Visiting Chicago has always been exciting. As a child, we used to fly to Chicago from the San Francisco Bay Area every year to visit relatives.  We spent most of those travels jumping from one relative’s home to the next.   Mixed into each of those visits were two kid outings each time: The Museum of Science & Industry, and the Field Museum.

The Museum of Science and Industry is my all-time favorite museum, and this is a powerful statement, as I have been to museums all over the world.  It was erected in 1933, and some of the displays date back to that era, while others have changed but remained the same since I was a child in the 80s.  There are floors upon floors of exhibits, and the overall experience is much like an amusement park.

Some of the most memorable exhibits are The Coal Mine, the U-505 German Submarine, the Train display, Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle, and the Boeing 727.  Each of these exhibits is memorable and imaginative.  I experienced all but the 727 as a child, and it was incredible to bring my own children back to relive my own memories.  They loved every moment as much as I did.  Young or old, this museum is a must-stop on a Chicago visit.

Another fantastic location in Chicago is the Field Museum.  I have not re-visited this museum as an adult, but the main attractions as a child were the mummies (“Inside Ancient Egypt”) and the Dinosaur of Sue the T-Rex.  My brother and I used to run for both of these exhibits and stare in awe, as they were both so impressive.  I cannot imagine seeing a real mummy anywhere other than Egypt, and to know that the Field Museum has one for an up-close and personal encounter is pretty great.

The Field Museum is set up like that from the movie “A Night at the Museum.”  For educational purposes, I would recommend older children for this museum, as they would get more out of the exhibits than the littles.  Of course, children of any age may follow in my footsteps and make a beeline for the floor with the mummies!

Both the Museum of Science & Industry and the Field Museum can be found on the KidFriendlyVenues app.  Check it out for all the details including navigation GIS, amenities and star rating by moms.

Museums help contribute to our children’s imagination, deepen their understanding of our past, and engage them for critically thinking about our future.  Not all museums can captivate our attention and lock in their memories for a lifetime.  Both the Museum of Science & Industry and the Field Museum did this for me.

Laura D