawn to the cacti plants that mommy warned to not touch. But I’ll confess, I felt an urge to touch the cactus too. That was my first time seeing the unique variations of cactus and succulents in person. I was truly fascinated by the display. See, this conservatory is exciting for everyone. Take your kids to here routinely. There’s always a new learning opportunity here. Quality time always! That, my friends, is my top tip for best time management. Find more information about this venue on the Kid Friendly Venues app and plan a visit today.
Amenities at Garfield Park Conservatory:
Dana H and Tiana R
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